Property Rights

The LDP believes maintaining the safety and security of the Australian people and their property must be the government’s first priority.

The LDP believes that people have the right to own and control private property and that the only legitimate way to deal with each other is through voluntary exchange. It believes that maintaining the safety and security of the Australian people and their property must be the government’s first priority.
The LDP supports a shift in security resources away from victimless crimes (seatbelts, bicycle helmets, drugs) and towards preventing physical and property crimes such as assault, rape and theft.

The LDP believes the ownership of property is a fundamental right that precedes the power of government.

Widespread private ownership of property is also a significantly preferable alternative to either collective ownership or ownership by a privileged elite.

The LDP supports the right of 'eminent domain' of property owners over their property. It believes neither the State nor other members of society should be able to limit or interfere with the right to enjoy property so long as such enjoyment does not involve coercion of others.

Specific LDP policies:

The LDP supports the right of landlords and tenants to freely negotiate the terms of tenancies, free from state rules and restrictions.

The LDP does not believe local government has a right to decide matters affecting property apart from issues having coercive impact on others. Planning powers should be limited to issues such as health and safety rather than questions of taste, style or the use to which the property is put.

Home owners must not be subject to rules or regulations that apply within their property "for their own good", unless they are to avoid coercion of others. Thus, it is not acceptable for local councils to order the removal of children's play equipment or tree houses from back yards or to require the construction of swimming pool fences when there is restricted access to non-residents.

There is nothing about trees that warrants their protection by the state. Local councils must not have the power to prevent property owners from cutting down trees on their own property.

Councils must routinely approve applications for home improvements, such as the erection of a garage or a home extension, unless there are health or safety deficiencies.

The right of property owners to choose what to do on their land is fundamental. That includes commercial property owners giving permission to visitors to smoke.

Restrictions on the establishment of a business in an area are an unwarranted intrusion into property rights. This includes businesses such as newsagents, hair dressers, brothels and pharmacists, which should be free to establish without restriction provided there is no coercion of others.

The government must not have any right to order a particular activity to occur on a property, such as the allowance of breast feeding or the construction of disabled toilets or access facilities. These are matters of choice by property owners.