Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #betternotbigger, aggregated by home.social.
Australia keeps marching toward record population growth, yet we rarely stop to ask what rapid density does to social cohesion. Calhoun’s famous mouse experiment is not a perfect analogy for humans, but it is a reminder that abundance alone does not guarantee a healthy society. Worth a read.
#population #australia #immigration #universe25 #auspol #BetterNotBigger
https://www.sciencehistory.org/stories/magazine/mouse-heaven-or-mouse-hell/
So Melbourne’s now the ninth most unaffordable city in the world to buy a home. But let’s be real—Sydney’s been unaffordable for years, Brisbane’s catching up fast, Perth’s gone mad, Adelaide’s no bargain, and even Hobart’s cooked.
Darwin and Canberra? Same story.
It's a nationwide housing disaster, and the only people winning are developers and investors. The rest of us are locked out.
#housingcrisis #australia #auspol #rentalcrisis #BetterNotBigger
For all the rusted-on LNP voters who bang on about immigration and “protecting Aussie values” — here’s your party quietly pushing for a huge increase in migration to serve their corporate mates.
Same people who yell “No room!” for refugees are now cheering for more overseas workers to keep wages low and profits high.
You’re being played. Again.
City of Moreton Bay Clears Homeless Camps, Discards Belongings.
The City of Moreton Bay Council has started removing tents and personal belongings of rough sleepers as part of a crackdown on "illegal" homeless encampments.
Early Wednesday morning, council rangers and police began dismantling campsites north of Brisbane, leaving those without shelter with even fewer options.
#MoretonBay #Homelessness #HousingCrisis #BetterNotBigger #Greed
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-04-10/city-of-moreton-bay-throws-homeless-tents-away-eddie-hyland-park/105158476
Living Standards in Crisis: A Decade of Stagnation.
Over the past 10 years, living standards in Australia have taken a massive hit. Disposable incomes per person have grown by a mere 0.15% annually—one of the weakest performances in the developed world.
This isn’t just a number—it’s a reflection of the struggles families face every day. It’s time to ask: why are we falling behind, and what can be done to turn this around?
#LivingStandards #EconomicCrisis #Australia #IncomeGrowth #BetterNotBigger #Auspol https://www.macrobusiness.com.au/2025/03/living-standards-collapsed-under-labor-and-coalition/
@dyckron wow! Same problems down under; as a growing number of councils across Australia clamp down on illegal camping, one local government is taking a different approach to people temporarily residing in parks throughout the area.
#homelessness #property #greed #BetterNotBigger
https://au.news.yahoo.com/illegal-camping-spirals-as-council-takes-compassionate-approach-to-growing-problem-064313940.html
@KilKerrin How convenient for developers! Higher-density housing might help with affordability, but not if it sacrifices the character of our suburbs. Genuine community input should shape this, not just profit-driven motives. Millennials deserve better solutions than cookie-cutter high-rises. #BetterNotBigger #auspol
Sydney’s ‘Bold Vision’ for high rise #slums.
Premier Minns gaslighting follows last decade’s high-rise apartment boom, which plastered #Sydney with poor-quality, defective shoe boxes. #BetterNotBigger #auspol #housingcrisis
https://www.macrobusiness.com.au/2024/11/sydneys-bold-vision-for-high-rise-slums/
@abcfeeds The decline in Australia's birth rate, from 2.7 children per family to just one, is a direct outcome of mass immigration policies that drive up the cost of living, especially housing. When local families are priced out of the market and face economic uncertainty, having children becomes less affordable. This isn't simply a demographic shift—it's the result of policies that put population growth ahead of the economic wellbeing of Australian citizens. Until we address these underlying issues, the fertility rate will likely continue to fall.
Is Australia’s middle class falling behind? With inflation and skyrocketing house prices, financial stability feels out of reach for many Australians. Even households with six-figure incomes are struggling to pay rent or mortgages, let alone afford any luxuries. Some are postponing retirement or taking on extra work just to make ends meet.
#costofliving #australia #inflation #middleclass #housingcrisis #financialstress #economy #retirement #sidehustle #australianeconomy #affordability #BetterNotBigger #auspol
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-10-06/is-australia-s-middle-class-falling-behind-/104431132
Tent city expands in a NSW town once known for its affordability. Housing Minister Rose Jackson admits the government is struggling to keep up with the growing housing crisis.
#nsw #housingcrisis #tentcity #affordablehousing #australiannews #costofliving #homelessness #rentalcrisis #BetterNotBigger #auspol https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-09-18/tent-city-homelessness-woes-housing-rent-crisis-grafton-nsw/104286284
Rather than pursuing a high-rise slum future, immigration should be limited to a level below the nation’s capacity to provide high-quality housing and infrastructure, and within the natural environment’s carrying capacity, particularly water. Lower, sustainable immigration, in line with the pre-2005 average, will encourage the building sector to focus on quality over quantity and help alleviate the housing shortfall. The high-rise apartment boom of the last decade was an unmitigated disaster that we are still paying for.
#immigrationpolicy #sustainablegrowth #housingcrisis #urbanplanning #australianhousing #qualityoverquantity #populationcontrol #watersecurity #infrastructureplanning #highriseboom #auspol #betternotbigger
Australian apartments are a financial trap. Policymakers, think tanks, the media, and the property lobby are pushing for Australians to live in high-rise apartments to accommodate an additional 13.5 million people in the country over the next 39 years.
#housingcrisis #australianapartments #propertymarket #urbanplanning #populationgrowth #housingpolicy #financialtrap #australianhousing #highrisedevelopment #BetterNotBigger
https://www.macrobusiness.com.au/2024/09/australian-apartments-are-a-financial-trap/
More people are seeking help as Australia's economy slows down, #RBA governor acknowledges "Some may ultimately make the difficult decision to sell their homes"
#ausecon #auspol #LuckyCountry #BetterNotBigger #auseconomy
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-09-05/rba-michele-bullock-more-australians-seeking-help-cost-of-living/104313588
The number of international students starting at Australian universities and vocational training providers will be capped from next year. The federal government plans to limit this to 270,000 students, with specific caps for each institution. #australia #internationalstudents #education #university #vocationaltraining #governmentreform
#auspol #BetterNotBigger
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-08-27/international-student-caps-higher-education/104274056
#Brisbane City Council takes away rough sleeper's tent during #Homelessness Week #rentalcrisis #housingcrisis #propertyDevelopers #PopulationPonzi ##BetterNotBigger https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-08-09/council-removes-tent-during-homelessness-week/104196268
The higher #education #lobby is upset as the Albanese government proposes capping #internationalstudents at 40% of total enrolments. Could this mean the end for student visa factories?
#Auspol #BetterNotBigger
https://www.macrobusiness.com.au/2024/08/student-visa-factories-threaten-to-close/
Australia's economic stability is threatened by a potential #recession, driven by a dramatic decline in international students. As Labor pushes to cap foreign enrolments to curb migration, questions arise about whether our economy's reliance on a population boom resembles a #Ponzischeme . #Australia #Economy #InternationalStudents #MigrationPolicy #RecessionRisk #PopulationBoom #PropertyLobby
#BetterNotBigger
ANZ's new 50-year mortgage proposal has been labelled a dangerous option that Australians should "avoid at all costs." Experts warn it could leave borrowers "shackled" with debt, potentially costing them hundreds of thousands of dollars in the long run. #MortgageWarning #FinancialAdvice #ANZ #DebtAwareness #FinanceTips #AustralianHousing #AvoidDebt #Auspol #PonziScheme #BetterNotBigger #Ausproperty
Meet a 58-year-old earning $609 a week, yet unable to afford rent and ineligible for social housing. She's just one of the 20,000 people experiencing homelessness in Queensland. We must do better.
#Homelessness #Queensland #AffordableHousing #rentalcrisis #housingcrisis #auspol #BetterNotBigger
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-08-02/queensland-housing-stress-rental-social-housing-homelessness/104147202
Australia can't sustain endless population growth. In 39 years, our population is projected to hit 40.5 million, adding the equivalent of another Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane. Regional councils already struggle with revenue to support this. We can't afford the "Big Australia" our leaders envision. #PopulationGrowth #BigAustralia #BetterNotBigger #auspol
https://www.macrobusiness.com.au/2024/08/australia-cannot-afford-endless-population-growth/
Australia's #homelessness #crisis claims another victim. Mary, 71, was evicted and couldn't find affordable rent. This isn't the retirement she dreamed of . #rentalcrisis #housingcrisis #BetterNotBigger #auspol
"I’m scared I’m going to die." More Australians are sleeping rough as the housing crisis deepens. There aren’t enough beds, funding, or staff to help the thousands in tents or cars each night. #HousingCrisis #Homelessness #Australia #RentalCrisis #BetterNotBigger
Norway’s Sovereign Wealth Fund is now valued at almost $340,000 per person, showcasing a robust strategy to support its ageing population.
If Australian policymakers properly taxed our resources, we wouldn't need to worry about federal budget debt. We wouldn't have to rely on #massimmigration to fill budget gaps, passing costs to states and residents.
#Australia needs a smart, sustainable approach—not a #Ponzischeme masked by record population growth.
Unfortunately, the Albanese Government has embraced a “ #BigAustralia ” model, launching one of the world’s largest immigration programs. As a result, Australians will face a crowded, high-rise future in a deteriorating environment.
Canada's economy is facing serious challenges, with an unexpected population boom surpassing even the highest growth projections from Statistics Canada. This should serve as a warning to #Australia about the potential consequences of following a similar high immigration growth model. Both countries need to reconsider this approach urgently. #auspol #BetterNotBigger #PopulationPonzi
https://www.macrobusiness.com.au/2024/07/canadas-economic-implosion-a-warning-for-australia/
House prices have skyrocketed, making home ownership out of reach for many. This financial strain contributes to declining birth rates, as people hesitate to start families under heavy debt. Policymakers must acknowledge this issue. Without affordable housing and real wage growth, our society’s future is at risk. Let’s demand change for a sustainable and prosperous tomorrow. #HousingCrisis #AffordableHousing #PolicyChange #FutureGenerations #auspol #BetterNotBigger
A photo showing near hundreds of people queueing up for a food bank in an inner-city suburb reflects "the sad new reality of our country", Aussies say, with charity organisers warning the number of those seeking help has "grown exponentially" in recent months #auspol #BetterNotBigger #auseconomy #greed
Australia is facing a housing crisis characterised by high costs and insufficient supply relative to its population. Despite building more homes per 100,000 people than Canada, the US, and the UK, and dedicating a significant portion of its economy to housing construction, the sector employs around 1.35 million people. Yet, completion times are increasing due to poor supply chains, labor shortages, and low-quality construction. In New South Wales, half of the high-rise projects have significant defects.
The government aims to address this by focusing on the supply side, as outlined in the budget attachment "Statement 4: Meeting Australia’s Housing Challenge" from the Treasury. It acknowledges the housing shortage, emphasising that insufficient homes are being built in the right areas to meet community needs. The statement discusses the causes of the housing undersupply, its impact on affordability, and the necessary changes to accelerate housing supply.
According to the government, this undersupply is driving up rents, mortgage repayments, and house prices. However, while the government talks about solutions, the effectiveness of these measures remains to be seen. A critical issue is the high levels of migration, which should be curtailed to align demand with long-term averages. Both sides of politics have mentioned this during budget discussions, but as highlighted in my recent show "The Migration Question Amplified; But Not Tackled… By Anyone!", it often ends up as mere rhetoric.
In reality, neither political side seems ready to address the issue seriously, despite its direct link to higher inflation. Consequently, we can expect prolonged higher inflation, necessitating higher interest rates than would otherwise be required.
#housingcrisis ##rentalcrisis #auspol #massimmigration #BetterNotBigger #inflation
As power shifts back to employers, workers brace for lower wages. The latest employment report shows that job listings have returned to around pre-pandemic levels, while the number of applicants per job has surged by about 55% compared to the same time in 2019. This sharp increase in applicants per job ad is particularly troubling, as it suggests an oversupply of workers competing for a limited number of positions. #auspol #BetterNotBigger
https://www.macrobusiness.com.au/2024/05/power-bosses-workers-brace-for-lower-wages/