Baby boomers fight back against "self-entitled whingeing generations"
Angry baby boomers have hit back at young Australians for continuing to blame the ageing population for the current housing crisis.
A group of disgruntled seniors have shared their thoughts with the Sydney Morning Herald about the "self-entitled" young Australians, who are facing never-before-seen financial and social barriers to break into the housing market.
The open letters come in the wake of Census data showing empty-nesters are hanging on to their big homes in inner-city suburbs, while young families are struggling to find suitable housing while also battling mortgage stress and renters are getting relentlessly price-gouged.
Despite the current system disproportionately affecting younger Australians, boomers have hit back at universal claims that they had it easier back in the day.
"We bought and paid for these homes; it's not our job to house the next generations, it's the government's," explained Kathleen Kyle in a letter to the Sydney Morning Herald.
"Nobody questions people who spend their money on lovely cars or antiques, or suggests that they don't need them any more."
In another letter, Kathy Willis from Kew near Port Macquarie wrote, "Boomers have worked very hard to get what they have, having brought up their families in these homes."
"I suggest the discourse be directed to people such as town planners, local councils and state governments for their lack of vision in the past, and what the present authorities are going to do about it – and of course, the taxpayers' expense."
Suzanne Hopping from Redfern, Sydney, wrote that she could no longer stay silent on "boomer bashing" from "self-entitled whingeing generations".
"I bought my first home when I was 39 in an undesirable suburb. Buying a home (at 17.5 per cent interest) was as difficult then as it is today."
"When I left home I had no expectations of ever being able to afford to buy a place of my own."
"Self-entitled whingeing generations, if you don't like what you see, do something positive about it. Each generation has its unique problems, stop the moralising."
Wendy Cousins from Balgownie NSW wrote that "boomer bashing" is futile, adding, "Why encourage resentment of boomers because many choose to stay in their homes? This will not free up any housing."
"Many have already downsized and those who haven't, have a variety of reasons why they don't. We have enough division in our society without the constant boomer bashing."
Despite the views of many disgruntled boomers, University of Melbourne Professor Allan Fels, an economist and mental health advocate, said figures show beyond a doubt that life is much tougher for the younger generation, and basic economics prove it is much harder for them to buy a house.
"We baby boomers have had it a lot easier than the new generation of young people," he told Daily Mail Australia.
"They face a future of much less home ownership and associated mental health stability. The mere fact they are missing out is a cause of stress."
"The trend of rising prices adds to the stress because many used to think that they could buy their own house but they keep missing out because prices are continually rising just beyond their grasp."
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