South Australia is proving to be a key point of interest for the electoral contest – not least because of the rise of Nick Xenophon’s new party.
AAP/Julian Smith
The key battleground of South Australia has been inundated during the campaign with regular visits from both Malcolm Turnbull and Bill Shorten.
From Prime Minister David Cameron down, UK ministers have been keen to unveil ambitious ‘City Deals’, often before difficult policy and funding details have been resolved.
flickr/Number 10
The new cities minister apparently shares the Property Council and KPMG’s enthusiasm for the UK ‘City Deals’ model, but he should look more closely at this ‘tried and tested’ model before adopting it.
The new assistant minister for cities, Angus Taylor, has expressed a ‘deep belief that consultation and proper public debate gets to wise outcomes’.
flickr/Crawford Forum
Effective development planning must anticipate where growth might occur and its wider impacts. So, if the federal government is serious about cities policy, it needs a proper settlements plan.
Lucy and Malcolm Turnbull are a formidable double act capable of driving a Commonwealth-led transformation of urban policy.
AAP/Carol Cho
Cities have been called “orphans of public policy”, so Malcolm Turnbull’s decisive entry into the fray is remarkable. He has the credibility, nous and drive to deliver a national urban policy agenda.
Why do some people reach for the word “witch” to describe the women around them?
Heks op de bezem, Kees Groeneveld, 1959.
Why did Peter Dutton choose ‘witch’ when describing Samantha Maiden? The word has a long history of misogyny – particularly towards outspoken or powerful women.
Malcolm Turnbull has faced calls to discipline Immigration Minister Peter Dutton (right) over a sexist text message sent to a female journalist.
AAP/Mick Tsikas
Communities want urban policy to deliver the right projects at the right time in the right place. Governments should embrace local citizens and interest groups as key players in crafting such policy.
Soaring capital city rents have left 42% of households still in ‘housing stress’ despite getting Commonwealth Rent Assistance.
AAP/Dave Hunt
It is now possible to imagine Australia having a national affordable housing strategy, backed by funding, by the end of 2016.
Cities are places of integration, intense population pressures, migration flows, cultural interactions and variations in socio-economic positioning and values. But what makes them liveable?
Mick Tsikas/Reuters
A liveable city has become the highest form of praise we can give to a city space. But we need to discuss what that means and who gets to participate in the process of governing and shaping a city.
Rail and other public transport infrastructure could receive more funding from the new Turnbull government.
Mick Tsikas/AAP
Jamie Briggs talks to Michelle Grattan about his new portfolio, the policy pivot away from just roads toward other infrastructure projects like public transport, and much more.
Federal governments have traditionally struggled to develop a coherent view for our cities.
AAP Image/NewZulu/Thinking Media
For the first time, both major parties have a cities portfolio in their front bench team. With a few more changes, the government could create a structure that will really get to grips with urban issues.