It is madness that this, by Alan Kohler, needs to be said. If you sell tickets to a sporting event, you start by counting the seats and only selling that many tickets. For some reason, immigration policy under both parties assumes those rules don't apply. #auspol www.abc.net.au/news/2025-02... - ThreadSky

tmfscottp.bsky.social • 15 days ago

It is madness that this, by Alan Kohler, needs to be said.

If you sell tickets to a sporting event, you start by counting the seats and only selling that many tickets.

For some reason, immigration policy under both parties assumes those rules don't apply.

#auspol

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-02-17/government-set-immigration-target-housing/104942448

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timpaul.bsky.social•15 days ago

Kohler's overstated business's role by using the term 'control'. They 'influence' via lobbying and political tactics

I make this point because 'control' and 'influence' should change the way we voters respond

We can lobby and influence, too

Our democracy needs more active voter participation

giblett.bsky.social•14 days ago

Yeah, but, in MCC style, a lot of the tickets are held by people who never or rarely use them.

Will banning holiday homes solve the problem. No. But I'm sick of the blinkers being on to that source of housing.

tmfscottp.bsky.social•14 days ago

I guess.

But I'm not sure we should tell Australian citizens and residents what they should do with their property before we address population growth.

(Nice analogy, btw!)

giblett.bsky.social•14 days ago

Oh it's definitely something I struggle to reconcile.

realphilgold.bsky.social•14 days ago

Think about the money every family brings with them

brucealexb.bsky.social•14 days ago

I’ve no idea what is going on with immigration policy, but imagine that one consideration is the unwillingness of governments to address alternative funding models for higher education. There’ve been substantial job losses in the sector since covid, but would be many more if OS student numbers fell.

ramgull.bsky.social•14 days ago

Don't think the analogy is apt, either way, we'd be essentially be delegating much of our immigration policy to councils who put the brakes on development of more housing.

tmfscottp.bsky.social•14 days ago

I think that's exactly the point though.

Just because the stadium owners don't want to build more seats doesn't mean we should admit more people who have nowhere to sit and/or take the seats of those already with tickets.

ramgull.bsky.social•14 days ago

I think it's more like a toll road, you can't just block access, but can increase the price to manage demand. Whilst adding another lane to increase capacity.

tmfscottp.bsky.social•14 days ago

Hmm... I think you can block access, actually.

But however we achieve the outcome works for me.

I'm not sure a meaningfully larger population is a net benefit, though.

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