Property Council appoints new WA Deputy Director
Public policy and research professional Michael Britton has been appointed Deputy Executive Director of the Property Council of Australia, Western Australia Division, to drive sector advocacy and engagement.
Mr Britton brings to the role an extensive and varied background in government and property policy, honed in positions from Landgate to the Western Australian Government and Treasury.
WA Executive Director Sandra Brewer said Mr Britton had a career spanning 16 years’ in public sector roles with experience across the spectrum of policy and government engagement.
“Getting the policy settings right on METRONET, to match the community’s expectations with the State Government’s vision, will be one of the Property Council’s key priorities, and Michael will be a great contributor to this process,” she said.
“We know the vast majority of Perth residents support the investment in METRONET stations and new rail lines – 91 per cent in a recent poll – but we need to get the detail right.
“There are great opportunities to activate the areas surrounding METRONET to increase public transport use and create livable communities, as the McGowan Government has acknowledged in its plan to have almost half the city’s new homes in transport hubs.
“We look forward to engaging on these detailed plans and Michael will be a tremendously valuable addition to our team as we go about this.”
Mr Britton will support the Property Council’s advocacy on land-tax, planning, strata title and infrastructure reform, while urging the ongoing sale of underutilised assets.
Prior to joining the Property Council, Mr Britton was Landgate’s Innovation Team Research Manager where he developed agency-wide plans for research, strategy, policy, and communications, and coordinated all scientific study activities.
Before that, Mr Britton was the Public Sector Placement Principal Policy Adviser to the Minister for Regional Development Terry Redman. In this role he was instrumental to the negotiations with MPs, Ministers and the Premier on the approval for strata reform and community titles bills to be drafted and the passage of the land valuation and electronic conveyancing bills through Parliament.
During the term of the previous Federal Labor Government, Mr Britton was a Principal Policy Officer in the Western Australian Department of Treasury. He provided state representation and negotiation on education matters at COAG and prepared papers for the Under Treasurer, Minister and Executives.
Through the drafting and development of the Stata Titles Reform package, Sale of Land Act Amendment Bill and the Land Legislation Amendment Bill, Michael has organised and facilitated many interactions and briefings with Ministers including Ministers Saffioti, Tinley, Johnston and Templeman.
He has a Master of Arts (Politics and Government) from Edith Cowan University and is studying for a Doctorate of Philosophy (Government and Politics) at the University of Western Australia.
Mr Britton said he looks forward to realising the vision of the METRONET precincts and effective policy on planning and tax reform.
“There is great cause for hope across Western Australia’s property industry with exciting projects and plans underway,” he said. “I look forward to working with industry and government to ensure that hope is realised.”