Touching a raw nerve

FEDERAL Treasurer Joe Hockey did more than just cause a stir over his ‘get a good job, get a house’ remarks.
Whether intentional or not, Mr Hockey has taken the pent-up frustrations over housing affordability in Australia and intensified them to even greater heights.
Mr Hockey seems to have touched a nerve with the public consciousness in Australia, which is dangerous territory for any politician.
How this plays out for the Liberal Party is anyone’s guess, but this debate could quickly see rapid change in the Australian political landscape.
In the ensuing weeks, debate may centre around whether Mr Hockey is, in fact, correct or simply out of touch, but it goes deeper.
For example, what will this mean for the Yarra Valley region?
Plenty, given our location on the urban fringe.
This is simply because the answer to the housing affordability conundrum almost inevitably shifts in the one direction, towards building more houses.
While it may be simplistic in approach, historically this has been the stock answer among financial commentators and those who wish to promote a ramped-up economy.
As house prices in and around the central business district become more out of reach, this could place greater pressure on fringe areas to open up more land.
While for the foreseeable future, there will be most likely little impact.
But one could argue this may be not the case in another five years’ time, particularly if fears of a housing bubble become more of a reality.
If this is the case, we must at least consider the prospect of increased pressure on preserving present zoning in the Yarra Ranges.
Whether that is negative or positive is not the point.
The point being made is, this debate may at some stage increase to levels not before experienced in this region.