NSW Treasurer insults the homeless

Thursday 20 March 2025

Last week, NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey pushed back against caps on international students, claiming such students are “economic assets to be treasured, not as a problem to be capped”.

Mookhey’s comments came as his state grapples with an unprecedented rental crisis.

Sydney’s rents have exploded since the international border was reopened in late 2021, which saw a rush of migrant renters (including students) into the state.

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About the author

Leith van Onselen is Chief Economist at the MB Fund and MB Super. He is also a co-founder of MacroBusiness. Leith has previously worked at the Australian Treasury, Victorian Treasury and Goldman Sachs.