Senate Economics Legislation Committee [Part 2], , 4:36:34 to 4:42:30
Inquiry into the status of promised city partnerships and the development of planning and land use dashboards expected to be operational by the end of 2026.
Topics: Infrastructure, Government IT systems
Speakers: Senator James McGrath, Senator Tim Ayres, Ben Rimmer, Senator Lisa Darmanin, Speaker 34, Senator Andrew Bragg
>> Senator Mro.
>> Okay, go on then.
>> Thank you. uh, Minister, in 2021, the prime minister said Labour will honor sign city deals and will look to sign new city partnerships that meet the needs of local communities based on local understanding and transparent criteria. What work is underway to sign new city partnerships?
>> Uh, I'll seek some advice about that, Senator, and maybe come back to you. Not something I'm in a position to um talk to you about this evening. It refer to comments in 2021. Is that right?
>> Yes. Well, I can put it to the I'll put it to the department then.
>> Yeah. They may be in a position to provide you with some more information.
>> What work is underway to sign new city partnerships?
Senator, that there is a large volume of work currently underway to uh to work with in particular local government and state governments about expanding housing supply through partnership models. In fact, there's I think $8.5 billion worth of infrastruct enabling infrastructure funding out there on on the table at the moment.
>> Okay. H how many how many if you want to whatever you want to call them the prime minister called them city partnerships how many are in existence
>> so so the the concept of city partnership kind of capital C capital P is not something that's part of the government's current agenda uh but there are a range of other programs that perform kind similar functions when you look at the city's deals and what they were a lot of them were about enabling infrastructure and kind of community
infrastruure there's No, there's no such thing as a city partnership.
>> Not at the present time, Senator.
>> So, would would this be another broken election commitment, Minister?
>> No. Where we're where, as seems like it, >> as the secretary as the director general of the housing group, I should say, I've elevated him briefly >> for a few minutes. um uh has indicated substantial investments uh in infrastructure that that that go to
>> but you promised Sydney city partnerships and none have happened.
>> There there is a substantial like four
years ago
>> investment uh from the Commonwealth in the infrastructure that is really the meat of the um the old uh city partnerships. We're in 2026. >> Yeah. 5 years. We're in a we're we're we are as you say 5 years down the track and we're in a we're in a very expansive. Can
>> I ask a very question though about >> um in Quan 180 you say that Minister O'Neil was first pres pro provided with a copy of the draft state of Australian city's report on sorry the 5th of September this is to the department on the 5th of September 2025. Why was this draft report which was a key election commitment in the minister's portfolio not included in her incoming minister briefing when she became minister for cities?
Senator um I don't think anyone at the table was present in uh in this part of well this part of Treasury didn't exist um at that time. Uh so I'm not sure we can help you with an answer to that
question. It it is though Senator a very earnest question and we'll
>> it's a very I'm going to give a more earnest question a very earnest question in relation to dashboards which I get particularly excited about and >> um in Quan 169 and this is relating to dashboards of planning land use and housing supply data. Um you you advise that the jurisdictions expected to deliver this are by the end of 2026. Is that timetable still on track and on what date will the dashboards become
>> It's good to be able to answer a question for you. Senator Kirsty G, first assistant secretary for housing supply.
>> You're going to end on a positive note, aren't you?
>> I am. I'm going to tell you that uh those dashboards are to be delivered to KIFA at the end of the year. We are working very closely with states and territories. We've had a number of engagements with them about the production of the dashboards. They are working on the data that is needed to populate those and we expect those to be delivered to Kefir at the end of the
>> I was I was going to tell you you needed to get out more. >> Uh she's actually given you an answer.
Well, this is what about exchange this to be the model of what estimates is about. Uh questions being answered. Minister should take note.
>> I'm all
>> Yes. >> sadly that's all. Uh I've got more questions but looking at the time I'm not going to push my luck.
>> We can uh place the rest of them on notice and uh that concludes today's hearings. finished. So we'd like to consider whether we have another process >> because only having one this whole housing thing >> taken offline because the program has been agreed by committee and we've hit 11:00 mark tonight. So that's something we can discuss >> uh offline. Um thank you to everybody who attended today. Um just to note that all items tabled throughout the day will be accepted and um the committee's consideration of the 2627 supplementary budget estimates will resume tomorrow Thursday 29th of October 2026. I thank Minister and Minister Gallagher and Office of the Department of Treasury Treasury Treasury Portfolio and everyone who gave evidence to the committee today and also thank you to Hansard and broadcasting my deputy chair and fellow committee members and I declare the