New ministry a chance for our cities to shine, says GBCA

The Prime Minister’s appointment of Angus Taylor to the role of Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister on Cities and Digital Transformation has been welcomed by the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA).

“Eighty per cent of Australians already live in our capital cities, and our four largest cities are expected to double in size over the next 15 years. It’s absolutely mission critical that our national government plays a role in making sure our cities are liveable, productive and sustainable,” says the GBCA’s Chief Executive Officer, Romilly Madew.

“Since assuming the reins, the Prime Minister has frequently urged Australians to ‘embrace disruption as our friend’ and to harness the opportunities presented by technology. We are optimistic that this new combined portfolio of cities and digital transformation will lead to a renewed focus on innovation and investment in our cities.

“We are also pleased to see that Minister Taylor will be reporting directly to the Prime Minister – a sign that Malcolm Turnbull has a personal interest and commitment to boosting the performance of our cities and addressing the planning and policy issues which are currently jeopardising their economic and environmental sustainability,” Ms Madew adds.

“We look forward to working with Minister Taylor to elevate the discussion around the importance of our cities as powerhouses of economic growth, and to drive real action to make our cities healthier and more resilient,” Ms Madew concludes.