A market watcher writes. I’ve heard it from three independent
people directly – tax accountant, conveyancer and lawyer. There’s a big
rumour about negative gearing being scrapped in the Budget. Could this
be true? Surely not! The Howard government wouldn’t hurt the battlers
with investment property would they? Does this mean we can’t trust the
Howard government? Not only that. Does this mean serious tax reform?
Surely not.

Everyone concentrates on the Italian gang wars in Melbourne, but the new up and comers are the Russian mafia. Taking over from Condello and co. Very tough.