A coordinated national approach to housing supply is urgently needed, one that focuses not only on housing targets, but on infrastructure delivery, feasibility and liveability.

I refer to Anne Field's letter to the PM and Premier on housing crisis published in the 27 th of May edition of the St George Sutherland Shire Leader.

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The current housing crisis in Australia cannot be viewed through a single lens. While there is understandable community concern surrounding increased density, building heights, infrastructure pressure and changes to neighbourhood character, we must also acknowledge the underlying issue that brought us here in the first place: a prolonged housing supply shortage.

For many years, demand for housing in Australia has significantly outpaced supply. Basic economics tells us that when demand continually exceeds supply, prices rise. We are now seeing the consequences of this imbalance, with median house prices in Sydney now sitting at well over 13 times average household incomes in many areas.

Successive Federal Governments have largely responded with demand side policies rather than meaningful long term supply reform. Measures such as low deposit schemes may assist some buyers into the market initially, however they can also unintentionally increase competition within particular price brackets, which in turn places further upward pressure on prices.

At the same time, the Federal Government acknowledges that supply is the central issue and has announced significant housing targets and funding initiatives aimed at increasing construction nationally. However, proposed changes to capital gains tax concessions and negative gearing have also created uncertainty within the development and investment sectors, potentially discouraging some of the very housing supply the market desperately needs.

The practical responsibility for delivering increased housing supply has now largely shifted to State and Local Government, which is why communities across Sydney are witnessing rapid planning reforms, rezonings and large scale Masterplans. Unsurprisingly, this has generated considerable concern regarding infrastructure capacity, traffic congestion, parking shortages and the preservation of local character.

As a local real estate agent working closely with developers, builders, buyers and everyday families, I can say that affordability is far more complex than simply increasing density. Construction costs have risen substantially, financing costs remain elevated and many development projects no longer stack up financially once feasibility margins are properly assessed. In many cases, the end product still remains unaffordable to the average buyer despite the intention to improve affordability.

Meanwhile, the Reserve Bank continues attempting to combat inflation primarily through interest rate policy. While higher interest rates may reduce discretionary spending, much of the inflation Australians have experienced in recent months has been driven by external pressures including global conflict, instability in the Middle East and rising energy costs. The reality is that everyday Australians cannot simply stop spending on essential goods and services needed to live.

I strongly support Anne Field's suggestion for the establishment of an Intergovernmental Housing Delivery Taskforce across Federal, State and Local Government. Australia cannot solve a national housing crisis while operating in disconnected silos. A coordinated national approach is urgently needed, one that focuses not only on housing targets, but also on infrastructure delivery, feasibility, liveability and genuine long term implementation.

Housing supply absolutely matters. But so too does thoughtful planning, infrastructure coordination and meaningful community consultation.

Calling on loyal Arsenal fans

I am a long standing Arsenal fan, having watched them play at Highbury in late November 1974.

Actually, it was the day after i arrived in London for a 3 month tour of Britain , Europe and Scandinavia, that i went to Highbury to watch them play. Today, i belong to Arsenal Australia who are a group of loyal supporters.

Charlie George was my favourite player in the 1970s . i was immediately hooked at the English Premier League : the skill , the speed and the enthusiasm of the fans. Arsenal recently made a video on George, as he is known as the " King of Highbury".

Bukayo Saka, no 7 is my current favourite player, and i sat on the bench at his spot in the dressing room on Friday , November 21 2025 when i did a tour of The Emirates Stadium .I have a soft spot for David Raya, as goalkeeper . My late partner was an excellent goal keeper, who played in the North of England, before emigrating many years ago to Australia.

I saw Arsenal play again at Highbury, in the Christmas Derby , on a very chilly day in late December 1983. In May 2013, i went past The Emirates Stadium , which opened in 2006. I was en- route to a football presentation in the north of England, which honoured 50 years since Harold's team won a major trophy. I vowed then that i would return one day, and make it to an Arsenal game . And I did return , on November 23 2025 . Arsenal played Tottenham Hotspurs and won convincingly. An amazing experience to be at The Emirates for my first visit and proudly wearing my new red and white Arsenal scarf.

On the day of the game, i visited the excellent Museum well before kick off. What an amazing experience to again be able to watch Arsenal play The stadium, with its Arsenal fans passionately singing North London Forever , gave me goose bumps . The people sitting next to me on one side were from Texas, USA and i had a London family on the other side . There was a lot of jumping up and down during the match , lots of chanting , and hugging when the goals were scored. So going to a match is hard work !

The fans at this November 23 2025 match reflected a multicultural background. Arsenal supporters live in many countries of the world . The outpouring of celebrations, around the world when Arsenal recently winning the Premier League, have been amazing . And i doubt, that any other major football club in the world has this level of world support.

If Arsenal win on Sunday morning AEST 2am against Paris Saint- Germaine (PSG) they will be the third English Club to win in Europe this year . Aston Villa recently won the UEFA Europa Cup against Freiburg in Instabul , Turkey. And Crystal Palace won the UEFA Conference League against Rayo Vallenco in Liepzip , Germany .

So Go the Gunners on Sunday morning 2am . i will be watching with another Gunner ,along with many other people around the world.