A Nation Divided Downunder!
Australia is split into thirds when it comes to housing. A third of adult Aussies own their homes out right, another third are in the processing of paying off their home loans to banks, and a final third will never own their own home. This last third of adult Australians is growing fast in numbers. A nation divided downunder! Meanwhile, governments go around telling us that it is a supply shortage problem. This is not the whole truth, but in any case they are unable to increase the rate of homes being built due to a variety of issues. Whilst this Catch 22 situation is going on the prices of residential property in the cities are forever rising. This makes the first third very happy and wealthier every day. The second third are aspirationally happy, knowing that if and when they get there they will be wealthy. The last third are dealing with sky high rents and struggling to financially survive. Their mental health would not be all that great, I suggest.
Australian Haves & Have Nots
The media talks about the struggles of renters and the fact that rents in cities have gone up on average by 44%. In many instances that rise is much larger.
“Australian renters are paying on average an extra $204 per week to keep a roof over their heads compared to five years ago, representing an increase of nearly 44 per cent.
Median rental prices have risen to more than $700 per week for the first time, according to Cotality's Quarterly Rental Review.
The Tenants' Union of NSW says rising rents are driving people away from employment.”
- (https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10-08/rental-prices-surge-almost-44-per-cent-review-finds/105865000)
What I don’t ever hear is how much money landlords are now making. If you consider that there are some landlords who own hundreds of rental properties, an extra 44% of revenue is a huge windfall. It is like the media feels safe talking about the victims and the losers but is too afraid to question the beneficiaries. Australia has no substantial progressive or Leftist media and bugger all in the way of representation in this regard on the political front. Yes, we have the Greens, but they seem stuck in a too small minority to make a real difference. Neoliberalism and the Right run the show on both sides of the aisle. In Australia houses are more important than humans.
Political Hemispheres Downunder
Labor tinkers around the edges and congratulates itself on playing politics to win. A nation divided downunder! However, you never get anything substantial done by always playing politics, as we have seen in the endless energy debate and its consequent failings. PM Anthony Albanese is a masterful politician without appearing to be so. The departed Peter Dutton found this out to his misfortune. The Labor federal government is behaving like a victim of a brain injury. The Right side of the cerebral cortex has been damaged (the Libs were decimated at the last election) but the clever brain has compensated by getting the Left side to behave as the opposite side once had. Therefore, we are not seeing any progressive headway because Albo is sucking up to those on the Right. Despite having the largest parliamentary advantage ever, his government is not seizing the opportunity to make real change. It makes for depressing viewing.
Gotcha Murdoch Press Moments
Now, we are seeing the usual gotcha stuff emerging, as the corporate media and Murdoch controlled press go after the spending of politicians. They have to sell newspapers via paywalls and get eyeballs on their screens. Rouse the ire of the losers and embittered folk by painting pollies as abusers of the public purse. Old games never tire, it seems. Getting the government to be on the nose, is the first obligation of the opposition and if they are so useless then Murdoch’s minions will step in. Attacking the sports minister for attending grand finals and keeping com cars waiting. What is she going to do spend hours trying to leave the ground after the game? Plus, how dare she take her family along! It is all terribly small minded stuff.
Macro Corruption In Australia
Especially, if you put it alongside the $368 billion designated spend on AUKUS. No worries about billions being wasted on defence scams, which are always the biggest wasters of money in history. Paying through the nose to assuage fears of the yellow peril is not a problem downunder. I would advise you to pay attention to who is leading you by the nose and who they work for. Dumb Aussies are the biggest losers in the world to corporate bookmakers and pokies. Not the sharpest tools in the shed when it comes to the blame game and the politics of grievance. Headlines and shouting voices are not fail safe measures of trustworthiness in the media. Wake up Australia!
A nation divided downunder! Half the nation is getting richer and the other half is rapidly getting poorer. Not a recipe for harmonious social cohesion.
Hey, do you think the fact that this housing affordability issue is happening everywhere that it might be neoliberal avarice screwing us!!!!
“I live in a street where many of the houses are nearing a million dollar value. This is not exceptional in today’s Australia. However, I wonder why, if my suburb is worth hundreds of millions of dollars the essential electricity is carried on vulnerable poles and wires? You see, I live in SE Queensland where storms are common place and happen every season. Climate change is making everything worse, of course. Access to power is more important in this modern era than ever before, as everything runs on electricity. The internet is dependent upon it, as are smart phones, and every house and shop are connected up to the online grid to run things. Why in millionaire alley, do storms still wreak havoc? “
- (https://www.golfdom.com.au/why-in-millionaire-alley-do-storms-still-wreak-havoc/)
Robert Sudha Hamilton is the author of What Price Life?; America Matters: Pre-apocalyptic Posts & Essays in the Shadow of Trump; and other titles. NOW AVAILABLE AT APPLE BOOKS & GOOGLE PLAY BOOKS. Google Play Books AUDIOBOOK
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