Group disrupts home auction in Sydney. Anti-Asian group?

[Deactivated] on 31/08/2015 - 19:01
Last edited 31/08/2015 - 19:47 by 1 other user

This happened last weekend, where a 'anti-foreign buyer' group disrupted a home auction in Chatswood, Sydney.

In my opinion, this group has a racist agenda (where a group is being discriminated against, based on race, FYI; let's not get hung up on the labelling). This is because the flags in their placard are all Asian flags, which is not (anywhere near) a good indication of foreigners in Australia.

The group is angry that these foreigners have increased competition, making it harder for them to buy homes.

  • Many buyers also buy property as an investment.

  • They are understandably angry.

However if they've done their research, they would know that it Asian nationals make up a small group of buyers:

With these stats in mind, it doesn't seem fair that it's only the Asian nations (most which aren't even in the top 10) feeling the wrath in this 'anti foreigner' demonstration.

I hope I've made my points clear.

Do you think this group is anti-Asian? Or, if you think that they're just 'anti-foreign' as they claim to be, can you explain why they're singling out only Asian nations, when this is wrong?

(I'm feeling angry about this issue, that's all. It's hard enough trying to get into the property market; don't need discriminating (profanity) to make it even harder.)

Poll Options

  • 1
    I am undecided, and will explain.
  • 140
    The group is (covertly) anti-Asian.
  • 229
    The group is anti-foreigner (as they claim).
Home & Garden

Comments

    • brongz on 03/09/2015 - 20:20
      -1

      buying property is not investment!!! government is stupid thinking like that. buying business is investment. but if you don't protect local, the economy will be owned by certain ethnics only

    • [Deactivated] on 07/09/2015 - 17:11

      Dear Zonty,

      Australian culture opposite drink, smoke party and end up no money

      You need to get out more.
      You need to deal with your hard core racism.
      You need to deal with your delusions of Chinese racial supremacy.
      You need to deal with your profound ignorance of what this country is about.
      You need to deal with your lack of competency in English.

      And i want you to do all this while i get back to my booze and smokes.

  • Davo1111 on 01/09/2015 - 06:07
    +7

    Top 9: China, USA, Singapore, Canada, Malaysia, UK, Netherlands, NZ, Hong Kong, Germany"

    Just the amount of investment from China is USA + Singapore + Canada combined.

    Whether you agree with their arguments, china has a large proportion of foreign investment (and are number 1), so i understand their focus.

    • [Deactivated] on 01/09/2015 - 08:06
      +2

      Yeah, China…

      but they're also focusing on South Korea and Japan… Heck, even Vietnam and Indonesia lol. All of which are nowhere near the Chinese involvement, and also aren't near the top European, American, and other non Asian nations.

    • paul11 on 01/09/2015 - 10:46
      +2

      Yeah, the reason is simple, they can't buy freehold property in China. Its only 70 years lease. So when a Chinese man thinks how he can save money for his grandchildren, he thinks about buying property overseas.

      That's not the case with citizens of other countries. That is why Chinese are singled out. Its not just in Australia, its happening all over the developed world. UK, USA, Canada, Japan…. Property prices are shooting up everywhere because Chinese are spending heavily in real estate.

      • supaderp on 03/09/2015 - 08:02
        +5

        No, the simple reason you gave is wrong. The Chinese don't care about the 70year rule. It is due to a word of mouth, the Chinese goes back to China and tell their mates about how good investing in property and its rate of return. Then the word spreads.
        This is how Chinese communities are formed, e.g. Eastwood, Ryde, Carlingford, Chatswood. It's like a concept of moving in next to your mates.

        The crazy property prices has woken up most of us into reality. People are saving, talking about other ways to start a business with a small capital, talking about investment options and what are their alternatives. Also we should think about the labourers in construction who getting calls to rock up for work and start saving for a home. I work with labourers everyday, five years ago these guys talk about saving a trip to the states and buying new cars whereas now I get 18 year olds talking about saving up for houses and packing their lunches.
        These guys in the anti-foreigner flags should consider themselves as selfish. I can't even afford a property in the western suburbs but I am not going to join the craze. Rather, there are other regions in Australia where I can find an affordable home.
        There is no point if blaming foreign investors when it was the government who was giving citizenship for 1m to businessman and state bonds buyers in the first place. They did a poor job in assessing the impact these foreign investors had on the local community.
        But in the government POV, running a country is a business. Selling a 600sqm piece of land for 2m using foreign investors money is a win and the locals can just move out if its too expensive. Sounds familiar? This is first world poverty.

  • CheapandUsed on 01/09/2015 - 08:34
    +2

    Ok First up, I dont agree with their approach, it seems designed to cause tension which there is already enough of.

    The real problem I think they (Domain, Realestate.com.au, smh, etc..) should be highlighting is that it is illegal for a non-Australian to purchase an existing property:
    http://www.firb.gov.au/content/real_estate/residential/devel…

    The FIRB provided the ATO with a list of around 1200 suspect property purchases, the ATO are giving divestment orders on 6 properties and taking a closer look at 420 others (after only 6 weeks with the initial data - this is government remember)
    http://www.afr.com/real-estate/ato-to-unleash-massive-taskfo…

    I'm thinking this is the tip of the ice berg of illegal property purchases.

    There is no need for more racism in Australia, we sadly have enough of that. What we need is our existing laws to be enforced. Then nobody will be able to say or think that foreigners are taking our homes.

    • [Deactivated] on 01/09/2015 - 09:44
      +3

      Fyi, i think you're misinformed.

      Non Australians can buy existing property, as long as they're residents of Australia…. So you can buy existing property as a non Australian. This is legal.

      (And legality doesn't seem to be the issue with this group.)

      • CheapandUsed on 01/09/2015 - 09:53
        +2

        I wasn't sure how best to word that part.

        Temporary residents have different rules than Permanant residents also I believe. E.g. Student temporary visa's can buy 1 existing property, but are supposed to sell when they leave/visa ends.

        I agree, this group doesn't care about the legality, they are focusing on the alleged race.

    • DavidFong on 02/09/2015 - 21:15
      +1

      Agreed, foreign investment is best directed towards more 'productive' activity, such as construction of new property, particularly if, as some say, major Australian cities have a housing shortage. Construction of new property benefits the economy, increases housing availability and might encourage consumption (the usual washing machines and TVs etc.) through migration, though there is always a risk that it might also be a mis-allocation of capital if overdone.

      I think we should acknowledge the original inhabitants of this country prior to the auction of established homes. I feel particularly hypocritical listening to acknowledgement of the indigenous Australians at the beginning of so many meetings I attend, since the meeting has nothing to do with land and culture, and the content of the meeting almost never mentions the welfare or culture of the indigenous Australians again.

      We should put our money where our mouth is. Acknowledge the original inhabitants of this land prior to every auction. Maybe even translate it into Chinese! ;)

  • Zonty on 01/09/2015 - 10:19

    If Asian leave I think all Australia will get biggest recession as no more buyer property vacant and price will drop, and no more jobs as no need to build more or maintain, shopping centre also will loose money too. In short people need to keep country running if u want construct houses more to keep match demand need more buyers otherwise no jobs same like use 2009 started. No buyer house and end up all selling under price then real price.

    • greatlamp on 01/09/2015 - 22:49
      +5

      High real estate prices mean high mortgages that people have to pay every month.
      Thats less money left over to buy a new car, a new phone, shop in the shopping centre, eat at a restaurant etc etc

      The only people who benefit from high house prices are the owners, the money lenders, and the governments who collect taxes.

      Investment in BUSINESS is good for the economy, not residential real estate.

    • [Deactivated] on 02/09/2015 - 02:45
      +1

      Falling real estate and (shock, horror) a bit of near term deflation is short term medicine Australia NEEDS. The rapidly escalating house prices - tantamount to hyperinflation - are NOT what is needed. I say this as a home owner myself.

    • brongz on 03/09/2015 - 20:24

      nah, foreigners don't have to buy local property. just rent will bring good money to the economy. ever wonder why the foreign students' quality is lower every intake year? because uni only want the money since the govt funding been cut! the longer they fail the better.

  • peteru on 01/09/2015 - 12:37
    +6

    I can tell you why this is happening in Chatswood and why Chinese in particular. It's because for the last three months or so, there were loads of leaflets being distributed by a real estate agent, telling people that they have Chinese buyers for their property that will pay 25-33% more than Australian buyers. Obviously someone got pissed off about that.

    Racist or not, correct or incorrect does not seem to come into play. It appears to be a simple reaction to the above real estate agents campaign.

    • [Deactivated] on 01/09/2015 - 17:30
      +1

      Why would that agent do that? What was the hidden agenda? Couldn't have been a simple pso, that would've been weird…

      "Oh hey guys, just fyi, we have many Chinese buyers who are willing to offer more than you guys… Just fyi. Kthxbi"

      • scrimshaw on 01/09/2015 - 21:46

        Let's say you are Real Estate Agent A in chatswood. There are also agents B, C, D and E in the area.

        You spread leaflets telling people to sell because 'now's a great time and lots of buyers want to buy'.

        You then say you have loads of rich, loaded Asian buyers at your beck and call and home owners should contact Agent A so that they can get the best price for them. Since Agent A speaks Chinese, Mandarin, Korean etc and can communicate with Asian buyers, you have the best clientele possible that will fight amongst themselves to buy the house.

        You sell more houses then your competition — you get more $$$.

      • greatlamp on 01/09/2015 - 22:44

        There is no hidden agenda, it is no secret that foreign buyers have been purchasing property that the locals wouldn't.

        There just isn't that many Australians that can invest 5-10 million in a new apartment complex.

        Your local area may not be suitable for this kind of development so you don't see what is happening in the market,doesn't mean it's not happening.

      • brongz on 03/09/2015 - 20:28

        have you ever seen property board with chinese language?? have you ever seen chinese language sign in the airport??

    • DeafMutePretender on 01/09/2015 - 21:36
      +1

      Racist or not, correct or incorrect does not seem to come into play.

      In the end, the only thing that matters is that money talks.

      • brongz on 03/09/2015 - 20:29

        that's what the chinese believes;) golden bullet will penetrate any wall!!

  • greatlamp on 01/09/2015 - 22:39
    +18

    The leaders of the group may very well be racist, but their message is not.
    Many countries restrict foreign ownership of their real estate and businesses.
    Are the Chinese being scapegoated? Maybe. But do not pretend that their presence in the Australian market is harmless.

    Maybe you have Chinese heritage and you don't like that white Australians are being 'racist' against 'your' people. Sorry but these are businessmen, they have no issue turning Australia into a country of landless peasants just like they have no issue doing the same in their home country to their own people. They do not deserve your outrage and protection.

    Their protests should be targeted at politicians though, I don't agree with attacking people at Auctions

  • [Deactivated] on 01/09/2015 - 22:54
    +11

    This is a little off topic, but I spent 1.5 years looking for a house in Melbourne, going to hundreds of auctions and bidding on countless houses. In that time, I witnessed some very underhanded tactics, but three stood out. None of these were racist protests, but merely buyers disrupting the auction to get a lower price. The first was in Richmond, where someone hired a homeless man to walk into the auction in the middle of bidding, and question why the house had been sold 10 times in the last few years extremely loudly. The tactic worked and no one bid on the house after that point. It passed in and sold after auction.

    On another occasion, someone hired two druggies to disrupt an auction in Balaclava, yelling, screaming and ranting. The sole bidder got the house for a knockdown price.

    Finally, a house sold three doors down from my parent's house. It is an extremely quiet street, but in the middle of the auction, someone drove by the house and did a massive burnout, in the middle of the auction. In the 20 years my parents have lived in the street, no one has ever done a burnout. The house sold under land value, but the buyer didn't seem to be the person who organised the burnout, that was the other bidder.

    • centrelink on 02/09/2015 - 01:03
      +1

      Now that you mention it. I remember some bikies coming into the auction with their loud bikes and tried to intimidate the bidders. None of them were phased and still sold over the value it should of been and they just left.

    • Charity on 02/09/2015 - 07:13

      interesting techniques! In a crazy way, it is probably worth doing

      • [Deactivated] on 02/09/2015 - 18:40

        Completely illegal

    • belongsinforums on 02/09/2015 - 18:31

      smart

    • MelBourne on 02/09/2015 - 19:47

      Loved your story! Giving me ideas…

      One question: How do you know that those incidents were organised by the individuals you saw at the auction?

      • [Deactivated] on 02/09/2015 - 20:29

        Speculation, but educated speculation. They weren't just random chance.

    • DeafMutePretender on 02/09/2015 - 23:47

      I never imagined these tactics could be used at house auctions. But now that I know, these make complete sense. These are houses so we're obviously talking big money. If a couple of bikies, bogans or hooligans (paid by one of the bidders) show up and can influence the other bidders into not bidding or lowering their maximum price, then the savings could be in the thousands, even tens of thousands. More than enough to pay off the undesirables for a few minutes work.

      Genius.

    • neonlight on 04/09/2015 - 19:56

      Good tactics. Lets do to get cheaper houses at auctions. Thanks for post. At least the homeless gets a job

  • freakatronic on 01/09/2015 - 23:44
    +10

    It's ridiculous to attack foreigners for investing legally here. Yes, we have a property bubble. But be honest - was it caused by foreign buyers? Or did our own government give them the legal right to buy property here?

    Correct answer - or government should burn in hell for the way it sold Australia to foreigners. They are interested only in short term money from stamp duty. What about the economic desolation that will follow when people wake up from the herd madness? We'll see regular suburban houses back down in the $300000 range, causing millions of dollars in losses for the chumps who got in at the top. Regular Australians are going to be upside down on their mortgages for decades. Yes, they'll blame China. But the ones who caused the damage are sitting in parliament today.

    • [Deactivated] on 02/09/2015 - 11:36
      +4

      Blame it on the free economy and movement of money. Highest bidder wins. 7 billion people in the world.
      There are at least 14 million people in the world with 1 million in investible assets.
      http://www.cnbc.com/2015/06/24/how-many-millionaires-in-the-…

      There are only 23 million Australians in TOTAL and around 1.2 million Australian millionaires. http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/austra… (Doesn't state whether it includes non-investible assets like primary residences or not).

      So, welcome to the big bad world.

    • eatwell365 on 02/09/2015 - 11:55

      Think foreigners can only buy apartments off plan. By fuelling the apartment markets, the house/land prices also go up which benefits the existing owners and treasury coffin.

      With the current weak Australian $$$, not only properties, Australian companies also become prime target to foreigners.

      • DavidFong on 03/09/2015 - 14:13
        +1

        It is not quite as bad as that.

        Apartments are constructed in lots of five, ten, or even a hundred.
        Before releasing funds to start construction, any banks helping fund the project will want the developer to pre-sell ('off-the-plan') a certain percentage of units, which I think is typically 50%.

        Apartments are an efficient method of increasing the density of population, which increases the use and viability of public transport and even things like public-bicycle schemes. Just this morning, I used the public bicycle to travel the short 700 metre distance from my apartment in Xi'an (population 6.5 million) to the supermarket, passing two other public bicycle stations on the way. My apartment is 8 km from the city centre, there seems to be well over a hundred public bicycle stands in Xi'an now. Compare that to my hometown of Melbourne (population 4.5 million) where I don't think there are any public bicycle stands more than 5 km from the city centre.

        But Australians are not used to actually living in (let alone buying) apartments, something that people from China and other places in Asia are readily accustomed to do, and investing in. Expensive as apartments can be, they are still cheaper than a self-standing house on the same block!

        So foreign investment in apartment development helps the economy by supporting the construction industry, helping new apartment development start and increasing housing availability (even if the overseas investor does not lease the apartment out initially, and there are cultural reasons for that to do with a 'new house' and depreciation).

        Allowing, or not enforcing restrictions on, foreign investment of existing residences is another matter.

    • brongz on 03/09/2015 - 20:33
      +1

      the govt mainly old people. they don't give a d$$n about young people. they want to enjoy this world while they can and some don't believe in the hereafter.

  • centrelink on 02/09/2015 - 00:26
    +2

    Didn't read the article but that picture on the domain website shows an Asian man involved in the protest as well? Actually most of them looked quite ethnic to me.. Lol

    • ausmechkeyboards on 02/09/2015 - 12:01
      +4

      I like how you treat "Muslim" as if it's not compatible with "Caucasian" or "White." It helps to emphasize how ridiculous your rant is.

      Things were so much better in Australia in the good old days (the 1950s).

      Yeah, the really good ol' days where Aboriginals were enslaved, didn't have any voting rights and had to sign declarations that they're no longer Aboriginals in order to get employed.

      • centrelink on 02/09/2015 - 18:57

        Everyone always tell me about the good old days. My grandpa told me that his grandpa said his good old days are better. So technically if this is true, then the caveman days are the best or maybe it was the beginning of time that was the best. Soon we will all be saying how the good old days were better in our days and brag how much better Justin Bieber was back in our days.

        You whippy snapper

    • DeafMutePretender on 02/09/2015 - 23:49

      A whole lot of strawmen there mate.

    • [Deactivated] on 03/09/2015 - 13:43
      +1

      You are a racist. lol
      WHere on earth did you get educated?

      • lost69 on 06/09/2015 - 15:10
        -2

        In a school that used to be white before the visas and immigrants took over.

    • h0mbre on 02/09/2015 - 09:41
      +20

      I worked at my local Cole's on the lower north shore while I was at uni. I had commitments that would take priority over work such as rugby, going out, computer games, much like most others of the same age.

      There were a few Indian employees, obvious first generation immigrants. They would travel from western Sydney for a 4 hour shift, never complain, never turn down shifts and work 2 to 3 times harder than any of the Aussie born employees.

      Keep telling yourself they are getting paid less etc, maybe it will make you feel better and justify the lazy attitude to life and work we have in Australia.
      The truth is they work harder and are happy to have a job because they have come from far worse and don't take anything for granted, yet.

      Simpletons like you are the main reason in a decades time we will be bowing down to our new masters from the orient.

      I don't understand it, we have spent decades consuming and consuming, laughing at stuff made in China.
      What did you think? They were making all the stuff for free?
      China is rich because of us and they will have the last laugh because their economy doesn't depend on a war machine, they are buying infrastructure the world over.
      I'm not Chinese but you can't deny their strategy is clever.

      • lost69 on 02/09/2015 - 09:50
        -1

        Masters? China's economy is collapsing and they are only capable of copying not creating. Where is the innovation in China? All they can do is make (poor copies) of stuff. Plus the country is a polluted overpopulated mess to boot. The next war will be China vs the rest. They'll have a war machine then.

        • centrelink on 02/09/2015 - 10:02

          Poor argument, not all products made there is a copy and poor quality. They do have instances where they do create and innovate their own products as well to a high degree of quality.

          Who makes the iPhone for Apple or is it designed in the US and "Assembled" in China?

          But granted, China is well known for making cheap knock-offs but it doesn't mean the whole country does it. Quite ignorant, I would say if people actually do believe that.

        • [Deactivated] on 02/09/2015 - 11:45
          +3

          The whole of china does not need to be rich to dominate a foreign economy. The top 1% of chinese number 13570000. That is more than half the population of Australia. Income is about 91k usd p.a and networth about 1.6million usd (mostly property)
          http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2013/09/23/what-percent-a…

          Think what would happen if a small percentage decide sell their houses to really outprice Australian auctions.

          Open your eyes. The world is much bigger than you. Freedom has made it much harder.

        • NickosFoivos on 02/09/2015 - 13:12
          +2

          China makes almost everything you use. Even your food.

        • lost69 on 02/09/2015 - 17:44
          -1

          @NickosFoivos:

          What? The chinese have cows now that magically transport here?

        • [Deactivated] on 02/09/2015 - 18:39
          +3

          @lost69:

          Ship
          noun
          1.
          a vessel, especially a large oceangoing one propelled by sails or engines.First proper sailing ships are as old as written history but 3000BC was probably when the first wooden ones came about.

          Airplane
          noun
          1.
          a heavier-than-air aircraft kept aloft by the upward thrust exerted by the passing air on its fixed wings and driven by propellers, jet propulsion, etc. First flight 1903

          http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-02-19/how-australia-checks-i…
          China is the 3rd largest exporter of food to Australia.

          Where did you go to school? I'd like to learn some magic too.

        • h0mbre on 02/09/2015 - 19:55
          +3

          @lolbbq:

          I wonder if his head would explode if he knew how much of Australian farmland is now owned by Chinese

        • [Deactivated] on 02/09/2015 - 22:48
          +1

          @h0mbre: Might think its just another harry potter story.

        • rolypoly on 03/09/2015 - 13:13

          @lolbbq: He was a slytherin.

        • brongz on 03/09/2015 - 20:42

          but still we're buying their craps. thx ozbargain;)
          (by the way am not blaming ozb, this is a great site, seriously)

        • [Deactivated] on 04/09/2015 - 10:44

          @brongz: Truth be told, like most things/people, Made-in-China stuff fall within a spectrum. You really do get what you pay for. There are some high quality stuff by Chinese companies that make you think twice because of the funny words or Chinese names but once you use it you realize its much on par function and durability wise to mid-range brands like Bosch. Won't comment on the design though. I believe if the technology is mature or mature in China, if you go with the right brands you're going to get a lot of bang for your buck.

        • [Deactivated] on 07/09/2015 - 00:09

          @lost69:

          https://esriaustralia.com.au/gis-solutions-for-media-food-im…

          Fruits, vegetables, seafood (processed and unprocessed) and sugars. Lots and lots apparently

          http://www.smh.com.au/business/chinese-billionaire-xingfa-ma…
          -ball bearing manufacturing company buys lots of cattle, you okay with that?

          You love money don't you, everything has a price and the Chinese will pay.

      • centrelink on 02/09/2015 - 10:39
        +2

        Wow, my brother who used to work in Woolworths said almost the same thing. I asked him why there were so many Indians working there and he was like because they don't abuse the absence of leave system and they were much easier for managers to manage then everyone else.

        So does that mean the Australian way of life = Abuse the absence of leave system as much as you can?

        • [Deactivated] on 03/09/2015 - 17:23

          All good mate, we somewhat pride ourselves as laid back and chilled…

        • brongz on 03/09/2015 - 20:44

          other reason because if someone achieved decision making position they will bring in their families to work with them. they have quite solid bond outside india

      • DeafMutePretender on 02/09/2015 - 23:53

        There were a few Indian employees, obvious first generation immigrants. They would travel from western Sydney for a 4 hour shift, never complain, never turn down shifts and work 2 to 3 times harder than any of the Aussie born employees.

        Simpletons like you are the main reason in a decades time we will be bowing down to our new masters from the orient.

        I don't know, to me this seems like bowing down to our employer overlord masters. It's one thing to have good work ethic, it's another to be a completely obedient indentured servant (as shown in your Indian employee example). I personally find that disgusting. It shouldn't be a race to the bottom.

        • h0mbre on 03/09/2015 - 10:10
          +3

          I agree, but that's the nature of the game mate. Everyone wants better service, cheaper prices, longer opening hours, more options etc but at what cost?
          I spent 5 yrs working for a Tier 1 construction firm where I got absolutely flogged with ridiculous time frames on every project I worked on.
          I now work in quasi-government and its the other end of the spectrum, 80% of employees are cruising, looking for ways to exploit the system.
          I still have the private company mentality, but how long before I get conditioned to just cruise along like everyone else around me?
          Racing to the bottom, in all aspects of life, is one of my pet peeves but I just can't think of way to avoid it happening.

          In Australia I've only seen 2 scenarios, get flogged chasing the dream or just cruise. I'm yet to see a healthy middle ground.

          A good mate of mine told me something that for me sums up work culture Australia. He used to work in a highly specialised German owned machining and engineering workshop on the Northern Beaches of Sydney where they'd have 2 German engineering student/interns come for 6 months at a time every year. Every single one of the students could not believe what they were seeing, their minds were absolutely blown at the work culture here and basically said a company like this would not exist in Germany. The place my mate worked at wasn't any different to the average workplace…imagine if they saw our councils or something like that?

          I have no qualms with the Australian way of life, I love it.
          But it really riles me up when simple minded people who haven't seen the world start whinging about things they have no idea about.
          We have to learn to understand that our way of life will have to come with compromise.

        • brongz on 03/09/2015 - 20:45

          bowing down or a$s lick? same same or diff?

      • brongz on 03/09/2015 - 20:39

        oh well. your experience is different from mine:) in the class, in the workplace most is …..oh well not the same experience for sure

    • ausmechkeyboards on 02/09/2015 - 12:03

      Feel free to go home if Australia isn't up to your standards.

      • chipstss on 04/09/2015 - 04:01

        Racist!

    • NickosFoivos on 02/09/2015 - 13:09

      100% agree. More some reason there is a secret agenda for promoting Indians and Asians in this country. It is obvious.

      But you really shouldn't think that ghettos are only in Europe, check this country closer.

  • Thenarrator on 02/09/2015 - 08:37
    +4

    The group should just shut the f*** up if they feel like they have the superior higher ground. Technically they're also foreigners because the only Aus nationals are aborigines themselves.

    • Wokka Flappa on 03/09/2015 - 17:58

      Ignorance is a curable disease now.
      If you are born in Australia, then you are an Australian!
      WHAT NONSENSE!!!

      • [Deactivated] on 06/09/2015 - 15:25
        -1

        I agree. Just because Aboriginal ancestors have been here for many thousands of years does not give their current descendants a right to have special privileges over Australians who were born here.

        That's a double standard. We live in an equal society or at least we try to shape our society like that even if we may not have it perfect. Aboriginals need to adapt and help us grow as a country. They can't keep playing the victim when they weren't the ones affected by the British and white Australia policies of the last century.

      • NickosFoivos on 08/09/2015 - 17:39
        +1

        The REAL Australians are the Aboriginals. And yes, your ignorance is uncurable.

  • cannedhams on 02/09/2015 - 12:10
    +2

    Pray the Chinese keep coming here and keep buying. Look at the GDP figures people, 0.2% growth in the last quarter.

    Take away Chinese-fueled real estate investment, and we are in a recession. How much do you like being employed?

    • NickosFoivos on 02/09/2015 - 13:13
      -1

      I really don't think Chinese helping in any way. Growth rates are very low but what you are saying is irrelevant.

      • cannedhams on 02/09/2015 - 18:04
        +6

        Chinese are essentially limited to investing in new housing, unless they are permanent residents, or in circumscribed cases, temporary residents.

        Take away the Chinese investment in new housing and all the construction and other related jobs that come with it, and we are in a recession. Its very simple.

        • frostman on 05/09/2015 - 22:47
          -1

          Pray the Chinese keep coming here and keep buying. Look at the GDP figures people, 0.2% growth in the last quarter

          Have you been smoking Weed? All the Chinese have done with their purchasing is explode the housing market and hyper-inflate the prices by 20-30% across the board. The country as a whole doesn't import from Australia any more than they export rubbish.

          Our GDP is high as AU have a very high tax rate, a minimal corrupt government and we export staple food like Wheat, Corn, Milk and Meat. Has nothing to do with Mr Xian Xuan buying an apartment in Chatswood for $1.2m

        • cannedhams on 06/09/2015 - 06:42
          +2

          @frostman: I am not sure that you understand the concept of gdp. It's quite separate from the balance of imports and exports. Essentially, if Chinese people cause economic activity here, such as tourism or education or housing construction, they are contributing to gdp.

        • DavidFong on 06/09/2015 - 14:59
          +1

          @frostman:

          Once upon Australia rode upon the sheep's back, but the more recent export booms have been mineral and energy based, much of which was exported to countries like Japan and China.

          Although China exports food as well, they are also large purchasers and importers of food from countries which are believed to have 'clean' food, that has been a major basis of why the New Zealand economy grew quite well in recent years after signing an FTA with China. (Australia missed out in large part. Five years ago I could buy Australian milk here in the Chinese city of Xi'an, now I can only purchase New Zealand and German imported milk. Many Australian farmers desperately want an FTA to open up food exports to China).

          Perhaps you should read a little bit about how the investment market classically works, and how enterprises, such as construction of apartment blocks, is funded by the investment of people other than the developers; where the investor is not necessarily the consumer, but where both investor and consumer can be a beneficiary of the end-product. In this way, individual Chinese investors have dramatically increased the funds available to developers in the major capital cities.

        • NickosFoivos on 08/09/2015 - 17:37

          The best thing is for the locals to buy. Chinese are mainly responsible for the crazy house prices. Not funny.

  • kolorijo on 02/09/2015 - 13:11
    +1

    Part of the risk of Globalization. No one complaining when it is benefiting…

    • solar on 02/09/2015 - 13:18
      +1

      Lots of people complained when it was "benefiting" … and tried to warn the masses … that's why there have been protests at G8 meetings for the last few decades…

  • SlartiBartFozz on 02/09/2015 - 14:20
    +1

    "Demographics of Australia; Country of birth(abs.gov.au)
    Top 5: UK, NZ, China, India, Philippines."

    That seems to suggest that those figures are for national population as a whole, but they are just for resident migrants <10% of population and not including citizens, which would be a vastly different demographic.

  • Randxyz123 on 02/09/2015 - 14:28
    +3

    As the guy in the video said "They are people with nothing to do on a Saturday afternoon"

    I don't understand why they are angry or what the problem with foreigners buying investment properties.

    If I were the agent I'd have called the police about a public nuisance and then moved to the back yard.

    • lplau on 02/09/2015 - 16:00
      +2

      Tell you the truth, if it means selling to a foreigner gets me a higher price, then I WILL sell it to them.
      You snooze you lose… or the superior bird gets the worm. lol

  • congo on 02/09/2015 - 15:02
    +7

    You cannot blame the Chinese for raising the housing prices.
    However you can blame the politicians who sets the policies.

  • whoopdeedoo on 02/09/2015 - 15:25
    +5

    Some people are so hypocritical.
    they'll have no qualms about buying stuff from overseas but when foreigners wish to spend money here they all go ape sh!t.
    Cry me a friggen river. If you can't stand the heat, go buy in Wodonga or something.

  • lplau on 02/09/2015 - 15:57

    Interesting that nobody complains when we purchase stuff from overseas but keep complaining when overseas purchases stuff from us.
    Its like what I tell the people at work "If you stop complaining, then you may have already completed the task".

    If people stop blaming others for their "crappy" income, then they may have already been able to get enough money to purchase a place.
    Yes its more expensive closer to CBD but that isn't really a problem that foreigners caused, its just general human habit of wanting to be closer to civilization.

    Buy further out where it is affordable then wait until the general population starts to expand and your property will go up in price.

    • wyrmy on 03/09/2015 - 17:34
      +2

      Comparing "stuff" (Man-made consumer goods) to land and housing is pretty irrelevant. In general more people buying made stuff helps bring overall costs down and improve the efficiency of manufacturing and logistics. Sure it depletes some raw resources but it would take pretty extreme consumerism to put key resources at risk. Many third-world and developing countries have specific policies in place preventing foreign ownership of land, houses and natural resources for exactly that reason
      Would you not complain if you were told water and food is now being rationed (or if all your expenses increased 3 to 5 times) because the bulk of it is being sold off outside Australia?

  • Cluster on 02/09/2015 - 17:32
    +4

    Anyone who was around in the late 1980s may remember the general fear that Japan was going to buy up Australia (especially Queensland property). From 1985 to 1989 Japan had an epic stock market boom coupled with a strengthening currency and huge Japanese real estate bubble. It burst in 1990 and the country hasn't recovered since.

    While obviously China is not Japan (10x the population, much larger land mass, much better prospects for continued growth), I can't help but feel these anti Chinese groups are barking up the wrong tree. Just wait, the problem will sort itself out.

    • lplau on 03/09/2015 - 09:06
      +2

      I think the problem is that people are blaming the wrong thing.
      Land & Houses are a limited commodity (you cannot make land out of thin air unless), compounded by the fact that people want to live closer to the CBD, which is actually causing the inflation.

      Certain suburbs are also expensive due to other factors such as good public schools.
      Maybe those guys need to start disrupting public schools because they are driving prices up. lol.

  • HoneyComb on 02/09/2015 - 17:35
    -1

    I don't think the Guy who organize this (Nick folkes) is racist. He sounds more pro-white than racist cos this article.

    http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/race-realist-nick-fo…

    It says he doesn't like africans, asians and middle easterners so he isn't targeting just the chinese. He is targeting everyone who isn't white.

    • zeomega on 02/09/2015 - 22:06
      +7

      And that is NOT racist?

      Interesting definition of racism.

    • wal990 on 03/09/2015 - 14:45

      basically, by your definition of racism. The Ku Klux Klan was not racist because they hated everyone who wasn't a white protestant?

  • belongsinforums on 02/09/2015 - 18:34

    Ew, those pictures. The Australian flag screams white Australia - Union Jack and southern cross.

  • arescarti42 on 02/09/2015 - 19:03
    +4

    Without knowing actual motives of the group in question, young Australians have every right to be furious about the level of foreign investment in Australian housing.

    The problem with the official stats from the foreign investment review board (FIRB) is they only capture foreign investors that apply for and are granted approval. They do not capture investors who break the law by simply buying property illegally and not telling FIRB.

    Now this might not be a problem if FIRB had been doing its job and enforcing the law, but last year's Parliamentary Inquiry into foreign investment found they were hopelessly inept, and haven't been doing anything. <b>The last prosecution of a foreign investor by the FIRB for breaking the law was 7 years ago.</b>

    And yet anecdotal evidence from real estate agents and auction attendees abounds. You don't have to be a genius to suspect that the 19 year old bidding millions of dollars on an established house whilst speaking Mandarin into his mobile phone is probably acting illegally.

    Young Australians have been betrayed by their government, and they should be furious. Unfortunately there's a pretty good chance that as the discontent rises, Asian-Australians may get caught in the crossfire, and they should be angry about that as well.

    • wal990 on 03/09/2015 - 14:48

      That 19 year old may very well be an Australian citizen, he is not allowed to speak his native language now? maybe talking to his daddy who makes all the money in China, and spends it in Australia helping the Australian economy. That $50,000 he is paying in stamp duty is paying for the same public services you use.

      • arescarti42 on 03/09/2015 - 17:21

        "That 19 year old may very well be an Australian citizen, he is not allowed to speak his native language now?"

        The native language for a vast majority of 19 year old Chinese Australians would be English, by virtue of them having grown up in Australia.

        Of course everything might be above board, but I think people have reason to be suspicious given that the Government has admitted that the law hasn't been enforced, and that they have no idea how much illegal investment is going on.

  • MelBourne on 02/09/2015 - 19:53

    I'm not happy with any douchbag like this idiot who embarrasess himself and the rest of us.

    In relation to these thoughts.. one thing that annoys me are some people I know or have met that come from different countries and are now permanent residents of Australia, don't proudly proclaim that they are now Australian.
    I get a strong feeling from many 'non-anglo' people that they have moved to Australia from another country to take advantage of the many benefits we have and the comfortable lifestyle, but then don't stand up and express their love of being Australian.

  • Jer Jer Binks on 02/09/2015 - 20:36
    +1

    Just losers trying to make a story out of nothing; plenty of rich white Australians, who benefited massively from the property boom…

  • neostarsx on 02/09/2015 - 23:33

    Wat a bunch of racist idiots. I dont give a sh*t if the chinese are buying alot of property. There not breaking any freaking laws. It up to the government to make restriction / changes. u know what the gov make sht load money in duty tax with higher prices so they dnt give a shit either.

  • elektrobargain on 02/09/2015 - 23:43
    +8

    The whole idea of foreigners driving up housing prices is ridiculous.

    The main problem IMHO is the lack of supply. If there is an increase in demand, then supply would normally increase in line.. especially over a long period of time like we have seen with the rising house prices in Sydney. But this has not happened in Sydney. WHY?…

    Standing on the Harbour Bridge, if you look west what do you see? You see the big ugly Blues Point Tower, but apart from that it is pretty much completely flat across all of the western side of the city. Hardly anything above a couple of stories. There is a huge demand for property at the moment, but despite there being plenty of room to build up hardly anything is being built.

    I blame it on government policies at all levels:
    - Local councils with their greedy "2 storey maximum height" rules, basically preventing people from building up to keep the wealthy owners living in their exclusive suburbs
    - State governments, for changing to rules to force the developers to pay for all the roads, schools, and other infrastructure within all newly zoned land sites (previously it was paid for by the government)
    - Federal government, for not getting rid of unfair tax concessions, like negative gearing on property, and perpetuating economic fallacy (such as saying removing negative gearing will increase rents, which has been proved to be a fallacious argument), and for adding to demand without addressing supply (eg. first home owners grant, and now they are talking about people accessing their superannuation to pay for a deposit..)

    There is plenty of land, it just needs committed governments to fix up the policies preventing supply from being added to the housing stock

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