Australia Post signalled its intention to increase stamp prices at the time, but first had to secure the approval of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.
London's luxury property market has been hit in particular, as Brexit uncertainty and increased stamp duty have been putting off foreign buyers.
In the summer the chancellor, George Osborne, cut tax reliefs for buy-to-let landlords, and in the autumn statement he increased stamp duty on investment properties.
However the move will increase stamp duty for the most expensive houses – someone buying a £5 million house will pay nearly £200,000 more in tax.
In the Budget, Chancellor George Osborne increased stamp duty on buy-to-let properties and second homes in what was billed as an "attack on landlords".
Th move will increase stamp duty for the most expensive houses – someone buying a £5 million house will pay nearly £200,000 more in tax.
The chancellor's plan to increase stamp duty for buy-to-let investors could lead to new housing developments stalling and rents increasing for tenants of private rented accommodation, property analysts have warned.
The business secretary, Vince Cable, is redoubling his demands for a "mansion tax" on properties worth more than £2m, but Liberal Democrats are also looking at alternatives such as adding two extra council tax bands at the top of the property ladder, or increasing stamp duty.
Buyers camp out for bargain flats The frenzy at the top of the London market may have abated since the chancellor increased stamp duty on £1m-plus properties a year ago, but many were still keen to snap up a slice of the capital.
Since then, Lib Dem business secretary Vince Cable and others have mooted alternatives, including increasing the amount of council tax paid on more expensive properties, or increasing stamp duty on expensive property purchases.
