‘Termite mound high-rises’: Dick Smith’s warning as population numbers show migrant surge

As new stats reveal that net permanent and long-term migrants have hit a record high, Dick Smith has warned the migration surge will make housing even less affordable for young people.

Australia urgently needs a population plan to stop our standards of living “going backwards” leading businessman Dick Smith has said, as new figures reveal the nation is on track to add another half million migrants to our population by the end of the year.

“It’s ridiculous, and it’s not good for young people who will find it even more difficult to buy a house,” Smith said, adding that he was concerned about children being raised in what he called “termite mound high rises”.

“In Australia we should at least be able to have a backyard the kids can play in.”

Smith’s comments came as the Australian Bureau of Statistics revealed that net permanent and long term migrants hit a record high of 356,940 for the period from January to August 2024.

Dick Smith says our standard of living will go backwards if Australia has no population plan. Picture: Justin Lloyd

At that rate, the number of new migrants for 2024 would easily cross the 500,000 mark by the end of the year.

In August alone, the nation recorded the arrival of 23,780 new migrants, while during the same month just 13,991 new dwellings were approved across the country.

“Australia should have a population plan, just like every Australian family has a plan for the number of children they can give a good life to,” said Smith, who said that while he was firmly pro-migration, numbers should be cut to around 75,000 per year.

According to Dick Smith, there aren’t enough new dwellings to accommodate the migrant surge. Picture: AAP Image/Dean Lewins

“Otherwise we will be on track for 100 million people by the end of the century, and no one thinks that is a sensible idea for an arid country like Australia.”

Daniel Wild, Deputy Executive Director of the Institute of Public Affairs, laid blame at the feet of Labor for the “crisis”.

“The federal government’s out-of-control migration intake continues to be one of the most significant social and economic failures in Australia’s history.”

“The number of new dwelling approvals remains drastically lower than the number of new arrivals alone, meaning the great Australian dream of owning a home is being denied to the next generation of Australians and new arrivals alike.”

“These record level of intakes have not been planned for, are unsustainable, and have fuelled the perfect storm of high inflation, declining household incomes, and ever-higher house prices and rents,” he said.

Originally published as ‘Termite mound high-rises’: Dick Smith’s warning as population numbers show migrant surge