How much of what we hear about Australia’s housing crisis is actually true, and how much is just media hype?

In this episode, we’re joined by Cameron Kusher, a property economist who’s here to speak without corporate filters, and he doesn’t hold back. We talk about how the media often gets housing stories wrong, oversimplifying complex issues just to chase clicks. The real concern? That these headlines shape government policy, leading to short-sighted solutions that don’t actually fix anything.

Cameron walks us through what’s really driving the supply issue: rising construction costs, GST on new builds, financing hurdles, and why “just build more” isn’t as easy as it sounds. We also chat about the missing piece in most political conversations: renters. There’s been decades of underinvestment in social and affordable housing, but that rarely gets the spotlight.

We cover everything from tax reform to built-to-rent models, university responsibilities, and what role governments should be playing. If you’ve ever felt like the housing conversation is stuck or too focused on band-aid solutions, this one’s worth a listen.

Episode Highlights:

00:00 - Introduction

01:02 - Who is Cameron Kusher?

01:38 - What frustrates Cameron the most about how media covers the housing market

04:21 - How could governments better assist the housing market?

12:44 -  How biased is property media? Can we trust it?

15:26 - What do major networks get wrong about the property market?

17:30 - Why immigration is so hard to reduce and what does it means for housing

22:08 - Will falling inflation and interest rates increase housing approvals?

26:31 - Are planning reforms in NSW and VIC actually working?

33:35 - How much housing supply is considered enough? Can we sustain it?

42:14 - Could tax reform like land tax replace stamp duty?

46:14 - Do bold buyer incentives help or hurt the housing market?

48:37 - Are young people really locked out of the housing market?

51:53 - Is ‘giving while living’ the new Bank of Mum and Dad?

53:55 - Will downsizing boomers actually free up family homes?

57:46 - Are Australians becoming comfortable with lifelong mortgage debt?

1:00:06 - Cameron Kusher's property dumbo

About Our Guest:

Cameron Kusher is a seasoned property economist and one of Australia’s most respected housing market commentators. With more than 20 years of experience working in the Australian property sector., he has held senior research roles at CoreLogic and REA Group, where he served as Executive Manager of Economic Research. Cameron’s expertise spans residential and commercial property markets, focusing on data-driven insights into housing trends, affordability, and policy impacts. He is a sought-after speaker and writer, known for cutting through media noise to highlight the structural and economic forces shaping Australia’s housing landscape. 

Connect with Cameron Kusher:

• LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/cameron-kusher-bbb71b46/

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 - [email protected]
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