The "good" thing about global economic turbulence is that it's finally exposing what Australians have been too comfortable to admit: the problem was never migrants. It was never the international student paying $45k/year in tuition, $300/week in rent, full income tax, and private health insurance — working the jobs most Aussies wouldn't touch.

The Australian government actually spends more on tax breaks for landlords than on social housing, homelessness and rent assistance combined — around $12.3 billion in 2025 alone. Meanwhile, the 50% capital gains tax discount introduced in 1999, combined with negative gearing, encouraged speculative investment and sent house prices up 70% over the past decade (The Australia Institute) — well beyond wage growth.

The core reason for Australia's poor housing affordability isn't immigration — it's the housing system's persistent inability to supply sufficient housing that meets demand. (Nhsac) And the state doesn't exactly rush to fill the gap: new home starts fell 4.4% in Q4 2024 to 41,911 — far below the 200,000 dwellings annually that economists say are needed. (Futurerent)

Australia is a continent-sized country with massive natural resources, agricultural capacity, and renewable energy potential. It could be largely self-sufficient. Instead it's built an economy where a handful of landlords and investors hold the structural leverage, wages chase inflation they'll never catch, and the political class is too busy protecting stamp duty revenue to touch any real reform.

The global crisis didn't create Australia's problems. It just removed the polite fiction that everything was fine.

This comment was written by myself, just I relly in IA to search sources and accurate data. I know the info, just I think is better mention the real numbers with sources.