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Simon Kuestenmacher: What Demographics Reveal About Housing and Economic Pressure Points
Episode 420 • 19th January 2026 • The Elephant In The Room Property Podcast | Inside Australian Real Estate • Chris Bates
00:00:00 00:52:51

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Australia’s housing debate is crowded with loud opinions — but very little demographic reality.

In this episode, we unpack what Australia’s population shifts are actually telling us about housing demand, cities, and economic pressure points, and why many of today’s dominant narratives fall apart when viewed through data.

Demographer Simon Kuestenmacher joins Veronica and Chris to challenge the assumptions shaping housing policy, migration debates, and affordability discussions. From international students and skilled migration to household formation and labour shortages, Simon explains how population forces — not headlines — are driving long-term outcomes across property and the broader economy.

The conversation explores why cutting migration won’t automatically ease housing stress, why median house prices are a misleading metric in a structurally unequal market, and why Australia’s system is quietly designed to support rising asset prices. Along the way, Simon reframes inflation, workforce shortages, and urban planning through a demographic lens that most investors and policymakers ignore.

This episode is essential listening for anyone who wants to understand underlying demand, not just surface-level market movements. If you’re a property investor, owner, or decision-maker trying to make sense of housing, cities, and economic pressure in Australia, this conversation will sharpen how you think about the next decade.

Episode Highlights

00:00 – What Demographics Say About Housing Demand

01:12 – Why Population Data Beats Property Headlines

01:51 – The Migration Debate: Benefits and Misunderstandings

02:47 – International Students: Cash Cows or Future Workforce?

06:32 – Why Australia’s Skills Shortage Is Structural

13:44 – The Fiscal Reality Behind High Migration Numbers

17:36 – How Migration Policy Could Actually Be Fixed

22:03 – Why Migration Isn’t the Real Cause of High Prices

28:57 – The Integration Challenge for International Students

31:25 – Why Australia’s Economic Model Still Works

33:43 – Density, Sprawl, and the Real Cost of Bad Planning

45:01 – AI Will Push Workers Back Into Offices

48:34 – Why Demographics Point to Stickier Inflation

50:04 – Why Median House Prices Are a Misleading Metric

52:11 – The Big Demographic Blind Spots Investors Miss

About the Guest

Simon Kuestenmacher is a demographer and co-founder of The Demographics Group, where he specialises in population change, migration, generational trends, and how these forces shape housing, infrastructure, and economic outcomes. His work is widely used by governments, planners, and businesses grappling with long-term structural change rather than short-term noise.

Simon is a regular media commentator, a columnist for The Australian and The New Daily, and host of the Demographics Decoded podcast. He is also the author of several books on maps and data and runs one of the world’s largest social media platforms dedicated to demographic insights, reaching millions each month.

Known for translating complex population data into practical insight, Simon brings clarity to some of Australia’s most emotionally charged debates — including housing affordability, migration policy, and the future of work.


Connect with Simon

  1. The Demographics Group (website)
  2. LinkedIn
  3. Instagram
  4. X


Resources

  1. Visit our website: https://www.theelephantintheroom.com.au
  2. If you have any questions or would like to be featured on our show, contact us at:
  3. The Elephant in the Room Property Podcast - questions@theelephantintheroom.com.au
  4. Looking for a Sydney Buyers Agent? https://www.gooddeeds.com.au
  5. Work with Veronica: https://www.veronicamorgan.com.au
  6. Looking for a Mortgage Broker? alcove.com.au
  7. Work with Chris: chrisbates@alcove.com.au

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See you on the inside,

Veronica & Chris

Transcripts

TEITR420 Simon Kuestenmacher

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Introduction to Australia's Demographic Shifts

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Meet Simon Kuma: The Demographer's Perspective

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HIGHLIGHT 1

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Migration and Its Economic Impact

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The Role of International Students

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Housing Market Dynamics

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Skill Shortages and Workforce Challenges

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The Future of Education and Trades

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Reforming the Migration System

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Political and Fiscal Implications of Migration

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Australia's Economic Outlook

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Housing and Infrastructure Issues

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The Role of AI and Remote Work

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Inflation and Economic Predictions

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The Median House Price Debate

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