We are well into the downhill spiral.

You know there is a huge problem when grodd profit margins go from 30% to 50+% in a business, (in 25 years) to make less net profit than 25 years ago.

Business expenses are far too high now and online shopping is turning many retailers into little more than free advisory services. Well, free to the consumer at least.

I too use online shopping, knowing full well it is a cancer but what are the options really.

People in general want to protect their lifestyles and they will cut corners elsewhere even if they do know it's to the long term detriment of their families future. It's called Life!

Foxy "new ones immediately jump in and take their place."

Yes, they usually do.
Precisely why *clusters* of empty shops are a troubling warning sign.

Online shopping and malls have been around for yonks, so that doesn't explain it.
I've also noticed more than the usual number of homeless.

The opp shops are going great guns around us, with both Vinnies and the Sallies doing well. Telling me there are attracting a new breed of customers, mums trying to dress the kids, dads looking for a good pair of shoes, all for five bucks, that's all they can afford. Working families trying to make ends meet. The opps always attracted the pensioners and the down at heel, but now a new breed is frequenting, people who would not be seen dead in such establishments a few years back, are now some of the best regular customers. Does this tell you something?

The big problem for many in Sydney these days is 'rent stress', people with low paid full time jobs who can no longer make ends meet. With no real wage increase, and continuing price hikes on everything from sausages to toothpaste, rent increases are providing the straw that is breaking the camels back.

Instead of pouring cash into the pockets of greedy foreign investors and local speculators through company tax cuts, the Turnbull government should be addressing the housing cries facing so many Australians, young and old!

Paul, it could also be said that "instead of complaining about housing/renting affordabillity in Sydney", perhaps they should either find a better paying job, through hard work or the abundance of educational options, many of which are subsidized by the tax payer OR MOVE!

A very good suburb in Brisbane north, Northlakes, has nice rentals for about $380/week, or for sale in the late 3's.

The truth is that the likes of Sydney, and to a slightly lesser extent, Melbourne, are sending out a false impression that housing is unafordable. This is clearly untrue when the average wage is in excess of $65K per year. Unless of cause one wants to live in Sydney.

Now if one has a lower paid job, that is generally due to either a shortage of skills, or fewer hours. The skills in many cases can be addressed and less hours leaves more potential work hours. But one must look.

The real thruth is that welfare is largely to blame as many choose not to work too longer hours for fear of loosing their, or at least some of their, hand outs.

In reality the comentators are trying to encourage the government to address housing affordabillity on the entire nation, just so some under worked/low skilled person, who wants to live, buy/rent and enjoy life in the most expensive city in the nation, can do so without having the finacial means.

Let's face it, many in Sydney have a Holden station wagon budget but expect to come home with a shinny new merc.

Sorry, but the truth hurts.

http://www.fava.org.au/news/2012/how-many-homosexuals-are-there-in-australia/

"1.6% of men in Australia identify as gay, 0.9% identify as bisexual"

That's about 280,000 men in Australia.

1000 out of 280,000 ain't bad.

Considering how few this is, the expense is nothing to bitch about.

How much public funding is spent on the diseases resulting from the lifestyle choices of heavy drinkers and smokers?
They should know better! Let them *pay* for their sins! ;)

Shockadelic smokers & drinkers contribute way more in taxes on their chosen activities, than they ever consume.

Homosexuals contribute nothing, other than having given us AIDS, & deserve the same.