Last week, Queensland Premier David Crisafulli described Brisbane 2032 as "the Queensland Games", promising global spotlight benefits through intergenerational infrastructure, tourism and sports. But behind the glossy Olympic vision lies a harder question: who wins and who loses when your city becomes the centre of the world?

In this episode, we explore the hidden costs of Olympic glory and the trade-offs between infrastructure investment and housing affordability with two leading experts who have seen both sides of the housing equation: Mr Rod Fehring, Executive Chairman of Frasers Property and member of the NSW Housing Expert Panel, and Dr Lyndall Bryant, Senior Lecturer at QUT and Head of the QUT Housing Security Research Group.

Here’s what we discussed:

• The infrastructure trap: New stadiums and train lines sound great - until you realise they are pricing out the very communities they are supposed to serve. With Brisbane property already unaffordable for many, can Olympic upgrades avoid making it worse?

• Renters get displaced: In Olympic host cities, evictions spike and short-term leases push out long-term tenants. With Brisbane's rental crisis already biting, how do we protect renters when the world comes to town?

• Hotel targets squeeze housing supply: Brisbane meets the IOC's 40,000 hotel room quota - but at what cost? As homeowners shift to short stays, where does that leave long-term renters?

• The missing middle squeeze: Brisbane struggles to build the medium-density housing that could house key workers and young families near Olympic venues. Without it, who gets to live in the city the Games are supposed to celebrate?

• Big promises, uneven gains: Since the 1960s, only Los Angeles has made money hosting the Olympics. Most cities are left with debt and deeper inequality. Will Brisbane’s infrastructure serve the whole community, or just the Games? And can affordable and social housing finally become part of the legacy?

Listen now to hear how Brisbane can avoid the mistakes of past host cities and create a Games legacy that leaves no one behind.

Keywords: Affordable housing, Olympic cities, housing displacement, infrastructure, modern construction methods, Airbnb, housing legacy, urban development, Brisbane 2032, housing accessibility

In this episode, I sit down with housing expert Mr Mike Myers and economist Dr Diaswati (Asti) Mardiasmo to explore the challenges and opportunities facing affordable housing in Australia, with a particular focus on the Build to Rent (BtR) model. Mike, Chair of the Queensland Housing All Australians Committee and head of Project Solo, brings over four decades of experience in social and affordable housing. Asti, Chief Economist at PRD, draws on more than 20 years of analysing economic trends that shape property markets in Australia and abroad.

The conversation examines the structural and policy barriers that limit the broader rollout of BtR, including its classification in Australia as a commercial asset rather than infrastructure. This treatment affects planning, taxation and investment incentives, creating hurdles that do not exist in comparable international markets. While institutional interest in BtR is growing, both speakers highlight that regulatory misalignment continues to stall its true potential.

They also take a critical look at the current BtR business model, which often targets the upper end of the rental market to meet investor return expectations. As a result, BtR developments are frequently positioned as premium assets, offering high-spec amenities that price out many renters. This raises questions about BtR’s long-term sustainability and its ability to serve a broader demographic.

One of the key challenges discussed is the reliance on cross-subsidisation — where market-rate tenants help fund a proportion of affordable dwellings within the same development. While this model may help create mixed-income communities, Mike and Asti question its long-term viability without consistent government support. They caution against the emergence of a two-tier rental system and argue that policy makers must address affordability head-on rather than relying on indirect mechanisms.

The discussion also highlights the importance of regional equity, innovation in construction, and a more balanced housing mix. With an estimated shortfall of 750,000 affordable and social homes nationally, the speakers agree that CHPs alone cannot carry the burden of supply, and that broader partnerships are needed.

Mike puts forward the idea that Ana Bligh, former Queensland Premier and now CEO of the Australian Banking Association, could play a pivotal role in driving national leadership and attracting international investment for affordable housing, helping to close the gap between good policy and practical outcomes.

This episode offers a thoughtful and realistic view of where BtR fits in Australia’s housing future and what must change for it to become a truly inclusive, sustainable solution.

Keywords: Build to Rent, affordable and social housing, housing policy, urban development, cross-subsidy, premium asset, housing future, Australia

Every day, thousands cross the NSW–QLD border without noticing the invisible systems that shape where and how people live. But for those navigating housing challenges, that border can mark a major shift in policy, access and support.

In the first episode of my new podcast series on affordable and social housing, I spoke with Jackson Hills (Q Shelter, General Manager - Policy and Strategic Engagement)  and John Engeler (Chair, National Shelter & CEO, Shelter NSW) about housing futures in the cross-border region and how coordination is evolving. Topics we explored:

• How rental bond policies vary between states and what that means for renters
• The way emergency housing services operate on either side of the border
• Different planning and certification approaches for build-to-rent and modular housing
• The role of climate resilience in large-scale housing investment across jurisdictions

We also looked at where collaboration is already happening, from councils sharing resources to service providers learning from each other’s models. NSW’s bond assistance programs and QLD’s rapid housing projects show how each state brings something valuable to the table.

People in housing stress don’t see borders — and more often, the systems supporting them are starting to think the same way.