27 May 2019
27 May 2019
The Green Building Council of Australia has welcomed the announcement of Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s new Ministry, citing its elevated focus on four major portfolios which reflect the key growth challenges facing Australia.
Interim Chief Executive Officer Jonathan Cartlege welcomed the appointment of Michael Sukkar as Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Housing and the promotion of Population, Cities and Infrastructure Minister Alan Tudge.
Mr Cartledge said it was good to see continuity in the infrastructure portfolio under Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack given the record pipeline of investment to be delivered over the coming decade.
In putting emissions reductions back with energy, Mr Cartledge said he hoped there would be renewed impetus from government to examine the huge efficiencies the built environment had to offer on the demand side of the energy equation.
He said these four major portfolios, together with the appointment of Luke Howarth as Assistant Minister for Community Housing, Homelessness and Community Services, needed to work together to create a better future for all Australians.
“The Prime Minister has put together a Cabinet and broader Ministry that is carefully calibrated to tackle some of the biggest emerging challenges facing the nation,” Mr Cartlege said.
“From ensuring Australians have access affordable homes, to managing the growth of our major centres and ensuring we meet our emissions reductions obligations, this ministerial line-up looks to the future and the solutions that need to be put in place now.
“We look forward to working collaboratively with Ministers, as we have done in the past, to shape those solutions and see them implemented in a way that best serves all Australians.
“There is a tremendous opportunity to strategically guide the growth of Australia’s cities and towns so they are geared to deliver maximum benefits to those who live and work in them, as healthy, resilient and positive places for people.
“Likewise, governments have powerful levers they can pull to capitalise on the tremendous leadership shown by Australian industry to decarbonise, and incentivise others to realise the full emissions reductions potential offered by our buildings and urban infrastructure.
“We welcome these important appointments and commend the Prime Minister on having listened to industry’s united and long-standing entreaties to see housing and cities elevated in this way.”
The GBCA also congratulates Anthony Albanese on his election unopposed as the new Federal Labor Leader.
“We look forward to a continuation of the consultative approach to policy that has long characterised Mr Albanese’s work across portfolios,” Mr Cartledge said.