How many hospitals will an extra 1 million people need?

It now takes longer and costs more doing the very same thing than just 20 years ago. The Federal Government’s target of building 1.2 million homes over 5 years could most kindly be described as an aspirational target. At worst a lie. Either way, even when it comes to the simplest form on construction, our supply response is clearly lagging, and slowing. 

It's going to be interesting to watch how this growth challenge pans out. Much of our national dialogue is focussed simply on population and housing. There’s quite a bit of attention also on the increasing traffic congestion experienced in our major centres. If we start to add to that obvious short falls in hospitals, schools, drinking water, corrections and any number of other things that are the direct consequence of growth, the debate could quickly go febrile.