Cities globally ‘need to talk’ about their issues

Metropolitan Australia isn’t alone in facing challenges like population growth and climate change and could learn from other cities, an international expert tells Government News.

22 March, 2018

NSW Government adopts infrastructure, transport plans

Greater Sydney will become a “metropolis of three cities” under a key region plan adopted by the State Government on Sunday.

19 March, 2018

Australia can learn from France’s unique approach to regenerating inner cities

Three initiatives from France show that a single development agency financed with public money can provide clear leadership, which is essential to completing major projects, write Sebastien Darchen and Gwendal Simon.

12 March, 2018

Call for local solutions on housing and heatwave risk

The energy sector should collaborate with state and local governments to develop solutions that alleviate demand during heatwaves given ‘peak pricing’ is likely to negatively impact vulnerable residents, experts say.

12 March, 2018

Governments agree on major Western Sydney deal

The Federal and NSW Governments, together with eight local councils of Western Sydney, have signed the Western Sydney City Deal, a 20-year agreement between the three levels of government.

5 March, 2018

Government indecision a risk to social housing

Australia’s banks have invested around $1.5 billion in social and community housing providers, but new research reveals there are significant barriers to expanding these ‘social impact’ investments. The report, Understanding opportunities for social impact investment in the development of affordable housing, was undertaken by researchers from RMIT University and Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne. […]

22 February, 2018

NSW to get its own Productivity Commission

NSW will establish its own state-based Productivity Commission to “drive micro-economic reform and tackle burdensome regulation.” The plan was announced by NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet, who said the Commission will aim to expand the state’s economic prosperity. “We have laid the foundations for reform with our state-building infrastructure agenda, but now it’s time for a […]

19 February, 2018

AMA plan for more doctors in rural communities

The Australian Medical Association has released a paper outlining ways to get more doctors into the bush. The ‘Position Statement – Rural Workforce Initiatives’ outlines what the AMA says is a comprehensive five-point plan to encourage more doctors to work in rural and remote locations and improve patient access to health care. It says at […]

29 January, 2018

PC Report on Government Services – Housing and Homelessness

The Productivity Commission’s Report on Government Services (RoGS) has a detailed section on governments’ delivery of services in the housing sector. It covers social housing services and subsidised rental housing provided by not-for-profit, non‑government or government organisations to assist people who are unable to access suitable accommodation through the private market. The report also examines […]

23 January, 2018

Productivity Commission Report on Government Services – Overview

The Productivity Commission has begun releasing its 23rd annual Report on Government Services (RoGS). It is major exercise, with separate chapters released in seven parts over the next week on all areas of government service delivery. Government News will examine each report in depth. Our special Australia Day newsletter will highlight all sections released by […]

22 January, 2018

State governments relying more on stamp duty

New data from the Housing Industry Association (HIA) shows that the overall proportion of state government revenue coming from stamp duty on property purchases is the highest it has been for ten years. The data is contained in the HIA’s latest quarterly ‘Stamp Duty Watch’ report. Highlights: The dependence of Australia’s states on stamp duty […]

16 January, 2018

City Deal for Hobart – eventually

Tasmania’s capital Hobart will become the fifth Australian city to sign up to the Federal Government’s City Deal program, well after cross-island rival Launceston. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Tasmanian Premier Will Hodgman have announced they will “help make a City Deal for Hobart a reality” – consistent with the Federal Government’s strategy of announcing […]

15 January, 2018

Major new report compares Australia’s cities

The Australian Government has released its first National Cities Performance Framework. It is a major report that provides a snapshot of the productivity and progress of Australia’s largest 21 cities, including Western Sydney. The Government says it is the first official framework of its kind in Australia and “brings together critical data on our cities […]

7 December, 2017

Services in small town Australia declining

The Regional Australia Institute (RAI) has released a ‘Pillars of Communities’ report on the availability of services in Australia’s small towns. The findings are not good. The report is accompanied by a Report Card’, which rates how well Australia provides access to ten essential professionals for residents living in small towns across Australia. Access to […]

7 December, 2017