Is housing really unaffordable because we’re not building enough? Or is that just one part of a much bigger, more complicated story? In this episode, we sit down with Peter Mares, journalist, researcher, and author of No Place Like Home – to break down the real reasons why housing is unaffordable in Australia today.

Peter walks us through how decades of policy decisions, from tax incentives to the withdrawal of public housing investment, have created a system that prioritises wealth-building over stability. We talk about the deeper issues at play; like how negative gearing and capital gains tax concessions have distorted the market, and why treating housing as infrastructure could be a game-changer.

We also get into the cultural side of the problem. The obsession with homeownership, the underuse of housing stock, and the lack of medium-density options in the suburbs all play a role in keeping people locked out. And Peter doesn’t just point out what’s wrong, he offers grounded, practical ideas on what can actually shift.

If you’ve ever wondered why housing is unaffordable in Australia, beyond the headlines and hot takes, this conversation pulls back the curtain. It’s honest, insightful, and packed with the kind of context that’s so often missing from the national debate.

Episode Highlights:

00:00 - Introduction

04:14 - Should home ownership be the goal of housing policy?

06:09 - How has financialisation distorted our housing system?

10:39 - What are the key structural issues we keep avoiding?

14:18 - Can we even build enough housing with current capacity limits?

16:54 - What does it mean to treat housing as infrastructure?

19:03 - Can Singapore’s housing model teach Australia something?

21:23 - Should we rethink what the “ideal” Australian home looks like?

25:00 - Why aren’t people downsizing even when it makes sense?

27:04 - How does tax shape housing decisions?

32:51 - What’s changing behind the scenes at Treasury?

35:07 - Could new superannuation taxes push more money into housing?

39:06 - Is Labor too scared to touch housing tax reform again?

46:01 - Would a land tax instead of stamp duty really work?

50:35 - What got you interested in housing policy in the first place?

52:12 - What’s your take on current housing journalism?

54:53 - Peter Mares’ property dumbo

About Our Guest:

Peter Mares is an independent journalist, researcher, and public commentator best known for his book No Place Like Home: Repairing Australia’s Housing Crisis. He spent 25 years at the ABC—first as a foreign correspondent and later hosting national radio programs—before moving into urban policy and social issues. He held roles as an adjunct senior research fellow at Monash University, a Cities Fellow at the Grattan Institute, contributing editor for Inside Story, and lead moderator of the Cranlana Centre for Ethical Leadership.

Connect with Peter Mares:
Website https://petermares.com.au/
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-mares-a3211617b

Resources:
Visit our website https://www.theelephantintheroom.com.au
If you have any questions or would like to be featured on our show, contact us at: The Elephant in the Room Property Podcast questions@theelephantintheroom.com.au
Looking for a Sydney Buyers Agent? https://www.gooddeeds.com.au
Work with Veronica: https://www.veronicamorgan.com.au
Looking for a Mortgage Broker? https://www.alcove.au
Work with Chris: chrisbates@alcove.au

Enjoyed the podcast? Don't miss out on what's yet to come! Hit that subscription button, spread the word and join us for more insightful discussions in real estate. Your journey starts now!
Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theelephantintheroom-podcast
Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/the-elephant-in-the-room-property-podcast/id1384822719
Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Ge1626dgnmK0RyKPcXjP0?si=26cde394fa854765

Is housing really unaffordable because we&rsquo;re not building enough? Or is that just one part of a much bigger, more complicated story? In this episode, we sit down with Peter Mares, journalist, researcher, and author of No Place Like Home &ndash; to break down the real reasons why housing is unaffordable in Australia today.
Peter walks us through how decades of policy decisions, from tax incentives to the withdrawal of public housing investment, have created a system that prioritises wealth-building over stability. We talk about the deeper issues at play; like how negative gearing and capital gains tax concessions have distorted the market, and why treating housing as infrastructure could be a game-changer.
We also get into the cultural side of the problem. The obsession with homeownership, the underuse of housing stock, and the lack of medium-density options in the suburbs all play a role in keeping people locked out. And Peter doesn&rsquo;t just point out what&rsquo;s wrong, he offers grounded, practical ideas on what can actually shift.
If you&rsquo;ve ever wondered why housing is unaffordable in Australia, beyond the headlines and hot takes, this conversation pulls back the curtain. It&rsquo;s honest, insightful, and packed with the kind of context that&rsquo;s so often missing from the national debate.
Episode Highlights:
00:00 - Introduction
04:14 - Should home ownership be the goal of housing policy?
06:09 - How has financialisation distorted our housing system?
10:39 - What are the key structural issues we keep avoiding?
14:18 - Can we even build enough housing with current capacity limits?
16:54 - What does it mean to treat housing as infrastructure?
19:03 - Can Singapore&rsquo;s housing model teach Australia something?
21:23 - Should we rethink what the &ldquo;ideal&rdquo; Australian home looks like?
25:00 - Why aren&rsquo;t people downsizing even when it makes sense?
27:04 - How does tax shape housing decisions?
32:51 - What&rsquo;s changing behind the scenes at Treasury?
35:07 - Could new superannuation taxes push more money into housing?
39:06 - Is Labor too scared to touch housing tax reform again?
46:01 - Would a land tax instead of stamp duty really work?
50:35 - What got you interested in housing policy in the first place?
52:12 - What&rsquo;s your take on current housing journalism?
54:53 - Peter Mares&rsquo; property dumbo
About Our Guest:
Peter Mares is an independent journalist, researcher, and public commentator best known for his book No Place Like Home: Repairing Australia&rsquo;s Housing Crisis. He spent 25 years at the ABC&mdash;first as a foreign correspondent and later hosting national radio programs&mdash;before moving into urban policy and social issues. He held roles as an adjunct senior research fellow at Monash University, a Cities Fellow at the Grattan Institute, contributing editor for Inside Story, and lead moderator of the Cranlana Centre for Ethical Leadership.
Connect with Peter Mares:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Website <a href="https://petermares.com.au/">https://petermares.com.au/</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">LinkedIn <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-mares-a3211617b">https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-mares-a3211617b</a></li>
</ul>
Resources:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Visit our website <a href="https://www.theelephantintheroom.com.au">https://www.theelephantintheroom.com.au</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">If you have any questions or would like to be featured on our show, contact us at: The Elephant in the Room Property Podcast <a href="mailto:questions@theelephantintheroom.com.au">questions@theelephantintheroom.com.au</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">Looking for a Sydney Buyers Agent? <a href="http://www.gooddeeds.com.au/">https://www.gooddeeds.com.au</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">Work with Veronica: <a href="http://www.veronicamorgan.com.au">https://www.veronicamorgan.com.au</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">Looking for a Mortgage Broker? <a href="https://www.alcove.au">https://www.alcove.au</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">Work with Chris: <a href="mailto:chrisbates@alcove.au">chrisbates@alcove.au</a></li>
</ul>
Enjoyed the podcast? Don't miss out on what's yet to come! Hit that subscription button, spread the word and join us for more insightful discussions in real estate. Your journey starts now!
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Subscribe on YouTube: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@theelephantintheroom-podcast">https://www.youtube.com/@theelephantintheroom-podcast</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/the-elephant-in-the-room-property-podcast/id1384822719">https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/the-elephant-in-the-room-property-podcast/id1384822719</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">Subscribe on Spotify:&nbsp;<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/3Ge1626dgnmK0RyKPcXjP0?si=26cde394fa854765">https://open.spotify.com/show/3Ge1626dgnmK0RyKPcXjP0?si=26cde394fa854765</a></li>
</ul>

Who's really in control when you buy a property?

The Elephant In The Room is where the things that no one wants to talk about, actually get talked about.  

Veronica Morgan, real estate agent, buyers agent and co-host of Foxtel’s Location Location Location Australia & Chris Bates, financial planner, mortgage broker and wealth coach have joined forces to find out what’s really going on in the world of real estate.

Veronica and Chris talk to property owners and buyers every day in their respective lines of business. They’ve observed a wide spectrum of confidence in people’s decision making ability when buying and selling property, often to the detriment of the individuals concerned. They are both fascinated by consumer behaviour and together they’re going to uncover who’s really making the decisions when you buy a property.

In each episode they get into the psyche of buyers, agents, auctioneers and other industry experts to learn the truth about how buyers are influenced and why they do the things they do. In every episode you’ll learn from the mistakes of a “property dumbo” as well as Chris & Veronica’s “elephant rider bootcamp” training session.

The plan? This property podcast has been created to help us all make better property decisions!

We talk about the things no one wants to talk about in the Property Market

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