The NSW Liberal Party is pushing harder on more high-density housing development in Sydney. In terms of the income-house price ratio, the Harbour City remains one of the least affordable cities worldwide.
This week, the NSW Liberals’ leader, Mark Speakman, has been touting “big and bold” solutions to the housing crisis. “It is a crisis that I want my party to be on the front foot of,” said Speakman. “I make no apologies for being YIMBY.”
The YIMBY acronym stands for yes in my backyard. That’s as opposed to being a NIMBY, where you recognise that something is good, maybe even necessary, but just “not in my backyard.”
In June, Speakman had previously dubbed his party ADIMBYs. His own awkward invention, it stood for “appropriate development in my backyard.”
“There has to be more density,” said Speakman in June. This week, he added, “I want it very clear that we are pro-housing, we want more housing, and that means more density.”
He has reportedly instructed the Young Liberals to establish a Liberal Friends of Housing policy group.
The rhetorical shift came in a week when new research showed construction productivity in Auckland exceeded that of Australian cities. The Auckland figures came after they instituted “up-zoning” housing planning reforms that allowed housing to be constructed more densely.
Speakman is attempting to take a more pro-development stance than NSW Premier Chris Minns. The Premier has been waging a rhetorical war on NIMBY policies, despite having opposed housing development around Kogarah Train Station in his own electorate.
Speakman faces similar concerns from his own party. Running counter to Speakman’s talking points, the Liberal MP for Vaucluse recently opposed new apartment development in Rose Bay.
For all the pro-development political talk of recent years, the politics are still fundamentally driven by a NIMBY-like dynamic, and the split between metropolitan, state and national policy versus the interests of local members looking out for their re-election.
Everyone agrees there needs to be more housing and the only way left to build is up: just don’t build it next door to my place!
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