http://www.abc.net.au/news/2007-08-06/i ... ng/2523332Immigration a strain on housing
Posted Mon Aug 6, 2007 9:41am AEST
I have seen estimates of up to 300,000 immigrants (some 'temporary' on 457 visas) coming into Australia each year.
All of these need housing, food, infrastructure and the like. Immigration is a federal responsibility, should the Federal Government therefore not be acting, perhaps with the states, to provide this housing? I think we now know why housing is unaffordable! Similarly, the Federal Government should be providing money for the health and education needs of all these migrants. The Curtin/Chifley Labor governments certainly brought in huge numbers of migrants and demobilising soldiers and managed their housing and other needs without huge inflation, unlike now!
And can Australia support this huge inflow? The Murray/Darling system is running on empty, we are importing food from China (food I wouldn't eat!) bush is disappearing etc.
I have not heard anything from the Howard Government to admit this problem, they are even hiding the real immigration numbers! That inflow, and Howard's profligate, desperate spending to buy votes will ensure interest rates will keep on rising and rising and housing affordability recede aver further.
It would appear that housing prices continue to soar under a Labor government.
http://housingstressed.org.au/wp-conten ... System.pdf
Even more than they did under a Howard government.
-Kevin457