Jun 19, 2026 – 4.12pmFormer Treasury economist Peter Downes is making a last-ditch plea for Treasurer Jim Chalmers to walk back his plan to curb negative gearing, warning it will backfire by increasing rents by up to $2000 a year for 8 million predominantly low-income people.Downes has independently modelled the government’s negative gearing proposal and is increasingly concerned that curtailing negative gearing for landlords will be disproportionately “painful” for single mums, divorced older women and university students who rent.Subscribe to gift this articleGift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.Subscribe nowAlready a subscriber? Fetching latest articles