Federal MP for Labor Kelvin Thomson penned an interesting piece on the recent volatility of
state and federal government while expressing some consternation on the effects
of population growth in Australia. While it is heartening to see this being
acknowledged by any politician who holds office, Kevin still fails to recognise
how rabid population growth can adversely affect pre-existing occupants. This
narrative is absent from the Laberal parties and the Greens
for all their hand wringing on sustainability are also complicit to the
omission of this topic, particularly when reviewing their policy platform.Kelvin notes that in 2004 Australia had a net migration program of 100 000 in the next three years it drastically increased to > 200 000, where it remains today. Thomson states that the Howard government was responsible for these increases and considers this to be a major issue as to why they lost power in 2007 however this was never part of either side’s campaign. From then on Labor has continued to maintain the immigration influx, which in turn is also continued today by the present government. Thomson continues to opine that it makes sense to slow the population “car” down and concentrate on solving the electorate’s true problems if any politician is to obtain “respectable time in office”. The missive stops there and only clips at the real issue of population growth and the present economic model based on maintaining growth.
When looking at ABS quarterly data for immigration from 1990
onward in contrast to federal government tenure the trend of Net Overseas
Migration (NOM) does spike in the middle of the Howard government’s term in the
March quarter of 2001 the trend also increases throughout the early Rudd years
from 2006 to 2008.
The trends also become more evident when reviewing the
census data for per cent population change where the same spikes and trends
reveal themselves.
As long as this issue is being glossed over we will see volatility
in government because the incumbents are not able to be transparent in relation
to our predicament and have no alternative solutions. While it is fair to say
that demographics change as a function of immigration it is foolish to only
acknowledge this as the sole issue associated with the volatility observed in
elective government here in Australia.
Population growth in excess causes the following:
·
Bottlenecks in existing
infrastructure (health system, public transport, roads)
·
Increased competition for
employment in a diminishing jobs market
·
Shortages of affordable housing
where supply is not being met
Although the points above provide only a short list the unintended
consequences are manifold. Over the course of 2014 the hours worked for
employment has decreased, youth unemployment reached 13.5% in June 2014. While
we are no Greece regarding unemployment the federal government continues to
relax the terms on which working visas are issued, this should be infuriating
the unions and the ALP but they are silent on the matter. The clear absence of
affordable housing taking up the slack in the face of imported demand in the form
of immigration is also taking its toll. The government continues to seek out
“animal spirits” and a “confidence fairy” in the face of the populace trying to
play the only game in town, that being real estate speculation. Amid all the fervor of property prices has anyone begun to ask who will be the greater
fool? If it’s your children it might be time to pause from the circle jerk,
take a breath, and reflect on what kind of world you will be leaving behind.
It suits both sides of politics to maintain the
status quo of the politico housing complex additionally current tax regulations
(negative gearing, cuts to capital gains) cloud
the judgement of those incumbents who currently hold > 300 million
dollars worth of property portfolios and that is being conservative. Take a
good look because none of these people declare conflicts of interest when
remotely considering reforming our tax system.
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