Post-election priorities: VIC 100 day plan
Infrastructure, effective governance, tax reform, housing affordability – these are just some of the headline issues the Property Council has put forward as priorities for the newly minted Andrews government.
The ‘100 Days in Government‘ submission was presented to the Victorian Government in December, leading to early, positive engagement with relevant ministers.
Victorian Executive Director of the Property Council Jennifer Cunich used the submission to emphasise the property and construction industry’s central importance to the state’s economy, and urged the Premier to “keep our industry’s vitality front of mind as often as possible”.
“With challenging economic headwinds threatening Victoria’s long-envied prosperity, the property industry urges you to use the first 100 days of your government to set a clear and positive direction for the state,” Cunich wrote.
Infrastructure development features prominently in the submission, with recommendations concerning the future of the East-West Link project, the Port of Melbourne, Metro Rail and the Fishermans Bend precinct redevelopment.
It also calls for effective governance frameworks, in the form of Infrastructure Victoria and the Victorian Infrastructure Authority, to deliver on Victoria’s long-term planning and infrastructure needs.
Tax reform – namely, a review of the state’s property tax arrangements – is present as a matter of priority to ensure Victoria’s competitive advantage.
Other issues highlighted in the submission include housing affordability; council rate caps; dutiable value on loan-lease retirement-village transactions; zone reform implementation; development contributions reform; bushfire regulations; biodiversity conservation measures; the creation of an urban growth boundary (UGB); road funding; level crossings; changes to VCAT; and Melbourne’s ‘green wedges’ policy.
Complementing the submission, the Property Council is holding a 100 Days Conference on 11 March that will feature presentations from Treasurer of Victoria Tim Pallas, former Treasurer John Lenders and other key speakers.
The conference will provide opportunities to review in detail how the Victorian Government is progressing with regard to its major election promises and will shine a spotlight on infrastructure pipeline progress, current and soon-to-be-announced project tenders, budgetary management and property-related policy reform.