Shadow minister for infrastructure, transport and cities Anthony Albanese has welcomed Malcolm Turnbull’s move to appoint Jamie Briggs as minister for cities and the built environment.
Turnbull announced his new ministry on Sunday, adding Briggs as a minister to operate in close proximity to environment minister Greg Hunt to develop key planning policy.
“After two years of inaction on urban policy and a year since I was appointed shadow minister for cities by Bill Shorten, I’m happy that Mr Turnbull has seen fit to re-engage with this critical policy area,” Albanese said on Sunday.
“But this welcome appointment must be more than a simply a new title. It must involve significant investment in our cities.”
Albanese has often pointed out Turnbull’s propensity to Tweet photos of himself on public transport around the country.
“Mr Turnbull needs to not just travel occasionally on public transport; he must fund it,” the shadow minister said.
“That means restoring the $4.5 billion in cuts to public transport projects including the Melbourne Metro, Brisbane’s Cross River Rail, Adelaide’s Tonsley Park project and Hobart Light Rail.
“That also includes the $500 million in grants that had been allocated to Perth Light Rail and a rail link from the Perth CBD to the city’s busy airport.
“Funding is also needed for Stage 2 of the Gold Coast Light Rail to ensure it is completed in time for the Commonwealth Games.”
Last week state leaders from all around the country appealed to Turnbull to overturn several of Abbott’s decisions to not fund urban public transport projects, including those listed by Albanese.
The shadow minister for transport also called on Turnbull to re-establish the use of proper cost-benefit analysis of major infrastructure projects, and to deliver transparency over projects like the East West Link, Westconnex and the Perth Freight Link.
“He should also re-establish the Major Cities Unit to drive urban policy and order it to return to the annual public publication of the State of Australian Cities Report,” Albanese added.
“While we welcome the appointment of a minister for cities and built environment and stand ready to work with the government in improving our cities, it is disappointing it was not connected to the important portfolios of infrastructure and local government,” he noted.