Big Tips: Negative gearing used to be all the rage in property investing and is often raised politically when steps are proposed to limit or outlaw it. But what is it, and are the other options of positive gearing and cash flow better tools?
These links can help explain:

Investing and tax. How income from your investments is taxed. – MoneySmart (ASIC)
Positive and negative gearing: Comparing the two! – MWC Group

The politics of negative gearing:

• Governments let oldies screw the younger generations – Ross Gittins
• Busting the 5 myths about negative gearing – University of Sydney Associate Professor Jamie Alcock says an end to negative gearing will make housing less affordable.

There’s no longer a great tax incentive for negative gearing – Noel Whittaker, SMH
How does negative gearing work? – Peter Koulizos
Negative gearing – friend or foe? – Steve McKnight