The Property Council of Australia has welcomed the appointment of the new Albanese Cabinet and encouraged the government to pursue a pro-cities, pro-investment agenda.
Property Council Chief Executive Mike Zorbas said that, between greater efficiencies across the Foreign Investment Review Board, Australian Prudential Regulation Authority and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, through to improving environmental approvals and industrial relations in the construction sector, there is plenty of room to boost investment productivity.
"With federal and state government deficits to the horizon, global investment to support industrial, commercial assets and housing supply must be a key focus for both federal and state governments," Mr Zorbas said.
"We congratulate the formidable trio of Treasurer Jim Chalmers, Finance Minister Katy Gallagher, and Assistant Treasurer Daniel Mulino on their respective reappointments and appointment and look forward to working alongside them to boost productivity and investment into our great Australian cities," he said.
Mr Zorbas said the government has a clear mandate to push on with its housing agenda.
"We congratulate Clare O'Neil on her reappointment as Minister for Housing and Minister for Homelessness, and the addition of Minister for Cities," Mr Zorbas said.
"Congratulations, too, to Josh Burns on his appointment as a Special Envoy for Social Housing and Homelessness, and we look forward to engaging with him on this important issue.
"The government's refreshed productivity agenda on planning our cities better is vital. We now build homes at half the pace we managed 30 years ago.
"Cities and housing are inextricably linked. Population density in our cities boosts our economic productivity and creates vibrant places supporting jobs and opportunities for all Australians.
"Minister O'Neil championed the build-to-rent legislation that will help unlock 80,000 rental homes over the next decade in a bitterly divided Parliament, and we look forward to continuing to work with her on the nation's housing policies.
"During the life of this parliament, we need to end the blame-shifting on housing and, where proper industry consultation has occurred, pass good government legislation quickly.
"We should now fine-tune incentives to help those states that are failing their housing targets.
"At the same time, the outstanding benefits of purpose-built student and retirement living communities, in making government service delivery easier and in taking pressure off broader rental markets, must be top of mind for states and territories.
"Early industry consultation on the government's key election commitments will ensure smooth delivery of policies that boost housing supply across the country," he said.
The Property Council also congratulated Murray Watt on his appointment as Environment Minister and said more efficient delivery under the existing framework will boost the supply of new housing.
"Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation assessments for new housing projects have ground to a halt while the Act is necessarily under review," Mr Zorbas said.
"Thousands of new homes can be unlocked this year by creating a pathway to speed up approvals without cutting corners on environmental integrity."
