Planning Ministers’ Meeting February 2024 Communiqué

On 22 February 2024, Minister Catherine King, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, convened the second Planning Ministers’ Meeting to discuss and progress nationally significant planning matters. These matters included planning reforms to facilitate more and well-located housing; national principles to embed natural disaster and climate risk considerations in land use planning decisions, and progress on a National Urban Policy for Australia.

Planning Ministers were joined by Councillor Linda Scott, President of the Australian Local Government Association, alongside a number of Commonwealth Ministers with an interest in planning matters, including the Hon Kristy McBain MP, Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories; the Hon Julie Collins MP, Minister for Housing; Senator the Hon Jenny McAllister, Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy; and Senator the Hon Tony Sheldon. Planning Ministers reinforced their commitment to national cooperation, collaboration and information sharing on a range of planning matters.

Governance

Planning Ministers endorsed a work plan for the Planning Ministers’ Meeting, to guide work through to February 2025.

National Urban Policy Shared Vision

Planning Ministers noted the update from the Commonwealth on the tasking from National Cabinet for the Commonwealth to reinstate a ‘vision for sustainable growth in cities’, in partnership with state and territory governments. The Commonwealth will consult with jurisdictions on the shared vision alongside the National Urban Policy.

Housing

Planning Ministers agreed that all jurisdictions had made good progress in implementing the Blueprint, particularly in relation to reforming planning, zoning and land release systems and streamlining approval processes to support more housing supply.

To deliver on the ambition of the Blueprint, and support delivery of national housing targets, Planning Ministers agreed

  • that further work is required and will continue to adapt planning systems to better support new housing supply and report on progress.

  • that local government, via ALGA, are able to suggest inclusions in the framework, which will recognise quality and well as quantity of approvals.

  • that in jurisdictions where planning powers reside with local governments, states and territories continue to develop transparent housing plans in collaboration with local governments, and support local governments to meet housing supply targets through local planning policies and instruments.

National principles for considering disaster and climate risk as part of land use planning and building reforms

Planning Ministers noted an update from New South Wales on the development of national principles for considering disaster and climate risk as part of land use planning. Planning Ministers agreed New South Wales will consult all jurisdictions in the coming months on this work and prepare a report and timeline for implementation into land use planning by all jurisdictions.

Telecommunications planning

Planning Ministers have accepted advice that could create a nationally consistent approach to prioritising and accelerating the planning and deployment of mobile communications infrastructure to ensure reliable mobile coverage, especially in rapidly growing suburban communities.