Great Australian Dream Dies!

Yesterday I wandered past a block of flats in the street where I rent an un-renovated flat in East St Kilda.
Gathered outside this particular block was a crowd of young hopefuls hanging off the words of an auctioneer who was singing the praises of the small 1 bedroom property that was about to go to auction.

Like some others curious people there, I also watched the proceedings. The property fetched a hefty 309k and the crowd stared on in amazement. I spoke to a woman who had been bidding in the early stages of the auction. "That's it for me, I am never going to own anything inner city". Her voice was cracking as she tried to hold back the tiny tears that were welling up in the corner of her eyes. "So much for the great Australian dream." she said as she got into her car and drove away.

I stood on the footpath trying to make sense of the whole incident I had just witnessed. The shattering of a collective dream and the end of an era. Just last week the block of 12 flats next door was vacated for renovation. The occupants had been given only 1 month to find accommodation in a merciless rental shortage where renters get caught up in bidding wars just to secure a rental property.

In a world of job insecurity, insufficient superannuation and record house prices; how do our politicians and business leaders plan to  offer the not so lucky Austalians' a glimmer of hope? Cardboard boxes are suddenly looking like a practical option, and they do come in a range of colours.