The housing crisis in Australia with Martin Barker - part 1

Red Flag Radio

Workers and young people in Australia are experiencing a severe housing crisis, with rent and mortgage repayments skyrocketing, homelessness on the rise, and constant attacks on public housing. We talked to Martin Barker, socialist and tenant advocate, about what's going on and who's to blame.

Chloe and Emma also got a bit journalistic for this episode. We sought out activists at the front line of the fight for public housing and renters' rights. We asked students from the Get a Room campaign what it's like dealing with Sydney's rental market, and we spoke to public housing tenant Caroline Ienna about how NSW Labor is helping developers kick her out of her home. We also heard some spicy retorts to Phillip Lowe's recent "helpful advice" to young people.

Stay tuned for part 2 on the housing crisis, where we get into the meat of how capitalism has shaped housing and our cities, and how a socialist society would organise things differently.

Further reading:

Articles by Martin Barker on the housing crisis:

- Property profiteers: Who benefits from the housing crisis?

- Solutions to the rental crisis