Friend of mine's son rents a flat in Horsham for $150 p/w. Admittedly not a very flash one but rents in those towns are very affordable - a reflection of the fact that not many people want to live there and/or the availability of jobs.

Friend of mine lives in my area, ((Greater Parramatta?)
Renting for for 6-7 years. Pre COVID was given notice to vacate, as owner was intending to demolish existing house and erect duplex.
Post COVID, was requested to stay on and was given $100pw rent reduction without even asking. Rent was IIRC $650. And she’s still there.
Can only suggest the owner contracted financial cold feet, funding or ability to service loan.

I wouldn't be borrowing money to build a Duplex either. 12mth no income from property, borrow +$0.5M and likely at the end make same or similar income as she is today after the rent reduction.

They expect a loss of up to 1m from population growth forecast growth due to 457 job losses, next to no immigration, collapse of reproduction rates, kids staying at home and not moving out due to loss of casual/part-time work.

There are a few issues here

Higher wages = higher fruit costs = another reason to import and Australian's have by and large proven over and over again we have very little loyalty to Australian made when price is a factor. Don't be too disheartened, at least Australian and NZ made logo's are proudly displayed in Dubai Supermarkets and usually sell well as considered clean and safe.

If it's economical to bring it in here without it perishing then they're already doing it. We already have oranges from California, garlic from Spain/China/where-ever - you name it, its here.

Stuff like bananas and grapes that have an extremely limited shelf life would have to be air-freighted in though and the cost of doing that versus the cost of paying people properly would be the sole consideration. I'd say it would still be cheaper to pay better wages than to try and air-freight and distribute those highly perishable things.

Aldi have been running adverts on the TV recently proudly proclaiming that they buy their fresh fruit from Australian producers (using bananas as an example). As soon as I thought that I thought - "Well DER, what are they going to do otherwise, air-freight them in when nobody else can do that economically?". Our farmers are generally completely unprotected from foreign competition in this country - if its more economical and practical to bring it in from overseas then that's what happens.

Australia's Mexicans are backpackers

No, more recently they've been Indian workers on student visas who are the Mexicans. They'll work for almost any piece-work rates on offer such as food delivery and Uber-style driving. But they're not prepared to go and pick fruit for some reason, probably because its uneconomical even for them.

Shows you just how bad those conditions really are then doesn't it.

Unfortunately there's heaps of people prepared to come here and work for sub-minimum wage conditions with no worker's compensation: Guardian -

The families of two food delivery drivers who were killed in road accidents in Sydney may face financial ruin due to a lack of workers’ compensation or insurance for gig economy workers.

Dede Fredy, a 36-year-old Uber Eats rider, and Xiaojun Chen, a 43-year-old worker for the delivery app Hungry Panda, were killed in separate accidents late last month.

Both men lived alone in Australia, and were working as food delivery riders to send money back to their families.

Chen leaves behind a wife and two children, aged eight and 15, in China, while Fredy leaves behind a wife and young son in Indonesia...

...Most gig economy workers are not eligible for standard workers’ compensation, said Nick McIntosh, the assistant national secretary of the Transport Workers Union.

Under the New South Wales workers’ compensation scheme, the dependents of someone who dies because of a work-related injury are entitled to a lump sum payment of $834,200, and weekly payments of $149.30 for each dependent child until the age of 16.

But deliverers for Uber Eats and Hungry Panda are classified as independent contractors, not employees.

Much as I feel deeply sorry for the families of these people there's always a risk riding a scooter or bike around heavy traffic that you won't make it home and you simply don't have the rights of someone employed and not acting as a sub-contract driver. Australian citizens face exactly the same risk in the gig economy.

There are a few issues here

Higher wages = higher fruit costs = another reason to import and Australian's have by and large proven over and over again we have very little loyalty to Australian made when price is a factor. Don't be too disheartened, at least Australian and NZ made logo's are proudly displayed in Dubai Supermarkets and usually sell well as considered clean and safe.
If it's economical to bring it in here without it perishing then they're already doing it. We already have oranges from California, garlic from Spain/China/where-ever - you name it, its here.

Stuff like bananas and grapes that have an extremely limited shelf life would have to be air-freighted in though and the cost of doing that versus the cost of paying people properly would be the sole consideration. I'd say it would still be cheaper to pay better wages than to try and air-freight and distribute those highly perishable things.

Aldi have been running adverts on the TV recently proudly proclaiming that they buy their fresh fruit from Australian producers (using bananas as an example). As soon as I thought that I thought - "Well DER, what are they going to do otherwise, air-freight them in when nobody else can do that economically?". Our farmers are generally completely unprotected from foreign competition in this country - if its more economical and practical to bring it in from overseas then that's what happens.

Australia's Mexicans are backpackers

No, more recently they've been Indian workers on student visas who are the Mexicans. They'll work for almost any piece-work rates on offer such as food delivery and Uber-style driving. But they're not prepared to go and pick fruit for some reason, probably because its uneconomical even for them.

Shows you just how bad those conditions really are then doesn't it.

No times change. 20 - 30 years ago we were crucifying the kiwis for working for "sub standard" conditions, wide comb and all that bull $hit that went with it. Even state wise we have workers from one state working in others for lower conditions. My brother when he first worked in WA coming from the East Coast saw all that. NSW workers will acept conditions that WA will not....

Moral of the story, every country has their "Mexians".

As for the Indian's, well the Kerala's used to head to the Gulf states, now the Kerala's expect more, so hitting the western countries.

Global economies is about "harmonisation" of wages for similar work. Why pay $10/h if you can pay $5, why pay $5 if you can pay $1. While the obvious answer is protectionism, I'm not sure how practical that is anymore.

As for Banana's they are the last bastion's of the Australian economy that are protected. So in a heart beat open that flood gate and you will have Thailand and Pilipino banana's for 1/3 the price on your door step. Oranges currently do not earn the same protection.

Airfreight is not an issue and they wouldn't be airfreighted anyway.

Jamie Packer apparently clueless about who was actually running his company while he was in charge: SMH/Nine -

The 53-year-old appeared in a suit, tie and occasionally reading glasses, at times stressed and visibly sweating during an eight-hour grilling by the NSW probity inquiry into Crown Resorts.

What emerged was an unfiltered view of how one of Australia's richest and most closely watched men does business - and it wasn't pretty. It could have serious ramifications, from a management and board overhaul at the ASX-listed Crown to Packer being forced to sell his investment in the company he has dominated for almost two decades and personally ran from 2007 to 2017.

As just one example, in November 2018, eight months after Packer had left the board, he chastised Crown's then executive chairman John Alexander for going "on a world trip looking at restaurants" and asking whether "we" needed to "immediately implement travel bans for our executives".

Packer told the inquiry that the secret agreement which enabled the flow of information with Crown management had to end. And while he admitted to personal failings in the midst of a mental health crisis, he was less willing to wear the responsibility for how Crown was run.

He was instead quick to pin blame on his underlings. Crown's former chief executive Rowen Craigie and Packer's replacement as chairman, Robert Rankin, "let the side down" by not knowing about the dangers Crown exposed its staff to when promoting its casinos in China, he said.

The arrest of 19 Crown employees in China in October 2016 on gambling crimes sent shockwaves through the company, caused Crown’s share price to plummet, triggered its exit from an Asian joint venture and sparked a shareholder class action seeking hundreds of millions of dollars.

Sixteen Crown staff spent nine to 10 months in jail after the arrests, which followed more than than 18 months of escalating signs China was cracking down hard on foreign casinos recruiting gamblers within its borders. Police even detained and questioned a Crown staff member on suspicion of organising gambling tours in mid-2015. But the inquiry has heard these warning signs never made it to Crown's board or top executives.

He needs to take tips from Dan Andrews and his cabinet on plausible deniability - he had a secret line to the management yet didn't know what was going on? C'mon, Jamie, you can do better than that.

Koala Mattresses "proudly Australian" is now moving production to China - News.com.au

Popular online bedding company Koala, which markets itself as quintessentially Australian, will cease manufacturing its mattresses domestically and make them in China instead.

The company, which aggressively targets Millennials through social media campaigns as an ethical and sustainable bedding alternative made in Australia, will move the production of its signature mattress overseas to support its growth in Asian markets...

...Koala said the move offshore would mean it would have greater influence in cultivating “sustainable behaviours” in its manufacturing and supply chain.

“We are always in search of the best manufacturers, suppliers, and makers around the world who meet or exceed our environmental and sustainability standards and conduct assessments to support this,” a spokeswoman said.

The company said products would still be designed in Australia, saying its expansion would create 120 new jobs by the end of the 2021 financial year.

China's average electricity charge is 8 cents kw/h from cheap coal-fired electricity whereas the price in Australia is around 30-41 cents. Also there's no payroll tax or compulsory superannuation in China.

NSW and Victoria are both hiring more and more public servants in the midst of the current crisis - I guess that's one way of generating jobs! Here's a lovely job just right for anyone living in NSW - "24 Hour Economy Commissioner" - I work for NSW;

The 24-Hour Economy Commissioner will play a crucial role in unlocking the benefits of an around-the-clock economy that creates jobs and provides entertainment and cultural opportunities for everyone and cements Sydney’s status as a truly global city.

The role will lead and direct an agile cross-government project team responsible for the delivery and co-development (with key stakeholders in local government, business, industry and community groups) of a 24-Hour Economy Strategy and programs that will enhance the vibrancy, diversity, inclusiveness and safety of Sydney’s 24-Hour Economy.

Sounds really exciting and busy - and what are your key duties in this $250,000 - $300,000 job?

Lead the strategic oversight, review and development of 24-Hour Economy and programs to support the delivery of the 24-Hour Economy, providing high quality and insightful advice to the Secretary of Treasury, Senior Executive cohort, Boards, Treasurer and Ministers’ on a wide spectrum of 24-Hour Economy issues... Work closely with the Deputy Secretary, Economic Strategy and Productivity, Deputy Secretary, Jobs, Investment and Tourism, Deputy Secretary, Trade and Executive Director, Precincts on the interaction of the 24-Hour Economy with the outcomes and policies of the NSW Economic Blueprint and Precinct strategies for Sydney.

Wow, can't wait to see how much of a productive contribution such a commissioner will make for NSW... presumably the job will return many times more the $300,000+ investment the government puts into it.

Koala Mattresses "proudly Australian" is now moving production to China - News.com.au

Popular online bedding company Koala, which markets itself as quintessentially Australian, will cease manufacturing its mattresses domestically and make them in China instead.

The company, which aggressively targets Millennials through social media campaigns as an ethical and sustainable bedding alternative made in Australia, will move the production of its signature mattress overseas to support its growth in Asian markets...

...Koala said the move offshore would mean it would have greater influence in cultivating “sustainable behaviours” in its manufacturing and supply chain.

“We are always in search of the best manufacturers, suppliers, and makers around the world who meet or exceed our environmental and sustainability standards and conduct assessments to support this,” a spokeswoman said.

The company said products would still be designed in Australia, saying its expansion would create 120 new jobs by the end of the 2021 financial year.

China's average electricity charge is 8 cents kw/h from cheap coal-fired electricity whereas the price in Australia is around 30-41 cents. Also there's no payroll tax or compulsory superannuation in China.

And I thought the NSW Koalition Govt were only interested in killing off the live marsupial variety.  I was wrong.

Koala Mattresses "proudly Australian" is now moving production to China - News.com.au

Popular online bedding company Koala, which markets itself as quintessentially Australian, will cease manufacturing its mattresses domestically and make them in China instead.

The company, which aggressively targets Millennials through social media campaigns as an ethical and sustainable bedding alternative made in Australia, will move the production of its signature mattress overseas to support its growth in Asian markets...

...Koala said the move offshore would mean it would have greater influence in cultivating “sustainable behaviours” in its manufacturing and supply chain.

“We are always in search of the best manufacturers, suppliers, and makers around the world who meet or exceed our environmental and sustainability standards and conduct assessments to support this,” a spokeswoman said.

The company said products would still be designed in Australia, saying its expansion would create 120 new jobs by the end of the 2021 financial year.

China's average electricity charge is 8 cents kw/h from cheap coal-fired electricity whereas the price in Australia is around 30-41 cents. Also there's no payroll tax or compulsory superannuation in China.

Name change required?

Panda mattresses.

The 24-Hour Economy Commissioner will play a crucial role in unlocking the benefits of an around-the-clock economy that creates jobs and provides entertainment and cultural opportunities for everyone and cements Sydney’s status as a truly global city.

The role will lead and direct an agile cross-government project team responsible for the delivery and co-development (with key stakeholders in local government, business, industry and community groups) of a 24-Hour Economy Strategy and programs that will enhance the vibrancy, diversity, inclusiveness and safety of Sydney’s 24-Hour Economy.

Lead the strategic oversight, review and development of 24-Hour Economy and programs to support the delivery of the 24-Hour Economy, providing high quality and insightful advice to the Secretary of Treasury, Senior Executive cohort, Boards, Treasurer and Ministers’ on a wide spectrum of 24-Hour Economy issues... Work closely with the Deputy Secretary, Economic Strategy and Productivity, Deputy Secretary, Jobs, Investment and Tourism, Deputy Secretary, Trade and Executive Director, Precincts on the interaction of the 24-Hour Economy with the outcomes and policies of the NSW Economic Blueprint and Precinct strategies for Sydney.

Hands up all those people who didn't know that the economy only exists for 8 hours a day. Hands up anyone who knows what a "24-Hour Economy" actually is. My hotel of choice in Sydney has had  people on duty 24/7 for the last 19 years to my certain knowledge; has it been pioneering something all that time?

Koala Mattresses "proudly Australian" is now moving production to China - News.com.au

Popular online bedding company Koala, which markets itself as quintessentially Australian, will cease manufacturing its mattresses domestically and make them in China instead.

The company, which aggressively targets Millennials through social media campaigns as an ethical and sustainable bedding alternative made in Australia, will move the production of its signature mattress overseas to support its growth in Asian markets...

...Koala said the move offshore would mean it would have greater influence in cultivating “sustainable behaviours” in its manufacturing and supply chain.

“We are always in search of the best manufacturers, suppliers, and makers around the world who meet or exceed our environmental and sustainability standards and conduct assessments to support this,” a spokeswoman said.

The company said products would still be designed in Australia, saying its expansion would create 120 new jobs by the end of the 2021 financial year.

China's average electricity charge is 8 cents kw/h from cheap coal-fired electricity whereas the price in Australia is around 30-41 cents. Also there's no payroll tax or compulsory superannuation in China.

And I thought the NSW Koalition Govt were only interested in killing off the live marsupial variety.  I was wrong.

That legislation was all about protecting habitat - but it didn't recognise that one the primary reasons people's houses burnt in the January bushfires was that they weren't allowed to clear around their houses and protect their own properties from fire.

If I was living in the bush I'd insist on a 50 meter zone (at least) all around my house completely free of vegetation that could burn.

oooopppps         https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-10-13/lnp-crisis-as-deb-frecklington-referred-to-election-watchdog/12748400

oooopppps         https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-10-13/lnp-crisis-as-deb-frecklington-referred-to-election-watchdog/12748400

Property Developers again.  Are the LNP conjuring up the ghost of Sir Thomas Bent?

oooopppps         https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-10-13/lnp-crisis-as-deb-frecklington-referred-to-election-watchdog/12748400

Property Developers again.  Are the LNP conjuring up the ghost of Sir Thomas Bent?

As William Morris Lawry would say Aw haw, it's all happening he-are!

Political dramas in all 3 DisEastern Seaboard states. I just wish I had followed Qld and NSW politics enough recently to have a better handle on what is going on up there

Strange days indeed

oooopppps         https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-10-13/lnp-crisis-as-deb-frecklington-referred-to-election-watchdog/12748400

Property Developers again.  Are the LNP conjuring up the ghost of Sir Thomas Bent?

As William Morris Lawry would say Aw haw, it's all happening he-are!

Political dramas in all 3 DisEastern Seaboard states. I just wish I had followed Qld and NSW politics enough recently to have a better handle on what is going on up there

Strange days indeed

These people are all utterly incompetent. And it's not like they don't get paid enough - Dan Andrews gets a basic package of $450,000 p/a which is more than Scott Morrison.

Former ABC journalist Emma Alberici tweeted out this morning that Gladys Binchicklian was not the target of the ICAC investigation. So she's only guilty of having dreadful judgement and bad taste in men then? Good to know...

oooopppps         https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-10-13/lnp-crisis-as-deb-frecklington-referred-to-election-watchdog/12748400

Property Developers again.  Are the LNP conjuring up the ghost of Sir Thomas Bent?

Frecklington fronted the cameras today, no sign of scumo. Performing his usual disappearing act when it hits the fan.

The person to put the university funding changes over the line virtually got explicit mention in the budget for nice cushy bit of money for the only state run nursing home in her electorate.

Scumo got caught out again the other day. and it went something along the lines of:

What are you doing in Queensland?
Scummo: I've been quarantining in the ACT

No you haven't, you were building a chook house in Sydney

oooopppps         https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-10-13/lnp-crisis-as-deb-frecklington-referred-to-election-watchdog/12748400

Property Developers again.  Are the LNP conjuring up the ghost of Sir Thomas Bent?

And here was I thinking that Bent was dead. How stupid.

China now telling its cotton mills not to buy Aussie cotton - ABC

Australia's cotton industry is bracing for what could be a devastating blow as it becomes the latest casualty in the escalating trade tensions with China.

Mills in China are being told to stop buying Australian cotton as speculation grows that a hefty tariff is about to be slapped on the trade.

Government sources have told the ABC the cotton industry could face tariffs as high as 40 per cent, a sanction that could make the trade with China unviable.

Under China's current trade rules the Chinese Government determines how much cotton each mill can import through a quota system.

But the ABC understands spinning mills have been warned not to use Australian product, or risk their quotas being slashed.

Without the government endorsement, these mills could be forced to pay 40 per cent more to buy Australian cotton.

This is beyond a joke - at what point are we going to pull China up on their outrageous behaviour or are they simply allowed to do whatever they want to do because they're China? It makes a complete mockery of the so-called "free trade" agreement signed with the People's Republic, what a load of pointless rubbish that turned out to be.

China now telling its cotton mills not to buy Aussie cotton - ABC

Australia's cotton industry is bracing for what could be a devastating blow as it becomes the latest casualty in the escalating trade tensions with China.

Mills in China are being told to stop buying Australian cotton as speculation grows that a hefty tariff is about to be slapped on the trade.

Government sources have told the ABC the cotton industry could face tariffs as high as 40 per cent, a sanction that could make the trade with China unviable.

Under China's current trade rules the Chinese Government determines how much cotton each mill can import through a quota system.

But the ABC understands spinning mills have been warned not to use Australian product, or risk their quotas being slashed.

Without the government endorsement, these mills could be forced to pay 40 per cent more to buy Australian cotton.

This is beyond a joke - at what point are we going to pull China up on their outrageous behaviour or are they simply allowed to do whatever they want to do because they're China? It makes a complete mockery of the so-called "free trade" agreement signed with the People's Republic, what a load of pointless rubbish that turned out to be.

In furious agreement again.
Free trade are agreements exposed for what they are, contracts are worth zero, unless you have the capability and/or determination to enforce said contract.

How do you out bark the big dog on the block?

China now telling its cotton mills not to buy Aussie cotton - ABC

Australia's cotton industry is bracing for what could be a devastating blow as it becomes the latest casualty in the escalating trade tensions with China.

Mills in China are being told to stop buying Australian cotton as speculation grows that a hefty tariff is about to be slapped on the trade.

Government sources have told the ABC the cotton industry could face tariffs as high as 40 per cent, a sanction that could make the trade with China unviable.

Under China's current trade rules the Chinese Government determines how much cotton each mill can import through a quota system.

But the ABC understands spinning mills have been warned not to use Australian product, or risk their quotas being slashed.

Without the government endorsement, these mills could be forced to pay 40 per cent more to buy Australian cotton.

This is beyond a joke - at what point are we going to pull China up on their outrageous behaviour or are they simply allowed to do whatever they want to do because they're China? It makes a complete mockery of the so-called "free trade" agreement signed with the People's Republic, what a load of pointless rubbish that turned out to be.

In furious agreement again.
Free trade are agreements exposed for what they are, contracts are worth zero, unless you have the capability and/or determination to enforce said contract.

How do you out bark the big dog on the block?

I believe we are seeing the end of FTA's. Too much politics and CV-19 driving countries to focus on internal spending to prop up their economies using its domestic population. Qld LNP is now promising to spend 70% of its food, medical and education (I think) budgets on Australian/Queensland made.

In some regards China is giving us the wake up call we needed.

In some regards China is giving us the wake up call we needed.

Which particular "us"; UAE or Australia?

On a slight Tangent, Jacinda Ardern wins another term for the Labour Party in NZ.

Some sanity at last.


Michael

On a slight Tangent, Jacinda Ardern wins another term for the Labour Party in NZ.

Some sanity at last.


Michael

She's a commensurate liar, Michael, just like all your heroes on the left. She promised to build 100,000 new homes for low-income people in New Zealand when she was first elected but delivered a grand total of 141 - Fairfax;

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's government insists their commitment to low-cost housing remains, announcing on Wednesday a raft of changes to their "KiwiBuild" policy suite.

"KiwiBuild isn't working so we are changing it," Housing Minister Megan Woods said.

"As a government, we have a commitment to not bloody-mindedly pursuing a policy because we said it a few years ago.

"We're actually having the courage to call time on it, say it hasn't worked, and make the necessary changes. "When policies aren't working we are honest about that and fix them."

She lied to New Zealand is the bottom line - she didn't even deliver one percent of the promised homes. And they rewarded her by returning her to office with an increased majority.