4 years ago
WAKE-UP CALL FOR MORRISON ON REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT
CATHERINE KING MP
Sydney and Melbourne are set to hit megacity status by 2056 leading to a doubling in the outer suburban population and a 60 percent blowout in commute times.
Analysis in the Regional Australia Institute’s Regional Population Growth - Are We Ready?report released today finds that a business as usual approach will lead to increased housing stress and transport congestion in our major cities.
The RAI also finds that by mid-century Brisbane and Perth are set for populations over 5 million, leading to a tripling in Brisbane’s outer suburban population with Perth set to double.
While economic cluster benefits from urban density in Sydney and Melbourne are peaking, the RAI finds strong gains are possible across regional Australia.
Labor welcomes the RAI’s recommendations to prioritise development in regional cities to alleviate urban stress in our major cities while boosting economic growth nationwide.
The RAI’s report is a wake-up call to the third term Morrison Government that is failing to invest in infrastructure to link our cities and regions, failing to develop regional strategies, and failing to stimulate decentralisation.
Ministers McCormack and Tudge must heed calls from the RBA, State Governments and senior economists to bring forward infrastructure investment to stimulate our sluggish economy, bust congestion in our cities and promote regional development. Less than 30 percent of this Government’s so-called $100 billion 10 year infrastructure program is budgeted for the next four years.
At a time when our regions are crying out for greater investment and congestion in our cities is only getting worse, the RAI’s report is an important wake-up call to the third term Morrison Government to get to work.
Analysis in the Regional Australia Institute’s Regional Population Growth - Are We Ready?report released today finds that a business as usual approach will lead to increased housing stress and transport congestion in our major cities.
The RAI also finds that by mid-century Brisbane and Perth are set for populations over 5 million, leading to a tripling in Brisbane’s outer suburban population with Perth set to double.
While economic cluster benefits from urban density in Sydney and Melbourne are peaking, the RAI finds strong gains are possible across regional Australia.
Labor welcomes the RAI’s recommendations to prioritise development in regional cities to alleviate urban stress in our major cities while boosting economic growth nationwide.
The RAI’s report is a wake-up call to the third term Morrison Government that is failing to invest in infrastructure to link our cities and regions, failing to develop regional strategies, and failing to stimulate decentralisation.
Ministers McCormack and Tudge must heed calls from the RBA, State Governments and senior economists to bring forward infrastructure investment to stimulate our sluggish economy, bust congestion in our cities and promote regional development. Less than 30 percent of this Government’s so-called $100 billion 10 year infrastructure program is budgeted for the next four years.
At a time when our regions are crying out for greater investment and congestion in our cities is only getting worse, the RAI’s report is an important wake-up call to the third term Morrison Government to get to work.