Malcolm Turnbull’s recent revisions of his front bench and cabinet has served some surprises and some expectations - all to form a “21st Century Government and ministry.” Specifically, the appointment of Jamie Briggs to Minister for Sustainable Cities and the Built Environment has come under many noses.
Previously the Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development, Jamie Briggs is due to occupy a position that has been a demand from many industry influencers, with the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC) fronting the advocation of the new portfolio.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull understands the importance of building cities for the future, and that the ultimate goal was to work with the Environment Minister, Greg Hunt, to develop a new Australian Government agenda for Australia’s cities in cooperation with States, Local Governments and urban communities.
“Infrastructure should be assessed objectively and rationally on its merits, there is no place for ideology here at all,” the Prime Minister said.
“The critical thing is to ensure that we get the best outcome in our cities… liveable cities, efficient productive cities, the environment of cities are economic assets,” he said.
“The most valuable capital today is human capital. Men and women like ourselves who can choose to live anywhere. We have to ensure for our prosperity, for our future, for our competitiveness, that every level of Government works together, constructively and creatively to ensure that our cities progress. That Federal funding of infrastructure in cities for example is tied to outcomes that will promote housing affordability.
Integration is critical. We shouldn’t be discriminating between one form of transit and another. There is no — roads are not better than mass transit or vice versa, each of them has their place. Infrastructure should be assessed objectively and rationally on its merits. There is no place for ideology here at all. The critical thing is to ensure that we get the best outcome in our cities.
Now of course, we have a Minister for Regional Development and the Deputy Prime Minister, Warren Truss, but cities have been overlooked, I believe, historically from the Federal perspective. So within the Ministry of Environment, I’m appointing the Honourable Jamie Briggs MP to be the Minister for Cities and the Built Environment, to work with Greg Hunt, the Environment Minister, to develop a new Australian Government agenda for our cities in cooperation with States, Local Governments and urban communities.”
To which direction Australia will head, will be seen over the course of Turnbull’s tenure.