Summary
Highlights
Jonny Dymond introduces 'World Questions' focusing on Australia, a country facing significant challenges in housing, migration, crime, and future generations. The panel is introduced: Katy Gallagher (Minister for Finance, Labor government), John Pesutto (Opposition Liberal Party), Senator Sarah Hanson-Young (Australian Greens), and Alexandra Smith (Sydney Morning Herald).
Madeleine from Adelaide asks how to resolve the urgent need for more housing without developing more land, given climate and environmental concerns. The current housing market sees average house prices at nine times the average salary, making it unaffordable for many. The Labour government aims to build 1.2 million new homes but is already behind target. Senator Sarah Hanson-Young suggests building in existing developed areas rather than expanding into new land, criticising the 'easy option' of outward expansion which often lacks necessary infrastructure. John Pesutto agrees that a trade-off between environment and housing is not necessary, but highlights that governments are not adequately responding to population and transport growth patterns. He notes the need to provide both apartment-style living and detached homes. Alexandra Smith advocates for a cultural shift away from the traditional 'Australian dream' of large blocks, promoting higher density living for families. Katy Gallagher acknowledges housing affordability as a top-three issue, stressing that a lack of supply and workforce for construction are key problems requiring collaboration across all government levels. Madeleine reiterates her concern about the environmental trade-off, arguing that developing more land exacerbates climate issues, leading to more homelessness due to climate disasters, and calls for a change in attitude.
Ceinwen Gearon from Western Australia raises a question about Australia's failure to support its First Nations people, who face shorter lives, chronic illness, and higher incarceration rates. She asks how to improve outcomes and recognition of their culture. Alexandra Smith describes the situation as 'shameful', noting the division caused by the failed 2023 referendum on a consultative body (the 'Voice') for First Nations people. She highlights that the 'no' vote prevailed due to uncertainty about the Voice's role, setting the country back and demonstrating a deep divide. Katy Gallagher discusses the 'Closing the Gap' program, which has shown some progress in areas like birth weight but not enough in incarceration rates or overall education. She attributes the referendum's failure to it becoming 'very political' and lacking bipartisan support. John Pesutto emphasizes the need for 'hard work of delivering programs' and giving Indigenous communities a genuine say in how funds are deployed. Senator Hanson-Young expresses heartbreak over the referendum's failure, calling it a missed opportunity for reconciliation. She notes that First Nations people overwhelmingly voted 'yes', underscoring the need to rebuild trust and engage in 'truth telling' about historical and recent injustices.
Helen Chisholm from Mudgee, New South Wales, asks why there are not enough doctors in inland NSW, explaining that most medical graduates go to big cities. Life expectancies in remote areas are significantly lower. Katy Gallagher explains the challenge of providing healthcare across a vast country. She mentions the need to train more GPs and incentivise them to work in regional areas, as well as recruiting doctors from overseas. Senator Hanson-Young, who grew up in a country town, highlights the decline in rural healthcare services over decades due to systematic funding cuts and lack of prioritisation, citing reduced hospital services and midwifery. She believes more politicians should spend time in regional areas to ensure funding flows. Katy Gallagher disputes underfunding, pointing to significant investments like $3.5 billion into Medicare. She adds that the reluctance of insurers to cover birthing services in smaller hospitals without gynaecologists or obstetricians is a significant barrier. John Pesutto argues that governments underestimate healthcare demand, making it a funding issue, particularly at the state level. He also notes the financial pressures on GP clinics, such as payroll taxes on tenant doctor arrangements, making it harder for them to operate sustainably. Helen shares her personal experience, stating that Mudgee, only 2.5 hours from Sydney, has a healthcare crisis, with both medical practices closing their books and residents travelling hundreds of kilometres to see a doctor.
Dennis Tolkach from Queensland, working in higher education, asks about the future of Australia's international education given policy uncertainties and a drop in student numbers, which negatively impacts the sector and economy. International students are a huge export industry, with 800,000 students contributing billions, but concerns exist about their impact on migration and housing. The government has introduced a 'soft cap' on visa processing. John Pesutto argues against blaming international students for Australia's challenges, emphasizing their social, cultural, and economic importance as the third or fourth largest export. He warns against cutting student numbers due to risks to domestic demand and job losses in tertiary education. Alexandra Smith agrees that international students are crucial to universities and the economy, but stresses that blaming them for housing issues is misplaced. She suggests better housing provisions for students rather than targeting them, recalling the negative impact of border closures during COVID-19. Dennis confirms experiencing negative impacts, with university redundancies due to policy changes and ongoing uncertainty. Katy Gallagher states the government consulted with education providers to set reasonable caps, addressing integrity issues in the international education market, especially vocational training. She explains the aim to manage significant increases post-COVID and to prioritise visas for regional and smaller universities. Senator Hanson-Young attributes the current situation to decades of systematic cuts to university funding by previous conservative governments, forcing universities to rely on international students as 'cash cows'. She criticizes the conflation of international students with migration numbers as 'lazy' and a political tactic, arguing that Australia should leverage the 'soft diplomatic power of education' in the Asia Pacific region. Dennis appreciates the panel's comments, reiterating the need for government support for domestic students and regional universities, especially given skilled labour shortages in these areas.