Hopes AI can help provide lifeline for housing crisis
Researchers hope talking to maps may help them find the answers needed to solve Australia's housing crisis.
In an effort to tackle a multi-front crisis, a cutting-edge government-backed housing analytics lab will open in Sydney on Monday.
Studying housing data, the interactive lab aims to find solutions to housing affordability, by looking at areas to build social homes and boost the waning development pipeline.
Researchers will use Map AI, an interactive tool that shows housing data, to find which areas are best to be developed, and how to feasibly redevelop already high-density areas.
"Map AI allows you to talk to your map and ask questions like 'show me property here', so it makes it a lot easier for those who are not data scientists to interrogate the data," lead of the lab and UNSW professor Chris Pettit told AAP.
"Traditionally planners try to rezone high-density areas around train stations.
"We will use AI to see what value are those properties are and what is permissible to zone, to break down some of those barriers."
The lab will bring together more than a dozen partners in government and the housing sector, with a focus on NSW, though solutions found can be used across the nation.
State governments in 2023 agreed to begin building a combined 1.2 million homes from mid-2024, with the hope of finishing them over five years.
Less than a year later, the number of approved dwellings is dropping, not rising, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
Social housing is also unable to meet demand, a national State of the Housing System report found, and according to new research, one in three homes are priced at more than a million dollars.
NSW is on track to fall short of building its share of 377,000 homes by 2029, with only five of the state's 43 local government areas on track to meet their housing targets, according to Property Council NSW figures.
The state also continues to grapple with a rental crisis as vacancy rates slumped to 1.6 per cent in April, ABS data shows.
"Finding a home to rent in New South Wales is harder today than it has ever been before," NSW Real Estate Institute chief executive Tim McKibbin said.
"As a community, we owe it to everyone in this boat to strive for a better outcome."
The state government has pitched in $1 million towards the new lab, with NSW Premier Chris Minns saying it brings together experts and data for key insights.
"We need universities that can translate research into real-world solutions - exactly what UNSW is doing here."
On Monday, NSW will follow in the footsteps of Victoria, ACT, Queensland and South Australia in banning no-grounds evictions for renters.
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The Advertiser
an hour ago
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Future focus as inflation blare dims but change needed
The man who writes the cheques for Australia's largest state budget can finally focus on the future. Inflation was "blaring" in NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey's ears when he was compiling his first two budgets after Labor returned to government in 2023 for the first time in 12 years. "But the challenge in front of the state and the nation is making sure that we are growing our economy fast enough to support a rise in living standards," he tells AAP as he prepares to hand down his third. Mr Mookhey says Tuesday's state budget is about the future of the state's essential services and economic growth. "There's a lot of opportunity and a lot of ambition in NSW and the changes we're making are designed to hold on to what we love ... but also ensure that our kids and our grandkids have the same level of opportunity that we had," he says. While receding inflation and distance from the COVID-19 pandemic's associated spending have allowed the treasurer to cast an eye to the future, issues from the past remain. Framed in Mr Mookhey's parliament office is a newspaper headline relating to the underpayments scandal in the state's workers' compensation scheme he played a role in exposing in opposition. The page is yellowing with age as Mr Mookhey pushes to reform a scheme he is now in charge of, and which he argues is becoming unsustainable due to the rising cost and prevalence of psychological injuries. "It's been a hard case to argue," he says. "This system is failing everybody. It's a system that is fundamentally broken." Changes are simmering on the back burner after a parliamentary inquiry prevented action before the budget. Mr Mookhey hopes reform can create a "prevention culture" that limits psychological injuries from occurring. Outside of the workplace, he has promised some reassurance to people dealing with mental health issues and their loved ones. "They will see more investment in mental health resources in our health system and they will see more investment when it comes to our social interventions," he says. However, public psychiatrists at the pointy end of mental health crises should not expect the budget to deliver a pay rise at the level they have been calling for amid resignations in protest and arbitration in the state's Industrial Relations Commission. The federal distribution of GST to the states also continues to frustrate Mr Mookhey after dashing his hopes of a surplus in 2024. NSW now receives its lowest share of GST since it was introduced - about 85 cents for every dollar raised. "What frustrates me is not so much that we support the other states, it's just the missed opportunities," he says. The distribution needs to change but the tax's bigger proportional hit on the spending power of lower-income Australians means Mr Mookhey does not support raising the rate. "We can do better," he says. "What we need to focus on is just making sure the system is simple, the distribution is fair, the distribution is predictable, but also the distribution is understandable." Another federal issue with implications for state budgets is the rise of the black market for illicit tobacco fuelled by rising excise on dinky-di durries. The market shift is robbing the Commonwealth of expected revenue and creating criminal complications for states. It has already led to increased funding for enforcement within the health budget, but Premier Chris Minns indicated earlier in June a decision would have to be made about the resources devoted to combating illicit tobacco sales. While smoke clouds what the budget might do to address the issue, Mr Mookhey notes it is a source of public anxiety. "It's right and fair that we respond to community concerns about it ... we're going to have to work through what is the right solution." The tax issues are part of what economic researchers at the e61 Institute call a "vertical fiscal imbalance" that characterises the nation. "The states carry many of the spending responsibilities but lack equivalent revenue-raising capacity," chief executive Michael Brennan says, warning state finances are drifting onto an unsustainable path. But NSW will at least bank a cash surplus in Tuesday's budget for the first time since 2021. "Which means we're no longer borrowing money to pay our day-to-day bills as a government," Mr Mookhey says. "That gives us a platform for further progress." Australian Public Policy Institute chief executive Libby Hackett expects the budget will be a step forward, building on previous years. "This will be a structural reform budget: supporting better service delivery, infrastructure alignment and long-term productivity, even in a tight fiscal environment," Professor Hackett tells AAP. "Moreover, this budget presents a real opportunity to advance whole-of-government objectives in cross-cutting areas." Opposition Leader Mark Speakman sees it differently, warning the state is heading for "yet another low-vision, low-value, low-energy budget". "We have had not one visionary pre-budget announcement." The man who writes the cheques for Australia's largest state budget can finally focus on the future. Inflation was "blaring" in NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey's ears when he was compiling his first two budgets after Labor returned to government in 2023 for the first time in 12 years. "But the challenge in front of the state and the nation is making sure that we are growing our economy fast enough to support a rise in living standards," he tells AAP as he prepares to hand down his third. Mr Mookhey says Tuesday's state budget is about the future of the state's essential services and economic growth. "There's a lot of opportunity and a lot of ambition in NSW and the changes we're making are designed to hold on to what we love ... but also ensure that our kids and our grandkids have the same level of opportunity that we had," he says. While receding inflation and distance from the COVID-19 pandemic's associated spending have allowed the treasurer to cast an eye to the future, issues from the past remain. Framed in Mr Mookhey's parliament office is a newspaper headline relating to the underpayments scandal in the state's workers' compensation scheme he played a role in exposing in opposition. The page is yellowing with age as Mr Mookhey pushes to reform a scheme he is now in charge of, and which he argues is becoming unsustainable due to the rising cost and prevalence of psychological injuries. "It's been a hard case to argue," he says. "This system is failing everybody. It's a system that is fundamentally broken." Changes are simmering on the back burner after a parliamentary inquiry prevented action before the budget. Mr Mookhey hopes reform can create a "prevention culture" that limits psychological injuries from occurring. Outside of the workplace, he has promised some reassurance to people dealing with mental health issues and their loved ones. "They will see more investment in mental health resources in our health system and they will see more investment when it comes to our social interventions," he says. However, public psychiatrists at the pointy end of mental health crises should not expect the budget to deliver a pay rise at the level they have been calling for amid resignations in protest and arbitration in the state's Industrial Relations Commission. The federal distribution of GST to the states also continues to frustrate Mr Mookhey after dashing his hopes of a surplus in 2024. NSW now receives its lowest share of GST since it was introduced - about 85 cents for every dollar raised. "What frustrates me is not so much that we support the other states, it's just the missed opportunities," he says. The distribution needs to change but the tax's bigger proportional hit on the spending power of lower-income Australians means Mr Mookhey does not support raising the rate. "We can do better," he says. "What we need to focus on is just making sure the system is simple, the distribution is fair, the distribution is predictable, but also the distribution is understandable." Another federal issue with implications for state budgets is the rise of the black market for illicit tobacco fuelled by rising excise on dinky-di durries. The market shift is robbing the Commonwealth of expected revenue and creating criminal complications for states. It has already led to increased funding for enforcement within the health budget, but Premier Chris Minns indicated earlier in June a decision would have to be made about the resources devoted to combating illicit tobacco sales. While smoke clouds what the budget might do to address the issue, Mr Mookhey notes it is a source of public anxiety. "It's right and fair that we respond to community concerns about it ... we're going to have to work through what is the right solution." The tax issues are part of what economic researchers at the e61 Institute call a "vertical fiscal imbalance" that characterises the nation. "The states carry many of the spending responsibilities but lack equivalent revenue-raising capacity," chief executive Michael Brennan says, warning state finances are drifting onto an unsustainable path. But NSW will at least bank a cash surplus in Tuesday's budget for the first time since 2021. "Which means we're no longer borrowing money to pay our day-to-day bills as a government," Mr Mookhey says. "That gives us a platform for further progress." Australian Public Policy Institute chief executive Libby Hackett expects the budget will be a step forward, building on previous years. "This will be a structural reform budget: supporting better service delivery, infrastructure alignment and long-term productivity, even in a tight fiscal environment," Professor Hackett tells AAP. "Moreover, this budget presents a real opportunity to advance whole-of-government objectives in cross-cutting areas." Opposition Leader Mark Speakman sees it differently, warning the state is heading for "yet another low-vision, low-value, low-energy budget". "We have had not one visionary pre-budget announcement." The man who writes the cheques for Australia's largest state budget can finally focus on the future. Inflation was "blaring" in NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey's ears when he was compiling his first two budgets after Labor returned to government in 2023 for the first time in 12 years. "But the challenge in front of the state and the nation is making sure that we are growing our economy fast enough to support a rise in living standards," he tells AAP as he prepares to hand down his third. Mr Mookhey says Tuesday's state budget is about the future of the state's essential services and economic growth. "There's a lot of opportunity and a lot of ambition in NSW and the changes we're making are designed to hold on to what we love ... but also ensure that our kids and our grandkids have the same level of opportunity that we had," he says. While receding inflation and distance from the COVID-19 pandemic's associated spending have allowed the treasurer to cast an eye to the future, issues from the past remain. Framed in Mr Mookhey's parliament office is a newspaper headline relating to the underpayments scandal in the state's workers' compensation scheme he played a role in exposing in opposition. The page is yellowing with age as Mr Mookhey pushes to reform a scheme he is now in charge of, and which he argues is becoming unsustainable due to the rising cost and prevalence of psychological injuries. "It's been a hard case to argue," he says. "This system is failing everybody. It's a system that is fundamentally broken." Changes are simmering on the back burner after a parliamentary inquiry prevented action before the budget. Mr Mookhey hopes reform can create a "prevention culture" that limits psychological injuries from occurring. Outside of the workplace, he has promised some reassurance to people dealing with mental health issues and their loved ones. "They will see more investment in mental health resources in our health system and they will see more investment when it comes to our social interventions," he says. However, public psychiatrists at the pointy end of mental health crises should not expect the budget to deliver a pay rise at the level they have been calling for amid resignations in protest and arbitration in the state's Industrial Relations Commission. The federal distribution of GST to the states also continues to frustrate Mr Mookhey after dashing his hopes of a surplus in 2024. NSW now receives its lowest share of GST since it was introduced - about 85 cents for every dollar raised. "What frustrates me is not so much that we support the other states, it's just the missed opportunities," he says. The distribution needs to change but the tax's bigger proportional hit on the spending power of lower-income Australians means Mr Mookhey does not support raising the rate. "We can do better," he says. "What we need to focus on is just making sure the system is simple, the distribution is fair, the distribution is predictable, but also the distribution is understandable." Another federal issue with implications for state budgets is the rise of the black market for illicit tobacco fuelled by rising excise on dinky-di durries. The market shift is robbing the Commonwealth of expected revenue and creating criminal complications for states. It has already led to increased funding for enforcement within the health budget, but Premier Chris Minns indicated earlier in June a decision would have to be made about the resources devoted to combating illicit tobacco sales. While smoke clouds what the budget might do to address the issue, Mr Mookhey notes it is a source of public anxiety. "It's right and fair that we respond to community concerns about it ... we're going to have to work through what is the right solution." The tax issues are part of what economic researchers at the e61 Institute call a "vertical fiscal imbalance" that characterises the nation. "The states carry many of the spending responsibilities but lack equivalent revenue-raising capacity," chief executive Michael Brennan says, warning state finances are drifting onto an unsustainable path. But NSW will at least bank a cash surplus in Tuesday's budget for the first time since 2021. "Which means we're no longer borrowing money to pay our day-to-day bills as a government," Mr Mookhey says. "That gives us a platform for further progress." Australian Public Policy Institute chief executive Libby Hackett expects the budget will be a step forward, building on previous years. "This will be a structural reform budget: supporting better service delivery, infrastructure alignment and long-term productivity, even in a tight fiscal environment," Professor Hackett tells AAP. "Moreover, this budget presents a real opportunity to advance whole-of-government objectives in cross-cutting areas." Opposition Leader Mark Speakman sees it differently, warning the state is heading for "yet another low-vision, low-value, low-energy budget". "We have had not one visionary pre-budget announcement." The man who writes the cheques for Australia's largest state budget can finally focus on the future. Inflation was "blaring" in NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey's ears when he was compiling his first two budgets after Labor returned to government in 2023 for the first time in 12 years. "But the challenge in front of the state and the nation is making sure that we are growing our economy fast enough to support a rise in living standards," he tells AAP as he prepares to hand down his third. Mr Mookhey says Tuesday's state budget is about the future of the state's essential services and economic growth. "There's a lot of opportunity and a lot of ambition in NSW and the changes we're making are designed to hold on to what we love ... but also ensure that our kids and our grandkids have the same level of opportunity that we had," he says. While receding inflation and distance from the COVID-19 pandemic's associated spending have allowed the treasurer to cast an eye to the future, issues from the past remain. Framed in Mr Mookhey's parliament office is a newspaper headline relating to the underpayments scandal in the state's workers' compensation scheme he played a role in exposing in opposition. The page is yellowing with age as Mr Mookhey pushes to reform a scheme he is now in charge of, and which he argues is becoming unsustainable due to the rising cost and prevalence of psychological injuries. "It's been a hard case to argue," he says. "This system is failing everybody. It's a system that is fundamentally broken." Changes are simmering on the back burner after a parliamentary inquiry prevented action before the budget. Mr Mookhey hopes reform can create a "prevention culture" that limits psychological injuries from occurring. Outside of the workplace, he has promised some reassurance to people dealing with mental health issues and their loved ones. "They will see more investment in mental health resources in our health system and they will see more investment when it comes to our social interventions," he says. However, public psychiatrists at the pointy end of mental health crises should not expect the budget to deliver a pay rise at the level they have been calling for amid resignations in protest and arbitration in the state's Industrial Relations Commission. The federal distribution of GST to the states also continues to frustrate Mr Mookhey after dashing his hopes of a surplus in 2024. NSW now receives its lowest share of GST since it was introduced - about 85 cents for every dollar raised. "What frustrates me is not so much that we support the other states, it's just the missed opportunities," he says. The distribution needs to change but the tax's bigger proportional hit on the spending power of lower-income Australians means Mr Mookhey does not support raising the rate. "We can do better," he says. "What we need to focus on is just making sure the system is simple, the distribution is fair, the distribution is predictable, but also the distribution is understandable." Another federal issue with implications for state budgets is the rise of the black market for illicit tobacco fuelled by rising excise on dinky-di durries. The market shift is robbing the Commonwealth of expected revenue and creating criminal complications for states. It has already led to increased funding for enforcement within the health budget, but Premier Chris Minns indicated earlier in June a decision would have to be made about the resources devoted to combating illicit tobacco sales. While smoke clouds what the budget might do to address the issue, Mr Mookhey notes it is a source of public anxiety. "It's right and fair that we respond to community concerns about it ... we're going to have to work through what is the right solution." The tax issues are part of what economic researchers at the e61 Institute call a "vertical fiscal imbalance" that characterises the nation. "The states carry many of the spending responsibilities but lack equivalent revenue-raising capacity," chief executive Michael Brennan says, warning state finances are drifting onto an unsustainable path. But NSW will at least bank a cash surplus in Tuesday's budget for the first time since 2021. "Which means we're no longer borrowing money to pay our day-to-day bills as a government," Mr Mookhey says. "That gives us a platform for further progress." Australian Public Policy Institute chief executive Libby Hackett expects the budget will be a step forward, building on previous years. "This will be a structural reform budget: supporting better service delivery, infrastructure alignment and long-term productivity, even in a tight fiscal environment," Professor Hackett tells AAP. "Moreover, this budget presents a real opportunity to advance whole-of-government objectives in cross-cutting areas." Opposition Leader Mark Speakman sees it differently, warning the state is heading for "yet another low-vision, low-value, low-energy budget". "We have had not one visionary pre-budget announcement."
Perth Now
5 hours ago
- Perth Now
Indigenous art fair weaves legacy through every fibre
What started as a small market to support Aboriginal arts, crafts, tourism and bush food businesses now attracts vendors from the most remote corners of the nation. The Blak Markets began in Sydney's La Perouse in 2014, providing a space for Indigenous artists and small businesses to showcase their wares. It grew so popular they decided to open it up to arts centres from across Australia in 2017, said Peter Cooley, the chief executive of First Hand Solutions, which runs the market. "We got 11 arts centres from different parts of the country - Western Australia, the Northern Territory - making that journey over," the Bidjigal man told AAP. "It went crazy. People flocked knowing that there was going to be remote artists and art centres in town." The success of these markets made Mr Cooley think there was a need for an Indigenous art fair in Sydney. Now in it's sixth year, the National Indigenous Art Fair brings more than 30 remote art centres and almost 100 artists from across Australia together to showcase their works including textiles, fashion, ceramics, homewares and jewellery. Mr Cooley said there was something for everyone at the art fair, but admitted a soft spot for the weaved pieces. "You look at the master weavers and you see how they do their craft and their work and it's just like 'wow'," he said. One such master weaver is Regina Pilawuk Wilson, from the remote community of Peppimenarti, 300 kilometres southwest of Darwin. An internationally acclaimed Ngan'gikurrungurr artist and a cultural leader behind Durrmu Arts, Ms Wilson is known for her paintings based on weaving traditions. She began putting these works on canvas as a way to pass on her legacy, just as she passes her weaving knowledge on to younger members of her family and community. "When I was seven or eight, we used to help my mother get sandpalm and pandanus," she said. "She taught us how to weave and now I'm teaching lots of girls and young generations how to weave. "It is important to teach them so they can carry on what their ancestors used to do before the white people came to Australia." Wilson will host a weaving workshop during the art fair, using the same fibres her mother taught her to weave with, merrepen (sandpalm). The fair will be held in Sydney on July 5 and 6, marking the beginning of NAIDOC Week. Mr Cooley said with the 2025 NAIDOC theme The Next Generation: Strength, Vision and Legacy he hopes the art fair can leave a positive mark for all Australians. "We've just gone through a very difficult period since the referendum ... where we are still exposed to and feel a lot of racism, which seems to be very open these days," he said. "(The art fair) is a great way to put those perceived ideas of how people see us ... to put that to bed."
Perth Now
6 hours ago
- Perth Now
Future focus as inflation blare dims but change needed
The man who writes the cheques for Australia's largest state budget can finally focus on the future. Inflation was "blaring" in NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey's ears when he was compiling his first two budgets after Labor returned to government in 2023 for the first time in 12 years. "But the challenge in front of the state and the nation is making sure that we are growing our economy fast enough to support a rise in living standards," he tells AAP as he prepares to hand down his third. Mr Mookhey says Tuesday's state budget is about the future of the state's essential services and economic growth. "There's a lot of opportunity and a lot of ambition in NSW and the changes we're making are designed to hold on to what we love ... but also ensure that our kids and our grandkids have the same level of opportunity that we had," he says. While receding inflation and distance from the COVID-19 pandemic's associated spending have allowed the treasurer to cast an eye to the future, issues from the past remain. Framed in Mr Mookhey's parliament office is a newspaper headline relating to the underpayments scandal in the state's workers' compensation scheme he played a role in exposing in opposition. The page is yellowing with age as Mr Mookhey pushes to reform a scheme he is now in charge of, and which he argues is becoming unsustainable due to the rising cost and prevalence of psychological injuries. "It's been a hard case to argue," he says. "This system is failing everybody. It's a system that is fundamentally broken." Changes are simmering on the back burner after a parliamentary inquiry prevented action before the budget. Mr Mookhey hopes reform can create a "prevention culture" that limits psychological injuries from occurring. Outside of the workplace, he has promised some reassurance to people dealing with mental health issues and their loved ones. "They will see more investment in mental health resources in our health system and they will see more investment when it comes to our social interventions," he says. However, public psychiatrists at the pointy end of mental health crises should not expect the budget to deliver a pay rise at the level they have been calling for amid resignations in protest and arbitration in the state's Industrial Relations Commission. The federal distribution of GST to the states also continues to frustrate Mr Mookhey after dashing his hopes of a surplus in 2024. NSW now receives its lowest share of GST since it was introduced - about 85 cents for every dollar raised. "What frustrates me is not so much that we support the other states, it's just the missed opportunities," he says. The distribution needs to change but the tax's bigger proportional hit on the spending power of lower-income Australians means Mr Mookhey does not support raising the rate. "We can do better," he says. "What we need to focus on is just making sure the system is simple, the distribution is fair, the distribution is predictable, but also the distribution is understandable." Another federal issue with implications for state budgets is the rise of the black market for illicit tobacco fuelled by rising excise on dinky-di durries. The market shift is robbing the Commonwealth of expected revenue and creating criminal complications for states. It has already led to increased funding for enforcement within the health budget, but Premier Chris Minns indicated earlier in June a decision would have to be made about the resources devoted to combating illicit tobacco sales. While smoke clouds what the budget might do to address the issue, Mr Mookhey notes it is a source of public anxiety. "It's right and fair that we respond to community concerns about it ... we're going to have to work through what is the right solution." The tax issues are part of what economic researchers at the e61 Institute call a "vertical fiscal imbalance" that characterises the nation. "The states carry many of the spending responsibilities but lack equivalent revenue-raising capacity," chief executive Michael Brennan says, warning state finances are drifting onto an unsustainable path. But NSW will at least bank a cash surplus in Tuesday's budget for the first time since 2021. "Which means we're no longer borrowing money to pay our day-to-day bills as a government," Mr Mookhey says. "That gives us a platform for further progress." Australian Public Policy Institute chief executive Libby Hackett expects the budget will be a step forward, building on previous years. "This will be a structural reform budget: supporting better service delivery, infrastructure alignment and long-term productivity, even in a tight fiscal environment," Professor Hackett tells AAP. "Moreover, this budget presents a real opportunity to advance whole-of-government objectives in cross-cutting areas." Opposition Leader Mark Speakman sees it differently, warning the state is heading for "yet another low-vision, low-value, low-energy budget". "We have had not one visionary pre-budget announcement."
