Here are the latest editorial opinion pieces published in the Mercury:
It’s time to ring in the changes to make sure Hobart’s traffic system keeps moving ahead
A ring-road system would take pressure off Hobart’s transport network, writes David O’Byrne
Traffic op-ed (PDF) January 2023
Housing Crisis Mustn’t Be Handballed
A BILL TO ALOW THE STATE GOVENRMENT TO ABSOLVE ITS RESPONSIBILITY ON DELIVERING THE
NECESSARY SOCIAL HOUSING TASMANIA NEEDS SHOULD NOT BE PASSED, SAYS DAVID O’BYRNE.
DOB stat authority op-ed august 2022 (PDF)
TIME FOR A RADICAL RETHINK ON HOUSING
The Tasmanian private housing sector is showing signs of market failure. Home ownership is increasingly unaffordable for many Tasmanians, rents are skyrocketing and waiting times for social housing are at record levels. It is a crisis and has been now for a number of years.
D O’Byrne Housing Op Ed March 2022 (PDF)
Short Stay distorts the rental market
To ease the housing crisis, the state government needs to intervene in the rental market – and set new price signals for investors which would in turn increase affordable housing supply, writes David O’Byrne.