Malthouse's housing figures didn't add up for industry audience at RESI

摘要

Rarely has a new housing minister inherited more of a numbers game than the latest incumbent. Problem is, numbers might not be Kit Malthouse's strongest point. Nor his aides'. Here's an overheard confab between Malthouse and his two aides, minutes before he took the stage to deliver the keynote speech to RESI 18: Housing minister: "Mmm ... what's a quarter of four and a half billion?" Pause. Aide: "Umm ... about a billion?"