The Planning Ministers' Meeting reconvened last week to discuss a number of nationally significant planning matters, including priorities tasked by National Cabinet. Planning Ministers welcomed the participation of Councillor Linda Scott, President of the Australian Local Government Association, alongside a number of Commonwealth Ministers with an interest in planning matters, including the Hon Julie Collins MP, Minister for Housing; Senator the Hon Jenny McAllister, Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy; Senator the Hon Murray Watt, Minister for Emergency Management; and the Hon Michelle Rowland MP, Minister for Communications.
Planning Ministers reinforced their commitment to national cooperation, collaboration and information sharing on a range of planning matters.
Governance
Planning Ministers endorsed a governance framework and work plan for the Planning Ministers' Meeting, to guide work through to July 2024.
National Urban Policy
Planning Ministers recognised the variety of challenges and opportunities to ensuring growth in our diverse cities and suburbs is sustainable. The policy and regulatory options to address these are a shared responsibility of all levels of government. For this reason, Planning Ministers agreed that the vision of the National Urban Policy announced by the Commonwealth at the 2023-24 Budget will be developed in consultation with and implemented in partnership with all jurisdictions.
Disaster resilience and climate adaptation
Planning Ministers agreed to the NSW government leading the development of a framework and guidance on nationally agreed principles for natural disaster and climate risk considerations in land use planning decisions. Planning Ministers also noted the status and timelines for the development of Australia's first National Climate Risk Assessment and National Adaptation Plan and agreed to engage in the development of these products through senior officials.
Telecommunications planning
Planning Ministers recognised the need for a coherent approach for prioritising and accelerating planning and approvals for communications infrastructure, especially in rapidly growing suburban communities. The Commonwealth will establish a working group alongside a number of state and territory governments to develop options that achieve this goal.
Housing
Planning Ministers discussed planning reform proposals for consideration by National Cabinet. Potential reforms discussed by Planning Ministers covered a broad range of issues identified by government, industry and the community as key elements in addressing housing supply and affordability.
Planning and environmental approvals
Planning Ministers noted:
· The importance of integrating environmental considerations into energy planning processes to ensure renewables benefit the whole environment and community.
· Meeting national emissions reduction targets will require a complete transformation of our energy system, exceeding anything attempted in many decades.
· Australians want clean renewable energy, but they also want robust protection for our iconic species and landscape.
