Senate Economics Legislation Committee [Part 2], , 4:10:23 to 4:20:39
Senators question the inactivity of the Urban Policy Forum, noting that memberships have expired and debating whether the body effectively still exists to advise on urban policy implementation.
Topics: Infrastructure, Land management
Speakers: Senator James McGrath, Ben Rimmer, Senator Tim Ayres, Speaker 32, Unknown Speaker, Interjection, Senator Andrew Bragg, Senator Lisa Darmanin
>> Thank you, Chair. I'd like to uh have put some questions about uh urban
>> Unsurprisingly, Senator,
>> I'm sorry. I don't I don't
>> We like talking about
>> Look, I don't want to disappoint people. >> Minister, you can leave the room. So, we're going to
>> I was just wondering whether I might. >> I'm I'm more per urban policy turn. All
right. >> I'm everywhere. Um, we're right to go. Good. Uh, how many times has the Urban Policy Forum met since the 2025 election?
>> Senator, I can um start with that and my colleagues may wish to add. The Urban Policy Forum has not met since the uh 2025 election. Um when it was initially established, it was established for an initial period of two years with a particular membership. That membership that period of two years has now expired. Uh and the government in due course is giving consideration to what happens next about the urban policy
So my understanding is the prime minister made an election commitment prior to the 2022 election to convene an urban policy forum or establish an urban policy forum to advise the government on urban policy issues which they did and according to the national urban policy the urban policy forum is to play an ongoing role in the implementation of the policy. it hasn't met since the two confirming that the the policy forum hasn't met since the 2025 election. Has the did the has the minister met with the urban
>> The urban policy forum no longer exists in that uh in in the in the current membership. The membership has expired.
So, so did when he said expired um did the minister write to the members thanking them for their service? Um how
>> Mr. Coates might be able to
>> certainly um Senator Assist Brendan Coates Assistant Secretary Housing Industry Cities Productivity and Planning Branch. Um the urban policy forum expired after the term of two years on May 2025 and no subsequent appointments have been made.
So, um, but did the minister write to the members to say, um, you're expired, but using probably nicer language?
>> I have to take that on on notice, Senator. I'm not sure that we we know that at the table right now.
>> Okay. So, um, now that the we don't have an urban policy forum, what what is the government using to replace the urban policy forum?
perhaps I've not been clear. There's no um there's no decision from government to not have an urban policy forum. It's merely the fact that the membership of the urban policy forum has expired and it hasn't yet been replaced.
>> So hang on. So so I get you. So there is still an urban policy forum but there's no members of the urban policy forum. I
appreciate the semantics are are perhaps a little bit tiresome but but I I just want to be clear that no one has uh made an active decision that the urban policy forum no longer exists.
>> I think I believe that it was convened for two years. >> The two years uh concluded in March 2025 as you say prior to the last election.
>> So the the government made a decision not to continue the urban policy forum.
>> Well it was um it was convened for two years. It it did those two years. Um and
>> this is turning into a dead parrot sketch in terms of that
>> well well well well well it had a two-year life. Uh and
>> so it's a it's a dead urban policy forum.
>> Well I wouldn't use that language to describe it. Uh
>> well I'm thinking about it's it's becoming a Montipython conversation here that urban policy is very important.
>> It's one-sided Montipython.
>> Uh it's yoursided. I'm I'm trying to um ascertain uh because I have a very strong interest in urban policy. Twothirds of Australians uh live in what is classified as urban areas. The government made a promise about having an urban policy forum. We seem to have an urban policy forum but have no members in it. And I'm just
>> Yeah. matter that's under consideration by government, but can I just reassure you because um I like you share a very strong interest in urban policy and making sure that the Commonwealth fully engages with the productivity uh and other interests that are involved in uh in cities policy. Uh the Commonwealth has a minister for cities. This is a part of uh the minister's role that uh she t she takes seriously. It's a part of the Department of the Treasury's role that we take seriously. Um it's uh it's something that's incredibly important to the the country's future and it's something that is important to to us as officials. Uh so um the the fact that the urban policy forum has not met for a period of time should not in any way be taken as an indication of of lack of interest or focus on on this area. I mean I I don't mean to be ridiculous but the the the the truth is there is a lot on in relation to housing homelessness and cities policy. Uh there is a you know there is a a significant set of policy challenges.
>> I I know but what what I'm try I I appreciate all that um because I'm just trying to work out what happened to this. Well, I can >> because I did so sorry Minister because I made a freedom of information request back in September >> asking for copies of any correspondence between the minister and her office and any members of the urban policy forum since responsibility for the urban policy forum was transferred to Treasury in 2025. and from memory I think there was a nil return on on that. But when did the minister write to the me the former members of the urban policy forum saying their services no longer required? Was that July? Did I hear that correctly?
>> That it was in October 2025
>> that that's when the minister wrote
>> indeed
>> in October to sure about that minister.
>> That's how I'm advised. If I'm uh if I'm uh wrong, we'll we'll we'll correct that
in due course. No worries. Okay. Well,
>> doing my best uh >> on this uh on this matter.
>> You sure? I I just You sure it was October 2025? Wasn't July of this year?
>> That's
>> I'm just trying to help you and your team at the moment cuz I'm
>> That's what I'm advised. I'm sure there's a team as you say watching uh all of this and if they uh want me to correct, I I will happily correct. But that's uh what I'm advised. Um and it's a matter for uh the minister how she proceeds from here.
>> But I suppose I mean the urban policy forum you know to to quote the urban policy imple implementation plan says the urban policy forum of government appointed urban policy advisers including academics local government and it representatives will be retained to provide advice on the implementation of the urban policy agenda. So it was very you know a couple years ago. I'm trying to understand why it isn't important. Now,
>> Senator, you're at 8 minutes. I'll have to rotate the call shortly.
>> Senator, from from Treasury's perspective, I I don't think it's safe for you to draw that conclusion from the material that evidence to that.
>> Look, I I I think the urban policy forum was a good thing. Um, I think it was good to to have all the stakeholders involved, but the Urban Policy Forum exists, but it hasn't had members, depending on whether the minister's right or I'm right, since October last year or or July of this year. I suppose my question is when will new members be appointed to it or has the government decided not to appoint any members to it?
>> As Mr. Rema said, it's been considered.
a timeline of when it will be
>> Not to my knowledge.
>> Senator, can I just add one more thing which is that we we meet with uh a wide range of uh urban policy cities policy stakeholders including some uh former members of the urban policy forum and >> there's been and potentially for some f some future members of the urban policy. We we meet with relevant stakeholders
>> and to that though I mean I've had meetings there was a very good breakfast this morning and a round table yesterday because uh uh it's you city day is coming up it's it's um urban it's you urban cities week um >> and the stakeholders are saying and and the stakeholders are saying that they're disappointed about the government's failure to to take uh appropriate appointments to this particular body. Uh so when we say that we don't know what the timeline is
just it's a matter for the minister. Um Senator McGrath
>> Senator McGrath I'm at 10 minutes. I'm going to have to rotate the call. >> Okay. Um Senator Brad.
in terms of the financing of this particular fund uh the final budget outcome in 2425