A Labor caucus meeting is reportedly planned for Friday to finalise the new federal cabinet. Photo: Unsplash
A federal Environment Protection Agency and more housing – those are the top two priorities for re-elected PM Anthony Albanese.
Speaking to journalists in Canberra on Monday, he was clear on the priorities for Labor during its second stint as federal government.
“I said very clearly I want a federal EPA,” he said.
“That was something that was recommended by the review that the Coalition commissioned. I want a federal EPA that supports industry but also supports sustainability.”
He believes such an agency is realistic.
“I think that can be achieved — that’s my objective,” he told journalists.
The other priority for him is housing supply.
“We have an ambitious challenge to build housing,” Albanese said.
He noted that the Coalition and Greens housing spokespeople, Michael Sukkar and Max Chandler-Mather respectively, lost their seats in Saturday’s federal election.
“I think part of the reason why they’re not in parliament is that they held up public housing,” Albanese said.
“They held up emergency housing for women and children escaping violence. They held up our Build to Rent scheme, they held up our Help to Buy scheme.”
He also had a message for parliament on housing.
“I say this to the Senate and House of Representatives … we have a clear mandate to build more housing,” Albanese said.
“The key is supply. You know, get out of the way and let the private sector build it. That is going to be one of my priorities.”
INDUSTRY REACTIONS
Property Council of Australia chief executive Mike Zorbas says the returning government is well aware of immediate challenges to this country.
“Better planning (of) capital and regional cities, and providing homes and industrial and commercial property assets (that) the nation needs, is a high priority for the government,” he claimed.
“Pro-investment settings that attract overseas money to build our future city assets must be a priority for federal and state governments over the next term,” Zorbas says.
“From FIRB, APRA and the ACCC through environmental approvals to industrial relations in the construction sector, there is much we can make more productive.”
The Business Council of Australia (BCA) said it welcomed government’s intention to “reform” the environmental approval process to improve outcomes for business as well as the environment.
“If we want a more productive economy, with more houses built and more projects to help achieve a successful energy transition then fixing our cumbersome environmental approvals system is a must-do,” BCA Chief Executive Bran Black said.
“These actions, along with harnessing AI, creating better investment attraction settings and achieving a balanced approach to industrial relations are all fundamental to boosting productivity and increasing prosperity.”
