The Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA) says the endorsement of The Hon Anthony Albanese MP as the Leader of the Australian Labor Party is welcome news.
“Over the years, Anthony Albanese has demonstrated his passion and commitment to housing affordability and infrastructure, so it’s great to have him as the new Leader of the Opposition to help keep Australia focused on these important issues,” says UDIA National President Darren Cooper.
“We congratulate him on securing this important role and look forward to continuing our already positive relationship with him, advocating for issues that matter to the future liveability of Australian cities and neighbourhoods.”
UDIA is particularly keen to leverage Labor’s pre-election commitment to set up an Infrastructure Accord with the Coalition, if they were successful in winning Government.
“We will be re-iterating Labor’s endorsement of an Infrastructure Accord, so that we can continue to move forward with a vital and connected infrastructure plan for our nation, without allowing investment programs to be side-tracked by partisan politics,” says Darren Cooper.
UDIA says an Infrastructure Accord, would see major parties agreeing to permanently insulate the identification, funding and delivery of significant infrastructure from the short-term political cycle, allowing an urgently needed long-term approach to infrastructure planning to prevail.
“We’ve been advocating for an Infrastructure Accord for some time now. All parties must commit to delivery over the opportunity for political point-scoring, agree on the long-term infrastructure pipeline and the mechanisms for delivery.
“We look forward to working closely with the Government and the Opposition in relation to infrastructure and affordable housing and offer our insights on these important matters,” he says.