Governing on the Downslope of Collapse

Karl FitzgeraldTrue Cost EconomicsLeave a Comment

Paul Meleng In the era that is now past, the Lucky country of Oz and the amazing USA grew on the back of free (or stolen) land and resources and a booming supply of energy. There was always something new for governments to give away or announce. “New” land and frontiers gave the brave an alternative to low wage slavery. We might … Read More

Magic Money Quotes

Karl FitzgeraldCommentary, Hot Issues5 Comments

Earthsharing and Australia’s 2nd richest man Harry Triguboff are quoted in Forget Undersupply, We’ve Got Too Many Houses, AFR July 7-8: Apartment billionaire Harry Triguboff was surprisingly candid at a lunch held by the American Chamber of Commerce last October. He told the audience he was able to pay “very little tax”. “I keep a lot of my properties. And … Read More

Housing Oversupply Evidence Builds

Karl FitzgeraldHot Issues2 Comments

The Financial Review’s Ben Hurley has revealed an absolute game changer in the age old housing supply debate: Adjusted by Morgan Stanley researchers to allow for a potential census under count, the 228,000-home undersupply becomes a 341,000-home oversupply. This adds to the imperative for better checks and balances in housing supply analysis. Our recent Speculative Vacancies report revealed Melbourne had … Read More

Over 90,000 Empty Houses Amidst Housing Crisis

Karl FitzgeraldCampaigns, Hot Issues6 Comments

20 June 2012 There are 90,700 vacant houses in Melbourne – 5.9 per cent of the total – according to Earthsharing Australia’s 5th annual Speculative Vacancies Report. “Our lazy land use makes a mockery of the drive for affordable housing,” researcher Philip Soos said today. Vacancy hotspots include: Docklands 14.1%, Williams Landing 13.5% and Truganina 12.9% where construction has clearly … Read More

Sinking Thailand

Karl FitzgeraldArticles, InternationalLeave a Comment

Alex Stott I live in Bangkok, Thailand’s exciting, sweaty capital city. A fantastic urban mega jungle containing at least 12 million people, some of the best food in the world and sky scrapers as far as the eye can see. Construction is booming and everything is accelerating skywards and outwards. Office buildings, gigantic air conditioned shopping malls and high rise … Read More