I've been meaning to post this for ages but haven't got around to it until now.

And interesting comparison between the "housing crisis" we have now and housing in the early 70s. From my new favourite history book, "Australia: The Fifth Continent (Photographed by Ern McQuillan)" (typos are probably mine):

HOUSING: Australia has one of the highest rates of home-ownership in the world, and most Australians live in single-family, one-level houses set in their own ground. More than 70% of all homes in Australia are occupied by owners. Almost all new homes available for renting are built by the State government authorities, but a growing number of flats or apartments are built by private investors for rental or sale. The Government encourages home-ownership through the Home Savings Grant, a tax-free contribution of up to $500 to young couples buying or building their first home. Home-owners may claim municipal rates and land and property taxes as deductions from federal income tax.

And...

HOUSING COMMISSION, COMMONWEALTH, appointed in 1943 to help overcome the problem of the post-war housing shortage - aggravated by the cessation of building in the war, an increase in immigration and the growth of population. Under the Commonwealth-State Housing Agreements the Federal Government makes long-term loans to the States for the provision of housing. This finances the building of State Housing Commission homes for rental at low cost to families on small incomes, elderly people and servicemen. The State also advances loans to State banks and building societies to assist private-home builders and purchasers. About half the houses built in Australia are financed directly or indirectly by the Federal Government.

There is a lot in there to take in.

The Commonwealth-State Housing Agreement was still going in 2001 and was due to expire in 2003.

Excellent newly discovered TV blog tvtonight stumbled upon the ratings figures from 1999 for Melbourne and compared them to today's figures. A lot less people watch TV these days...

We sure miss those Friends:

Only eight years ago top rating shows like Friends soared with huge audiences of 945,000. Yes that's 945,000 for one show, one night in one city. That's the sort of figure you'd get for a major sporting event these days. In fact the ARIAs got about that audience this week -nationally.

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As you can see the #1 show in Melbourne last week (Border Security 552,000) only equaled the #9 show in June 1999 (Nine News). That's some drop off!

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While it should be pointed out the ratings system changed with the introduction of OzTam in 2001 there is no denying, we need a lot more convincing before sitting down at the box these days.

Read the whole article, it's eye opening.