COVID-19 and the affective politics of congestion : an exploration of population density debates in Australia

This essay considers the post-COVID-19 debates over the level of migration to Australia to understand how the rhetoric of 'affective congestion' which is used for population management has changed. On the one hand, it demonstrates that the concerns of white bodies regarding congestion are taken more seriously by the political and media mainstream than those of new migrants. On the other, it shows that COVID-19 is bringing the injustice of this approach to light, as seen in the case of the harsh lockdown imposed on public housing estates in Melbourne. Finally, it argues for population density planning that uses the 'mobility justice' framework and makes a case for developing affective capacities in addition to building infrastructure.