Wouldn’t it be great if Australia could solve two huge problems with one smart policy?

Barely a day goes by without hearing commentary for or against negative gearing in the mainstream media. Credit:Louie Douvis

The two problems I’m thinking of are the heartbreak of long and hopeless public housing waiting lists and their byproduct of homelessness (problem one) and the taxpayer burden (but property industry economic stimulus) that is negative gearing (problem two).

Barely a day goes by without hearing commentary for or against negative gearing in the mainstream media and the matter has been problematic for both sides of politics for successive elections. Should Australia continue the practice of middle class tax-breaks that is negative gearing? Or not? How big will the impact be on property and construction sector jobs if we don’t? How big the electoral fallout from Australians who have invested in the property market to help to secure their futures?

Meanwhile in Victoria alone there is a huge shortfall in homes to meet the demand for those currently on public housing waiting lists, not to mention what Industry Super Australia calculates as an overall shortfall of affordable housing nationally of 350,000 units. Then add to those numbers the silent demand – those who have fallen through the cracks into homelessness because they can’t see the point in adding their name to an already unfulfilled list. I walk past dozens of them every day in the CBD, as do you if you live or work here. I feel sad for them, but if I’m to be brutally honest they are confronting to me. Now isn’t that an awful way to feel about a fellow human being? Imagine how much better life would be for be for them, and for everyone else, if they had a roof over their head with lockable doors, privacy and dignity and a shower. Like I do, like you do.