The Minister for Cities and the Built Environment, Hon Jamie Briggs MP, has outlined a vision for addressing the increasing challenges facing Australia’s major urban centres, through three key policy pillars:

Long term integrated planning for more sustainable cities. 

A review of the effect of property taxes on Australia’s housing supply and demand will be undertaken by Treasury. There will also be consideration of the expansion of the current powers within the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act to undertake strategic assessments in improving planning systems.

Infrastructure planning and funding for better functioning cities.

The Commonwealth Government will explore new ways to use alternative sources of funding to deliver more infrastructure projects, and encourage greater involvement in greenfield projects from the private sector.

Greening our cities for a more livable environment.

The Minister for the Environment and Minister for Cities and the Built Environment intend to work closely together on pursuing innovation in powering cities, working with the full resources of government to make our cities as efficient as possible.

Full speech is available here.