Coverage of Marian Tupy’s paper, Zoe Hilton on batteries, Peter Tulip on the RBA

Restricting Australia’s migrant intake is not a silver bullet that will fix the nation’s housing crisis, an influential think tank has warned, challenging an argument often put forward by coalition MPs.

Australia’s shortage of homes is not an inevitable consequence of immigration, but instead the result of not enough dwellings being built, a report released by the pro-free-market Centre for Independent Studies has found.

The research paper suggests that while the intake of migrants might add to price pressures in some circumstances, the main driver of high prices is housing supply.

“The strongest version of the anti-immigration housing argument says more people always mean higher housing costs,” author Marian L Tupy said.

“The research evidence does not support that strong claim.

“Population growth alone does not produce today’s housing shortage. The shortage appears when governments ration land use, delay approvals, cap density in high-demand areas, and then act surprised when prices rise.” (More)

But the scheme has faced criticism from many, including the Centre of Independent Studies’ policy analyst Zoe Hilton who said it continues to be an “upper-class welfare” program instead of a solution to Australia’s energy problems.

“It’s unsurprising there has been massive uptake of the program among those wealthy enough to own a house with rooftop solar and have thousands of dollars on hand to drop on a battery,” Ms Hilton told SkyNews.com.au.

“The Cheaper Home Batteries program is reverse Robin Hood – taking from the poor to give to the rich.

“Consumers receiving this subsidy are essentially being paid by taxpayers to buy an asset that will save the battery owners money while forcing everyone else to pay more for their electricity.”

Ms Bullock had a defender in Peter Tulip, a former senior research manager at the RBA who is now the chief economist at the conservative Centre for Independent Studies think tank.

“It’s the job of the central bank governor to explain current policy and her views on the framework,” he said.

Buckingham, J. (2010). The rise of religious schools. The Centre for Independent Studies (Australia).

Meanwhile, the Centre for Independent Studies’ Early Numbers, Big Ideas report argues for urgent investment in early numeracy.

It recommends universal screening in the early years and targeted support for students at risk of falling behind, warning that gaps in number sense begin well before Year 3.