Economies are full of contradictions. And when they reach times of crisis, it's the people at the bottom who are crushed the hardest.
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The sub-prime mortgage crisis between 2007 and 2010 saw as many as 10 million Americans lose their homes. While millions became homeless, millions of homes sat empty - the ultimate contradiction.
In Tasmania, the rapid growth in tourism has created its own unintended crisis and contradiction - although this one is burning much slower, gradually worsening year on year. While many - particularly property investors - reap the benefits of these riches, those at the bottom end of our society are being pushed out onto the streets.
One of Premier Peter Gutwein's priorities is ensuring that all Tasmanians share in the state's improving economy. But this won't happen overnight. Anglicare found that the number of available private rentals in Tasmania fell from 2700 to 1050 in just the past six years. At the same time, the average wait for public housing blew out from 38 weeks to 63 weeks. The crisis has been approaching for years and it shows no sign of slowing.
While this has been occurring, the state government and councils have not acted proactively to ensure there are enough tourist accommodation ventures available to service this growing market. It makes sense that tourists will turn to Airbnb, and it makes sense that property investors - with little regulation - will offer this.
But is this the Tasmania we want?
Airbnb's response to a Tasmanian House of Assembly report into housing affordability was revealing. The report recommended a freeze on short-term accommodation permits being issued in areas of low rental vacancies. A moderate measure, but Airbnb was quick to claim that home sharing was "supporting jobs" and "providing income support to thousands of Tasmanians", foreshadowing the company's opposition to such a move.
Does this "income support" to individuals who, most likely, own multiple properties outweigh the imminent need for housing stock to help ease the rental affordability and availability crisis?
It's a contradiction we could do without.