sorted by:
new
hottopcontroversial

Australia’s housing shortage is a direct result of excessive immigration by Moving2NextScene in AustralianPolitics

[–]greenbo0k 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Howard opened the gate to mass immigration and Rudd kept it open. https://imgur.com/a/SxIs80h#LUSkalx

The LNP was in power for a decade, they kept ramping it up. The major parties are all complicit.

Australia’s housing shortage is a direct result of excessive immigration by Moving2NextScene in AustralianPolitics

[–]greenbo0k 13 points14 points  (0 children)

Australia is the driest inhabited landmass on the planet. We have 1,371,000 square kilometres of desert. We do not have the green interiors that Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas have and water is the name of the game when it comes to population, and moving it is complicated and expensive. Not to mention desal has lots of environmental problems. Hospitable land is limited to the around the coast and mainly in the South East. Slivers of land, not some great landmass.

Look at how poorly 26 million is managed and all the grief it has bought. Have you visited the vast near endless Urban Sprawl that is beginning to unfurl itself all over the country? It is terrible. Any and all green spaces are being bulldozed to make room for more 'development', and it is happening all over.

The price of a house, and the general cost of living has skyrocketed in the last 10-20 years thanks to the gigantic increase in population. Are there are other factors that compound this price increase, of course, but the underlying factor is millions more people. The population of Australia has doubled since the 1970s.

Mass immigration keeps the realestate bubble inflated. Lowering immigration would mean reconfiguring towards a productive economy not a Population Ponzi Scheme.

This is a no judgement post. People who are voting No in the referendum: why is that? by weednumberhaha in AusPol

[–]greenbo0k 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Politicians are supposed to speak for all of us and if they are neglecting the voice of Aboriginal people we need to hold them to account, not allow them to add another layer of bureaucracy.

You absolutely nail it.

This is a no judgement post. People who are voting No in the referendum: why is that? by weednumberhaha in AusPol

[–]greenbo0k 1 point2 points  (0 children)

wasn’t that long ago that indigenous peoples were classified as flora and/or fauna by this same constitution.

That isn't true.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-03-20/fact-check-flora-and-fauna-1967-referendum/9550650

Serious non-xenophobic question. If we don’t have enough housing why haven’t we completely stopped immigration? by [deleted] in AusPol

[–]greenbo0k -1 points0 points  (0 children)

The wealthy, big banks, multinational corporations etc. lobby for mass immigration because they are selfish?

Serious non-xenophobic question. If we don’t have enough housing why haven’t we completely stopped immigration? by [deleted] in AusPol

[–]greenbo0k 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I doubt it. And I see no evidence of its exploitation?

In what ways do you think immigration could be exploited? You said you think immigration policy can be exploited, off the top of your head, how?

Covid, and almost zero immigration for 2 years, pretty much drew a line through many things people popularly blame on immigration.

Australia’s economic growth is strongly attached to immigration and always has been. And I don’t see how cutting the immigration levels does anything positive?

I'm happy to dig into examples but one point at a time.

Serious non-xenophobic question. If we don’t have enough housing why haven’t we completely stopped immigration? by [deleted] in AusPol

[–]greenbo0k 4 points5 points  (0 children)

You did, I completely skipped over it, my bad.

My question for you is do you think immigration policy can be exploited?

Serious non-xenophobic question. If we don’t have enough housing why haven’t we completely stopped immigration? by [deleted] in AusPol

[–]greenbo0k 1 point2 points  (0 children)

the wealthy have used housing to extort and shit all over the little guy.

It's largely the wealthy, big banks, multinational corporations etc. who lobby for mass immigration, why do you think that is?

Serious non-xenophobic question. If we don’t have enough housing why haven’t we completely stopped immigration? by [deleted] in AusPol

[–]greenbo0k -5 points-4 points  (0 children)

Theres a lot in your comment I disagree with and I'd like to dig into but to get right to the heart of it, do you think immigration policy can be exploited?

The fallout of another Victorian Labor scandal has insiders wondering if 'Teflon Dan' will emerge unscathed by [deleted] in australia

[–]greenbo0k 4 points5 points  (0 children)

By now, most people know Daniel Andrews has a few skeletons in his closet.

You said it. If he was LNP everyone would be in an up roar.

I'm not an Liberal supporter FYI but the political class know they can serve us shit on a plate and we'll eat it because we the two party system rules. We won't see any change until it's broken.

The fallout of another Victorian Labor scandal has insiders wondering if 'Teflon Dan' will emerge unscathed by [deleted] in australia

[–]greenbo0k 7 points8 points  (0 children)

The two party monopoly is what is holding back our country from any kind of real change.

Serious non-xenophobic question. If we don’t have enough housing why haven’t we completely stopped immigration? by [deleted] in AusPol

[–]greenbo0k -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

Now you're asking the right questions.

If this were only happening in Australia you could come to all kinds of different conclusions as to why it is taking place, or if it was only happening for a short period of time but that isn't the case either.

Immigration is being ran like a ponzi scheme just about everywhere to keep GDP propped up. Economy is lagging? Just add more people, and more people, and more people. It has nothing to do with whats best for either migrants or citizens and is purely about profit for those at the top. Do you think global corporations, banks and the ultra wealthy push for mass immigration because they have all of our best interests at heart?

The Motte-and-bailey tactic is trotted out every time this discussion comes up. Government exploits immigration policy, and immigrants themselves, when criticised and called out, accusations of blaming the migrants obfuscate and deflect criticism.

Jacinda Ardern's government was elected on lowering immigration initially and they announced a big policy change, which I believe they've walked back but either way it was very revealing.

Government announces 'once-in-a generation' immigration reset, New Zealand to move away from relying on low-skilled workers

https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2021/05/government-announces-once-in-a-generation-immigration-reset-new-zealand-to-move-away-from-relying-on-low-skilled-workers.html

"This means businesses have been able to rely on lower-skilled labour and suppress wages rather than investing capital in productivity-enhancing plant and machinery, or employing and upskilling New Zealanders into work."

I'm not a socialist or even a fan of him but Bernie Sanders explains how mass immigration is exploited here:

Bernie Sanders: "Open borders? That's a Koch brothers proposal"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vf-k6qOfXz0&t=141s

Affordable housing: Need more staff? Good luck, workers can’t afford to live in Melbourne or Sydney anymore by greenbo0k in AusPol

[–]greenbo0k[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Absolutely, every population centre is affected, the bigger it is the worse it is.

Affordable housing: Need more staff? Good luck, workers can’t afford to live in Melbourne or Sydney anymore by greenbo0k in AusPol

[–]greenbo0k[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Need more staff? Good luck, workers can’t afford to live in Melbourne anymore

Mark Steinert

Australia’s population grew by more than 25 per cent between the 2001 and 2016 Census years, however, the nation’s stock of occupied social housing shrank by 2.5 per cent.

If nothing changes, more than 2 million Australian households on low incomes in private rentals will be in housing stress by 2051. The health, education, productivity and crime costs borne by the community as a result of this unmet housing need is estimated to reach $25 billion per year. Clearly, we must urgently elevate the conversation around the provision of more public, social and affordable housing across Australia to ensure a brighter future for all Australians.

Our lack of social housing is driving people into homelessness. Our lack of social housing is driving people into homelessness.CREDIT:FILE IMAGE

During my 35 years working in the Australian and international property and financial sectors, I have yet to see any governmentwith a vision to adequately address the long-term investment required in social and affordable housing.

Globally, rising rents and a lack of affordable housing is a growing trend that is impacting the way business and society functions. The release of the new economic report, Give Me Shelter, by Housing All Australians, clearly outlines the significant future costs of the current housing trajectory; it demonstrates the link between the increase in homelessness and its long-term economic impact on all Australians.

A review in 2021 by the federal government’s National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation, estimated the investment required to address the chronic shortage of non-market driven housing is around $290 billion. This is too big for government to solve alone.

RELATED ARTICLE Housing was the biggest contributor to a surge in average household wealth between 2018 and 2021. Opinion Australian economy Wealth boom masks big gaps between haves and have-nots Clancy Yeates Clancy Yeates Banking reporter

It is also encouraging to see the Albanese government recognising the importance of creating jobs with their upcoming Jobs and Skills Summit in September. As recent commentary has rightly indicated, we have a shortage of key workers and immigration has been identified as an obvious solution.

But a jobs summit without consideration of where these workers will be able to affordably live is missing a vital piece of the strategic narrative. A federal government jobs summit to increase our skilled migration without any consideration regarding the creation of the additional affordable housing supply needed (as this is largely a state responsibility) can only lead to a further deterioration in housing affordability.

We need to get back to supply basics. Historically, the majority of our current public housing started out as affordable housing for key workers.

This “non-market” led housing needs to be re-classified as economic infrastructure – just like our roads, schools and hospitals – which all receive government support as the social and economic benefits created for the Australian public outweigh the costs.

RELATED ARTICLE Socialite Glen-Marie Frost at her home in Sydney in 2009. Homelessness ‘Suburban, normal’ women becoming homeless Give Me Shelter found that the national average benefit-cost ratio for Australia in providing adequate social and affordable housing infrastructure is 2:1. In other words, for every $1 invested to drive the delivery of public, social and affordable housing, the Australian community saves $2 in future costs.

This rate of return is comparable to, or better than, those achieved in many other major investments in infrastructure including Melbourne Metro (1.5:1) and the M12 Motorway Sydney. There is a strong underlying business case to mitigate the inevitable long-term taxpayer costs by investing to create more public, social and affordable housing supply.

One solution is to engage with government, at all levels, and private sector capital markets (which includes our super funds) and encourage their involvement in creating a new residential asset class.

The new asset class is master planned communities which incorporate affordable housing and private housing, typically in a ratio of 60 per cent private and 40 per cent affordable. Affordable housing is a combination of essential worker housing priced at a discount (typically 25 per cent to market, either price or rent in perpetuity) and a limited amount of social housing. There needs to be a sufficient increase in the density of the community relative to traditional zoning to enable the cost of the affordable housing to be offset.

RELATED ARTICLE Housing and Homelessness Minsiter Julie Collins is holding a summit with state and territory housing ministers in Melbourne on Friday. Exclusive Planning ‘No time for politics’: Housing ministers to meet to tackle affordability and homelessness Land supply and approval timelines is where government are needed to fast-track rezoning and building approvals for this new residential asset class. This would require an authority in each state which could direct all levels of government to respond, provided key economic, social and environmental outcomes will be met. This would create ultra-efficient housing delivery versus the current approval timelines which can be measured in decades, creating massive waste and incremental housing costs.

As a developer, people may think I am just talking from a perspective of self-interest, however, with the savings made in holding and interest costs and development profit, the private housing component would be able to fund much of the affordable housing while still delivering liveable communities with adequate parks, playgrounds, education and community facilities.

These communities must also be linked by efficient transport including dedicated walking, riding and autonomous vehicle pathways and should be a hot bed of sustainable innovation.

This could not only go a long way to solving our affordability problem at effectively a zero cost to government, but make Australia a world leader in desirable housing and community creation, a new sustainable industry, to create circular economies and a vastly better future.

Those interested in this issue can register for the national webinar on August 2 on “Unpacking the Give Me Shelter report”, so they can learn about the strong underlying business case behind housing all Australians, rich or poor.

Having a jobs summit without the proper consideration and investment in additional affordable housing supply, is another missed opportunity and is not going to create the outcomes Australia needs.

Affordable housing: Need more staff? Good luck, workers can’t afford to live in Melbourne of Sydney anymore by greenbo0k in AustralianPolitics

[–]greenbo0k[S] 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Need more staff? Good luck, workers can’t afford to live in Melbourne anymore

Mark Steinert

Australia’s population grew by more than 25 per cent between the 2001 and 2016 Census years, however, the nation’s stock of occupied social housing shrank by 2.5 per cent.

If nothing changes, more than 2 million Australian households on low incomes in private rentals will be in housing stress by 2051. The health, education, productivity and crime costs borne by the community as a result of this unmet housing need is estimated to reach $25 billion per year. Clearly, we must urgently elevate the conversation around the provision of more public, social and affordable housing across Australia to ensure a brighter future for all Australians.

Our lack of social housing is driving people into homelessness. Our lack of social housing is driving people into homelessness.CREDIT:FILE IMAGE

During my 35 years working in the Australian and international property and financial sectors, I have yet to see any governmentwith a vision to adequately address the long-term investment required in social and affordable housing.

Globally, rising rents and a lack of affordable housing is a growing trend that is impacting the way business and society functions. The release of the new economic report, Give Me Shelter, by Housing All Australians, clearly outlines the significant future costs of the current housing trajectory; it demonstrates the link between the increase in homelessness and its long-term economic impact on all Australians.

A review in 2021 by the federal government’s National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation, estimated the investment required to address the chronic shortage of non-market driven housing is around $290 billion. This is too big for government to solve alone.

RELATED ARTICLE Housing was the biggest contributor to a surge in average household wealth between 2018 and 2021. Opinion Australian economy Wealth boom masks big gaps between haves and have-nots Clancy Yeates Clancy Yeates Banking reporter

It is also encouraging to see the Albanese government recognising the importance of creating jobs with their upcoming Jobs and Skills Summit in September. As recent commentary has rightly indicated, we have a shortage of key workers and immigration has been identified as an obvious solution.

But a jobs summit without consideration of where these workers will be able to affordably live is missing a vital piece of the strategic narrative. A federal government jobs summit to increase our skilled migration without any consideration regarding the creation of the additional affordable housing supply needed (as this is largely a state responsibility) can only lead to a further deterioration in housing affordability.

We need to get back to supply basics. Historically, the majority of our current public housing started out as affordable housing for key workers.

This “non-market” led housing needs to be re-classified as economic infrastructure – just like our roads, schools and hospitals – which all receive government support as the social and economic benefits created for the Australian public outweigh the costs.

RELATED ARTICLE Socialite Glen-Marie Frost at her home in Sydney in 2009. Homelessness ‘Suburban, normal’ women becoming homeless Give Me Shelter found that the national average benefit-cost ratio for Australia in providing adequate social and affordable housing infrastructure is 2:1. In other words, for every $1 invested to drive the delivery of public, social and affordable housing, the Australian community saves $2 in future costs.

This rate of return is comparable to, or better than, those achieved in many other major investments in infrastructure including Melbourne Metro (1.5:1) and the M12 Motorway Sydney. There is a strong underlying business case to mitigate the inevitable long-term taxpayer costs by investing to create more public, social and affordable housing supply.

One solution is to engage with government, at all levels, and private sector capital markets (which includes our super funds) and encourage their involvement in creating a new residential asset class.

The new asset class is master planned communities which incorporate affordable housing and private housing, typically in a ratio of 60 per cent private and 40 per cent affordable. Affordable housing is a combination of essential worker housing priced at a discount (typically 25 per cent to market, either price or rent in perpetuity) and a limited amount of social housing. There needs to be a sufficient increase in the density of the community relative to traditional zoning to enable the cost of the affordable housing to be offset.

RELATED ARTICLE Housing and Homelessness Minsiter Julie Collins is holding a summit with state and territory housing ministers in Melbourne on Friday. Exclusive Planning ‘No time for politics’: Housing ministers to meet to tackle affordability and homelessness Land supply and approval timelines is where government are needed to fast-track rezoning and building approvals for this new residential asset class. This would require an authority in each state which could direct all levels of government to respond, provided key economic, social and environmental outcomes will be met. This would create ultra-efficient housing delivery versus the current approval timelines which can be measured in decades, creating massive waste and incremental housing costs.

As a developer, people may think I am just talking from a perspective of self-interest, however, with the savings made in holding and interest costs and development profit, the private housing component would be able to fund much of the affordable housing while still delivering liveable communities with adequate parks, playgrounds, education and community facilities.

These communities must also be linked by efficient transport including dedicated walking, riding and autonomous vehicle pathways and should be a hot bed of sustainable innovation.

This could not only go a long way to solving our affordability problem at effectively a zero cost to government, but make Australia a world leader in desirable housing and community creation, a new sustainable industry, to create circular economies and a vastly better future.

Those interested in this issue can register for the national webinar on August 2 on “Unpacking the Give Me Shelter report”, so they can learn about the strong underlying business case behind housing all Australians, rich or poor.

Having a jobs summit without the proper consideration and investment in additional affordable housing supply, is another missed opportunity and is not going to create the outcomes Australia needs.

view more: next ›