DEAR News Of The Area,

I WRITE in support of Louise Cranny, letter writer to NOTA on 12 July 2024 (The Australian Monopoly Game).

She wrote about our society’s system of winners and losers and the inbuilt unfairness of housing in particular.

How can we sit in silence and apathy while hundreds of locals (and tens of thousands nationally) live without a secure, safe and permanent roof over their heads?

How is it fair or acceptable that so many Australians are homeless?

How is it fair or acceptable that so many Australians are being exploited every single day by greedy real estate agents who constantly push landlords to increase the asking rent on properties so that the agents increase their own income?

How is it fair or acceptable that wealthy property developers are generously rewarded to destroy everyone’s bushland, local waterways and wildlife habitat, while building more and more housing that will end up only being privately owned by the wealthy?

How much longer are we all going to avert our eyes from the human misery that our society causes?

How much longer are the lucky ones among us going to continue to judge and dismiss those who are unlucky enough to be homeless?

The old Australian attitude of “I’m alright Jack” needs to change.

We need to start looking out for each other and help those less fortunate than ourselves.

Everyone needs a home, and everyone has the power to demand a better way.

Let’s start locally, and consider ways to create a place where people have equal rights and access to that basic of all human rights – housing.

Regards,
J KELLY-WILLIAMS.