THE GREAT DIVIDE.

"The Great Divide" by Alan Kohler is a compelling account of Australia's housing crisis and its potential to divide society. The author argues that the main driver of unaffordable housing is the difficulty of building more homes in established suburbs. However, the proposed solutions in the article are deemed unlikely to work and distract from the need to build more homes. The political tide is shifting towards supporting more density, and there is growing awareness of the costs of restricting development in desirable suburbs. The article suggests that denser cities not only offer more affordable housing but also bring amenity, vibrancy, and walkability. The alternative solution of building faster trains to peri-urban and regional areas is criticized as unfair, costly, and ineffective. The article concludes that the heart of the housing problem is the lack of housing supply and calls for a focus on building more homes in desirable suburbs. [Extracted from the article]