An outspoken Australian entrepreneur who gained fame for swapping Sydney for a luxury lifestyle in Bali has revealed he's sold every single one of his Australian properties and is encouraging other investors to do the same.
Matt Cameron, 46, who made headlines after relocating to Bali with his young family nearly two years ago, claims the traditional 'Australian dream' of building wealth through property is officially dead, declaring that 'the smart money has left' the country entirely.
The Wake-Up Call That Changed Everything
The former property developer and businessman, who once maintained a multimillion-dollar portfolio in Sydney's exclusive eastern suburbs, said his decision to sell everything came after conducting a comprehensive professional audit of his investments - a process that left him furious about the realities of the Australian market.
Having grown up in Sydney's affluent eastern suburbs and attended the elite private school Cranbrook before building his fortune in property and founding a successful health retail chain, Cameron enjoyed a privileged life in Australia far removed from financial struggle.
Yet he expresses no regrets about leaving behind what he describes as sky-high rents, crippling taxes and excessive government overreach. He now lives in a Balinese villa with round-the-clock staff including two chefs, three cleaners, a driver, personal assistant and security team.
'When I took into account all the various taxes, charges and fees when purchasing, holding and selling property, I was lucky to make three to four per cent on assets,' Cameron told Daily Mail. 'There is no point building a portfolio that cannot even keep up with inflation.'
Why Australian Property No Longer Makes Sense
According to Cameron's analysis, the Australian property market is still 'living off a 1990s dream' while the rest of the world has moved on to more profitable opportunities.
He broke down what he sees as fundamental flaws in the local market, highlighting poor returns, inflated construction costs and what he calls 'one of the most aggressive tax systems globally.'
'Australia gives you three to four per cent returns if you're lucky,' he stated, contrasting this with his offshore investments that yield '15 to 25 per cent with half the stress and in half the time.'
Cameron also criticised Australian developers as 'brilliant marketers' who 'highlight capital appreciation and headline returns, but those numbers mean nothing once you factor in the ridiculous amount of interest you pay on the loan.'
He provided a stark example: 'Borrow one million dollars, pay the bank two million dollars - what you think is "profit" is not profit at all once you calculate the interest.'
The final catalyst for his complete exit came when an off-the-plan property purchase was delayed by almost double the expected build time. 'It was supposed to be an 18-month build and it took just over three years,' he recalled. 'I let them keep the deposit because walking away was a smarter decision than holding a declining asset.'
The Bali Alternative: Higher Returns, Lower Costs
Cameron is now channelling all his investment focus into Bali, where he claims the market offers superior returns, faster approval processes and fewer restrictions compared to Australia.
'It's set up to support foreign investment, taxes are lower, approvals are faster and you are not buried in regulation like you are in Australia,' he explained.
He described Bali as 'the new frontier' for investors seeking strong returns combined with lifestyle benefits. 'Construction costs are a fraction of the price, so you can build a high-end luxury villa without insane overheads,' Cameron noted, adding that 'Bali has the highest Airbnb occupancy in Asia and tourism is growing around 15 per cent a year.'
His current investment strategy focuses on properties achieving '80 to 95 per cent Airbnb occupancy' catering to luxury travellers willing to pay premium rates. 'Returns are three to five times higher than Australia, with most villas able to pay themselves off in five to six years,' he claimed.
Cameron shrugs off criticism about investing in overseas markets, insisting it's safe when approached as a serious business venture rather than a holiday impulse. He explained that property transactions in Bali are handled by government-appointed Notaries who protect both buyer and seller.
'The horror stories always come from someone who goes on holiday, falls in love with a villa and transfers money to a random person without following the formal steps,' he said.
He also maintains that his decisions aren't purely financial but philosophical, dismissing accusations that he's merely chasing tax breaks. 'I would call it tax minimisation, and I have never met a person who would not want to pay less tax - especially when the Australian government clearly has no idea how to spend it,' he argued.
Cameron shares that his family's quality of life in Bali 'rivals what some of our wealthiest friends have in Australia, and a couple of them are billionaires.' He added: 'By changing location, we outsource the tasks we don't want to do, meaning we spend more time on ourselves and with our kids than ever before. My whole life is on autopilot.'
When asked if he'd ever return to Australia's property market, Cameron's response was unequivocal: 'I will never invest in Australia again. The Aussie system is set to manipulate and rob people at every turn.'
