b'ROI Future focussedCONFIDENCEISANELUSIVEANDit seems unlikely the pace of more permanent MYSTERIOUS PARTNER. If you have it,population is set to slow anytime soon. itisthefriendthathelpsmakebold decisions.Ifyouloseit,lifequicklyThat being the case, the increase from 25 million becomes uncertain. people to 31.5 million represents a 26 per cent increaseinpopulationinthenext15years. Askanysports-person:thedaysyouSo, thats 26 per cent more people competing have it, life is easy. The day you lose it,forhouses,publicservices,food,water, life becomes miserable. Watch golfers, tennistelecommunications services the lot. It bakes players, footballers kicking for goal: you knowin the economic and investment growth of the who has it and who has lost it. future (along with the pressures the increasing So,workingonourconfidencehastobeofpopulation represents).paramountimportancetoeveryoneofus;As an aside, Australia ranks 55th for population whether we are playing, working, investing orin the world. And even if we were to immediately dealing with family. grow to 31.5 million we would only jump to 47th It is about lifting your sights beyond the troublesplace, overtaking Mozambique but not quite as oftodaytoseeabrighterfutureahead.Yetbig as Angola. curiously, as a community, our confidence can turn on key events.To make the top 20 we would need to overtake Thailand (69 million) and top 10 Mexico (132 Hindsighttellsusthatthefederalelectionmillion). So now ask yourself whether it is within this year was a key turning point in Australiasreason to have the population increase to 31.5 economicconfidence.Afteruncertaintymillion by around 2034.about the outcomes of Labors proposed tax changesespecially regarding residential realNow, think about how old you will be in 15 years estateinvestors and first-home buyers foundtime. For most reading this, I hope it is well confidenceafterAugust,wherebeforetheywithin your life-span. And this should give you had little. a sense of confidence that even during periods when economic times are uncertain, there is a Ofcourseconfidenceisimportant,butastime horizon for growth and prosperity. dangerousashavingtoolittleconfidenceis, havingtoomuchconfidencecanalsoleadAssomebodyoncetoldme:Thedifference to recklessness and to danger. To be honest,between a good property purchase and a bad thats what you see time and again, especiallyproperty purchase is the same as a good or bad in boom-times. haircut. Give it time and it should grow out.But the curious thing about all this is that its IT IS ABOUT LIFTING YOURnotjustaboutyourconfidence,butthatof SIGHTS BEYOND THE TROUBLESGovernment and our banks as well. Right now you might have the confidence to wade into the OF TODAY TO SEE A BRIGHTERproperty marketsand you might well be right. FUTURE AHEAD.But you might have to contend with a lender that does not share your confidence and pop your confidence could be shot.Whenitcomestoproperty-andAustralias economytheconfidenceaboutthefutureWhich is why the Reserve Bank monitors just springs from a key document recently releasednotconsumerconfidence,butespecially byInfrastructureAustralia.ItsaysAustraliabusiness confidence (because of its impact on needs to plan for an extra 6.5 million people inemployment, investment and economic growth).the next 15 years. My suggestion though, is to keep focusing I do recognise there are many in our societyon that picture of the future. Plan for that who believe we already have too many people,andyourconfidencewillsailabovethe especially in our east coast capital cities. Butday-to-day troubles.URBANDRIVER27'