Housing

A more forceful, top-down approach might be the solution to Australia’s housing crisis.

Australia’s migration slowdown will ease housing issues but exacerbate its ageing population and fiscal problems, requiring unpopular entitlement reform and improved fertility rates to sustainably fund old-age benefits.

Peter Dutton claims cutting migration will free up over 100,000 homes and fix Australia’s housing crisis. But his numbers don’t add up and the impact will likely be minimal. Dutton’s playing to anti-migration sentiment rather than addressing the real policy drivers behind unaffordable housing.

The government’s policies are unlikely to solve Australia’s current housing crisis, which stems from both long-term zoning issues and a recent spike in construction costs. But it could be worse - at least they’ve avoided reckless ideas like rent freezes, which would devastate the housing market.

The rental affordability crisis has been overblown; why your shower should be a lot better; Chris Minns is doing great work on housing; the freaky side of politics and academia; and a little green bonus.