In a nation where owning a home is deeply ingrained in their culture, Aussies have faced a particular predicament over the past years.

The country's housing crisis became a source of growing concern, particularly for seniors who worry about the future housing prospects for their kin.

With property prices soaring and the dream of home ownership slipping away for many, the search for a culprit is on.


Some fingers have pointed towards immigration as the root cause of the housing shortage.

However, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese presented a different perspective on the issue.

During a candid conversation on ABC's Q+A, Prime Minister Albanese tackled the contentious issue head-on.


Prime Minister Albanese challenged the notion that record-high immigration levels have been the primary driver of Australia's housing crisis.

However, Albanese argued that the spike was expected after reopening the country's borders after COVID-19.

'Australians are coming home, visitors are coming here for the first time, and students,' Prime Minister Albanese shared.

However, Albanese quickly shifted the focus to the crux of the issue.


Prime Minister Albanese emphasised that the key to making housing more affordable lies in the supply.

This perspective aligned with the concerns of many experts.

These experts argued that Australia's housing market woes were due to insufficient construction of new homes that should meet the growing population's needs.

Prime Minister Albanese also pointed out that the previous Coalition government had blocked Labor's plan to cap annual international student numbers at 270,000.

Yet, he clarified that it's skilled workers who have driven the demand to buy property.

'On immigration, particularly when it comes to housing, the biggest thing that you could do, an area where you could reduce the amount is in students because some of that frankly was being abused,' Prime Minister Albanese said.


According to 2023 data, Australia's immigration levels reached up to 500,000 individuals—that's just two years after reopening borders.

Last year, Australia took in over 444,000 immigrants.
In a moment of personal reflection, Prime Minister Albanese acknowledged the double-edged sword of rising house prices.

While homeowners benefit from increased property values, it also made it more challenging for first-time buyers to enter the market.

This admission underscored the complexity of the country's housing affordability issue.

Typical asking prices for houses now hover at around $1 million.

So, an average Australian earning a full-time salary of $102,742 could now be priced out of the capital city housing markets.

This is particularly disheartening for Australians who keep on saving for a mortgage deposit, only to find that house prices in certain areas still climb higher.


Albanese's government, along with state premiers, committed to building 1.2 million 'well-located' homes over the next five years.

However, the current pace of the construction fell short of the annual target needed to meet this goal.

Along with it, the construction industry also faced several challenges, including high material costs and increased risk of insolvency.

Housing Minister Clare O'Neil's comments last year also stirred the pot.

Minister O'Neil stated that the government's aim was not to lower house prices but to moderate the rate of growth to sustainable levels.

Minister O'Neil's stance sparked a debate among those who feel that more aggressive measures are needed to cool the overheated market.

As we navigate these complex issues, it's clear that there's no single cause or quick fix for Australia's housing crisis.

It's a multifaceted problem that requires a multifaceted solution.
How has the housing market affected you or your loved ones? What solutions could help alleviate the crisis? Join the discussion in the comments below, and let's talk about this pressing issue together.