We must change our thinking to help young on to housing ladder

Claire Lehmann draws attention to the need for housing supply to catch up to meet the needs of our increasing population (“Economic policy must house hope for young families”, 10/3). This demands more land be made available for building – whether rezoning or reusing suburban sites or greenfield rezoning.

Often, such actions are held up by NIMBYism (not in my backyard). Anyone who owns land or housing considers that they have paid also for their environment, and that this should not change without their approval. It is clear that population expansion cannot accommodate such NIMBYism. In practice, this can be overruled by authorities for special purposes. However, to accommodate general situations, it would be desirable to have the natural NIMBY in us restricted – possibly legislated – for the housing supply to increase faster.

Geoff Dunsford, Wahroonga, NSW

Australia does not have a housing affordability problem, it has a land affordability problem. As most people know, over the past 20 years or so the cost of building a new house in Australia has roughly kept pace with inflation. Land prices, however, have skyrocketed. By restricting the amount of land available on the urban fringe, state governments have sent the price of entry-level housing through the roof.

First-home ownership is about getting a start in the housing market, and in a modern, growing economy that can happen only on the urban fringe. The rising price of inner-suburban houses is caused by a growing demand from a growing population and a growing economy for a finite supply of goods – that is, lots of people all wanting to buy the same houses.

There is little governments can, or should, do about the price of goods that are forever increasing in demand. But there’s a lot they can and should do about fringe development – entry-level housing – where there’s an infinite supply of land available and a housing industry ready, willing and able to put good-quality houses on it at reasonable prices.

We shouldn’t care if house prices in inner suburbs cost over $2m as long as the entry level is under $400,000. Which it could be. Once on the housing ladder, the only way is up.

Bob Day, former senator, Adelaide

Coal reality

Labor MP Dan Repacholi may see no sign of a decline in the coal industry (“MP digs deep to shore up coal”, 10/3) but the International Energy Agency does. Fatih Birol, head of the IEA, reckons the world is fast approaching a “pivotal moment in energy history” as demand for fossil fuels nears an inflection point. Maybe Mr Repacholi needs to take off his protective goggles and look a little harder.

Lesley Walker, Northcote, Vic

Across the pages of The Australian, the heated energy transition debate continues. While MP Dan Repacholi digs in on coal, AGL looks set to fast-track its journey to becoming a renewable energy powerhouse (“AGL eyes gas group exit in green switch”, 10/3).

Many criticise the unreliability of solar and wind power, but coal can be unreliable too. Coalmines were flooded last year, causing coal supply shortages, and Callide C coal-fired power station in Queensland remains offline two years after a fire (“Coal closures, delays test power grid”, 10/3). The endgame is having 100 per cent renewable energy to achieve net zero by 2050. This will involve change over time to allow us to build on our industry capabilities as a nation in a more sustainable way. A clear plan is needed, particularly with regard to energy storage capacity (“No wind? No sun? There’s no firm plan for reliable power needs”, 10/3). Energy Minister Chris Bowen is in the hot seat. What say he?

Amy Hiller, Kew, Vic

Voicing concern

Chris Merritt’s article about the voice is on the money. It appears that Labor makes these big announcements without thinking it through. Roughly half the population think the voice is a nice idea without thinking it through also. The other half want more detail or believe it’s a racist idea that will lead to apartheid. It all could have been done in a much better way. I agree that the referendum is a dud, and is divisive at a time when we are seeking to be unified after the pandemic years.

Pamela Shepherd, Balgowlah, NSW

Covid test

The respiratory disease Covid is caused by the virus SARS-CoV-2; many people, including Trevor Farrant (Last Post, 10/3), have the misconception that the virus and the disease are the same thing. A Covid vaccination helps the body to build immunity against the disease; a vaccinated person has enhanced immunity to developing the Covid disease but can still be carrying and transmitting the virus that causes the disease.

Hence, vaccination does not prevent transmission, as Peter Ridd noted in his article (“One misstep for science, one giant leap in mistrust”, 8/3).

Martin Sirovs, Kedron, Qld