Greater Sydney has 'housing supply crisis' as report warns prices will continue to surge

18/6/2021

(See Translation in Arabic Section)

Sydney - M E Times Int'l: Greater Sydney's eye-watering house prices have surged this year with a new report warning there will be more rises on the way.

The Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA) released a report today which claimed the NSW government has been slow to release land so homes can be built, and that this has created a shortage that is driving house prices up.

On the same day, NSW Planning Minister Rob Stokes announced land in south-west Sydney would be rezoned to help meet the demand.

About 18,000 homes could be built in Glenfield, Lowes Creek Maryland, Leppington and Wilton, the government said — of which 2,700 could be ready in three years.

According to real estate tracker CoreLogic Sydney house prices jumped more than 11 per cent in the year to May.

But the UDIA said more needed to be done if the government is going to meet its own development targets.

"We have a housing supply crisis that needs an immediate step change in planning and infrastructure delivery," Steve Mann, chief executive of the industry group representing developers, said.

"While we welcome the Minister's announcement today to fast track developments ... the land supply pipeline needs greater depth."

Mr Stokes said state and local governments would have to work closely together with developers to make sure the infrastructure doesn't fall behind — as some residents claim it had in nearby Austral.

‘It’s been an invaluable time’: Scott Morrison wraps up European trip

Prime Minister Scott Morrison says his time in Europe has been “essential” for Australia’s voice to be heard.

Mr Morrison travelled to the United Kingdom for the G7 Summit, and today met with OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann in Paris - from where he will fly back to Australia.

“I have been incredibly encouraged by the very strong and steadfast report that Australia has received,” the prime minister said.

“You’ve heard it from the world’s leaders, understanding that the Indo-Pacific sits at the centre of some of the biggest challenges that the world faces.

 “To have an Australian voice that is speaking into the important forums that will play such an important role in how these issues are managed has been incredibly important.”

Biden seeks EU support against China as trade battles persist

US President Joe Biden will seek the EU's backing to face the rise of China but Brussels wants a swift end to lingering trade rows and a clean break from Donald Trump.

After the European enthusiasm that followed Biden's election, the president of the European Council Charles Michel, representing the 27 EU leaders, and the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, will sound out Biden for more detail on his "America is back" pledge.

After the crisis in the transatlantic relationship under Trump, who considered the EU a bitter economic rival, Biden wants to "defuse the disputes ... in order to focus on his priority, China", said Eric Maurice of the Schuman Foundation.

The European official said both sides were "sweating" to find common ground on trade ahead of the meeting and give clear sign that Trump-era battles will soon be behind them.

Macron shows support for Australia’s leadership in the Indo-Pacific

French President Emmanuel Macron issued a message of strong support for Australia’s leadership in the Indo-Pacific region when he met with Prime Minister Scott Morrison in Paris on Tuesday.

President Macron told Prime Minister Morrison he understood Australia was “at the forefront of the tensions in the region” and said he wanted to reiterate “how much we stand by your side”.

 “Scott Morrison, what a day he’s had,” Political Editor Andrew Clennell said.

“He started the day at number 10 Downing Street, ended up at Windsor Castle with the Queen, and finished the day with dinner at the Elysee Palace with the French President Emmanuel Macron".

Mr Clennell said Mr Macron has become the “third world leader on this short trip to back Australia’s stance over China”.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison ends England tour with Queen visit at Windsor Castle

Scott Morrison has ended his England tour with a trip to Windsor Castle to visit the Queen.

Her Majesty received the Prime Minister for the short, private meeting in the Oak Room at the Berkshire royal residence.

 Details of the meeting are not known under rules which stipulate all talks held with the Queen must remain confidential to avoid compromising her.

It's the second time Mr Morrison has met with Her Majesty.

Australia, UK poised to sign free trade agreement after talks

Australia and the UK will sign a free-trade agreement after breakthrough talks between Scott Morrison and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

The deal was struck during a three-hour working dinner between the pair at Number 10 Downing Street.

A government spokesman said the “positive meeting” had “resolved outstanding issues” hindering an agreement, which was expected to commence in July next year.

“Their agreement is a win for jobs, businesses, free trade and highlights what two liberal democracies can achieve while working together,” the spokesman said.

The prime minister said the UK leaving the Common Market in the 1970s was a “devastating blow” on Australian producers but Britain’s decision to leave the European Union provided an opportunity to reset the trade relationship.

In a thinly veiled reference to China’s increasingly assertive posture in the Indo-Pacific, Mr. Morrison stressed shared intelligence and co-operation with the UK as vital to the region’s stability.

Biloela family to be reunited in Perth

The Tamil family will be released from held detention on Christmas Island to be reunited in Perth following an announcement from Immigration Minister Alex Hawke.

The family had been in detention since March 2018 after their visas expired and their Biloela home in rural central Queensland was raided by authorities.

 The issue came to a head after four-year-old Tharnicaa was airlifted to Perth Children’s Hospital where she received emergency treatment for pneumonia and a blood infection.

 In a statement Mr Hawke said, “today’s decision rales the family from held detention … while they purse ongoing litigation”.

The family will be moved to Perth to be reunited in community detention close to schools and medical facilities. However, the immigration minister made it clear the decision “does not create a pathway to a visa”.

Mr Hawke told 2GB Radio the government’s border protection position “hasn’t changed” and those who are not owed protection, came by boat, and can safely return home “won’t be permanently resettled in Australia”.

Effective border policy ‘can’t be run on so-called compassion’: Peta Credlin

The Murugappan family is likely to become a “running sore” for the Morrison government because of a high stakes, high profile media campaign by “activists,” according to News host Peta Credlin.

The Tamil family will be released from held detention on Christmas Island to be reunited in Perth.

“The Murugappans can’t be allowed to return to Biloela and to stay permanently in Australia, because that would compromise the government’s border policy,” Ms Credlin said.

 “But they won’t leave and return to Sri Lanka either - as many other illegal arrivals like them have done – and instead apply to come to Australia the right way, because the refugee lobby needs them here as a reproof to the government and its policies.”

Ms Credlin said “you can’t run an effective border protection policy on so-called compassion” because “that’s not how good government operates”.

“It’s got to operate based on laws; those laws must be upheld, and it all must be fair – because once you create an exception for one, you create a potential precedent for all,” she said.

 “Labor hardheads know that border protection is like quicksand for them. “A fight on border protection at the next election? If I was Labor, I’d be careful what you wish for.”

Johns Hopkins University: More than 600,000 deaths from Covid-19 in America

More than 600,000 people have died of Covid-19 in the United States since the outbreak began, according to figures from Johns Hopkins University, and stated that "hundreds of Americans are still dying from the Corona virus daily, despite the vaccination campaign."

The United States is still the country most affected by Corona, according to official data, followed by Brazil and India.

Joe Biden calls for cooperation with Vladimir Putin

US President Joe Biden calls Russian President Vladimir Putin a “worthy adversary” ahead of their summit on Wednesday but says he is not seeking conflict with the Russian leader. President Biden said almost every conversation he had with a world leader at the G7 summit mentioned the upcoming meeting and was the focus of journalists’ questions at a press conference. There are questions raised about how quickly the two leaders were meeting as it is occurring on President Biden’s first overseas trip. The leaders are expected to discuss overarching issues such as the cybersecurity threats America attributes to Russia and Ukraine.

NSW Govt gives $30m to fund tourism events, upgrade facilities in regional areas

Big ticket tourism attractions that will put regional towns on the map and improve accessibility for people with disability are set to receive a significant funding boost from the NSW Government.

Deputy Premier John Barilaro, Treasurer Dominic Perrottet and Member for Coffs Harbour Gurmesh Singh were in Coffs Harbour to announce the new $30 million Regional Tourism Activation Fund for new or upgraded tourism infrastructure as well as improve accessibility and inclusion for people with disability.

“This new fund will support the construction of new iconic visitor experiences, such as cliff-top walks or unique event spaces, boosting the profile of regional NSW towns and giving people even more reasons to take a holiday in the regions,” he said.

Mr. Perrottet said supporting tourism also supports local jobs and expands local economies.

Mr. Singh welcomed the funding announcement, saying the funding will bring even more visitors to regional NSW each year.

Parramatta Mayor welcomes $50m funding news for light rail project

City of Parramatta Lord Mayor Cr Bob Dwyer has welcomed the NSW Government’s commitment to invest $50 million in Parramatta Light Rail Stage 2 planning in its upcoming 2021-22 NSW Budget.

“Parramatta Light Rail is a game-changing transport project for the City of Parramatta and it’s fantastic to see the NSW Government committing to planning for Stage 2,” Cr Dwyer said.

“City of Parramatta Council has long advocated for a light rail network that includes Sydney Olympic Park with a direct interchange to Sydney Metro West, ferries and the existing heavy rail network.

“Sydney’s Central River City is booming and a strong public transport connection from the Parramatta CBD to growing residential suburbs and employment hubs will support our transformation.

“This critical funding announcement is a really important next step in realising the vision for a 30-minute City, and now provides certainty for the community and businesses along the route.”

Farmers push for Pacific Island travel bubble

South Australia's seasonal worker quarantine facility shuts down this week as the final group of international workers prepares to start picking on citrus farms in the Riverland.

Local farmers had to cover quarantine costs but are pushing for a travel bubble with Pacific Island countries because Australians are refusing to do the work.

The Pacific Islanders have been the saviours of the state’s citrus industry because Australian workers would not take up the work even though they were offered $6,000 in relocation grants.

The quarantine facility which was set up for international workers in Paringa will shut down for the foreseeable future once the final batch of Samoan workers finish up their quarantine recently.