A Big Dialogue: Housing - What Do We Want To Achieve?

The Brisbane Dialogues continues its mission to facilitate productive, across-the-aisle discussions, in pursuit of common ground and possible solutions - or at the very least, better understanding of conflicting views.

Let us demonstrate once again that big, contentious issues can be discussed frankly, fearlessly and civilly, in a non-partisan way, in public, by people of goodwill, in good faith, in pursuit of truth, progress and better policy.

---

THE TOPIC
There is widespread concern across society and the political spectrum in Australia that the postwar system, which produced a comparatively high level of home ownership and overall housing amenity, with positive social and political impacts, is in need of major revision or overhaul.

Negative supply factors have been building for a long time and push is coming to shove with the mounting demands of a diverse, growing population after an abnormally low interest rate period. Affordability has declined and shortages have increased, in both home purchase and rental markets, particularly but not only for young people.

There is also a growing imbalance between those with substantial equity in housing and those without. High values suit homeowners (around two-thirds of households), but not aspiring ones. High rents suit residential investors (say 20% of taxpayers) but not renters (leaving aside an increasing number who are renting where they want to live and investing where they can). Behind these stats there is clearly a crisis for many people under mortage or rental stress, most obviously for the homeless.

So there is clearly a large and growing problem, but what is the solution? 

Often disagreements are about means, not ends. Where there are disagreements about particular objectives, there can be agreement about underlying values and broad goals. If we start by exploring these, it might lead to more agreement on means. This seems worth a shot when it comes to discussions on housing policy, Hence the topic: Housing - What Do We Want To Achieve?:

Some questions that might arise in the discussion:
• Can we agree on any meaningful overarching goals for housing policy?
• What targets, if any, should we set for home ownership?
• Ditto for affordability? (ratio of income to house prices and rents)
• Should a zero rate of homelessness be an absolute objective?

---

FORMAT

As before, we will have a good mix of panellists with differing perspectives and expertise, moderated in an in-depth, long-form, enlightening discussion in a congenial setting with light food and drinks available, conducive to an extended event.

The Brisbane Dialogues is for curious, concerned citizens who are willing to listen respectfully to views they don't agree with in order to understand complexities better and are open to refining or even changing their own position. It is not for those who have made their minds up, who want to promote a fixed position, or just want to cheer on speakers they agree with. It is definitely not for anyone wanting to denigrate speakers or fellow citizens they don't agree with.

                The aim of argument, or of discussion, should not be victory, but progress. Joseph Joubert

As always, the dialogue will be conducted under The Brisbane Rule, which includes the audience as well as the speakers on stage!
All participants agree to listen carefully, speak civilly and concentrate on the content of discussions, not on characters - before, during and afterwards, online and offline.

---

SPEAKERS
Moderator:

Peter Shergold AC FRSN - Former Secretary, Dept of Prime Minister Cabinet and Chancellor of University of Western Sydney

Panellists:

Cameron Murray - Chief Economist, Fresh Economic Thinking; author of new book "The Great Housing Hijack"

Claire O'Rourke - Owner/Director, Cohere Projects; active industry body representative

Jackson Hills - Manager Policy & Strategic Engagement, Q Shelter; social and affordable housing advocate, director and adviser

Natalie Rayment - Co-Chair & Executive Director, Wolter Consulting Group; Co-Founder, YIMBY QLD

MC

Kathy Mac Dermott - Independent consultant on communication, strategy, diversity and inclusion, working with property, infrastructure, mining, and transport organisations.

---

AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION

Escape the small screen for a proper, real, live, physical, in-person, civil multi-speaker event on the big stage. Buy a ticket, bring a friend or get a table together and join in the discussion, before, during and after!

• Links to reading materials will be distributed in the lead-up
• Guests will be able to submit questions for the speakers by email before the event and by SMS during the dialogue 
• The Princess in cabaret table/relaxed theatre mode with side bars, is congenial for social discussion before and afterwards 
• Come early, on your own or with friends, family and colleagues; stay late and carry on the discussion
• Some will have the opportunity to ask questions from the floor 
• Speakers will be invited to join Premium ticket holders in a private bar after the stage discussion
• Review the discussion from the high quality video recording included in the ticket (no live stream)
• Really want to get involved? Volunteers always needed!

TICKET PRICING
Tickets are priced from $10-150 to make the event widely accessible, with discounts for tables and groups, made possible by:

• the generous provision of The Princess Theatre
• financial sponsors, Andrew N. Liveris Academy for Innovation and Leadership (others welcome - see below)
• the donation of time and expertise of all the speakers and volunteers
• premium ticket sales and donations
  

Hard costs of over $40 per person need to be covered and we rely on a small surplus to cover our modest overheads between events and new initiatives, so please consider buying a Premium ticket or making a donation to keep events accessible and The Brisbane Dialogues independent, expanding and sustainable.

Donations will be applied to Dialogues @ School, our schools program and our new initiative, Australian Dialogues, which is a diverse, growing network of organisations which support our "across-the-aisle" mission and are interested in collaborating in public dialogues around the country.

Complimentary tickets are available for those who post a short (20-60 seconds) selfie video to social media on why they are interested in this topic, event or The Brisbane Dialogues generally, and email the link/s to info@brisbanedialogues.org.

See the ticketing page next for details of table and group discounts. If you want to make a group booking in other than multiples of 4 tickets, just email us with your requirements.

EVENT DETAILS

Date: Mon 20 May 2024
Venue: The Princess Theatre, 8 Annerley Rd, Woolloongabba 4102
Doors open: 6:00pm til late
Dialogue: 7:00pm til approx 8.45pm

The dialogue will start at 7pm sharp, so please arrive no later than 6.45pm and preferably earlier to have a bite and a drink and mix with other guests.

The bar will be open from 6:00pm. Light meals and drinks may be ordered at the bar.

After the dialogue on stage, the speakers will be invited to join Premium ticket holders in a private bar for relaxed follow-on discussion.

All guests will be able to socialise at other bars or tables and carry on the discussion for a time after the dialogue, at the discretion of venue management.

This is a family-friendly event and teenage attendance is encouraged.

Photo ID may be required - tickets are not transferrable unless arranged prior.

Transport, $8 parking and other venue-related information here.

---

With special thanks to our generous venue sponsors, The Tivoli and Princess Theatres. Please consider booking your next event at one of these Brisbane treasures. We are also very grateful for the repeat support from the Andrew N. Liveris Academy for Innovation and Leadership. Other sponsors are welcome - see options in the Ticketing section, or email us.