20.10.2022State Election campaign: Making taxpayer dollars work
In the lead up to the Victorian State Election on 26 November, we can look back and see that much has happened since the 2018 state election.
Key links:
Media Release – State Election – Committee for Melbourne
Election Priorities Policy Note
Benchmarking Melbourne Report 2022
Herald Sun article ‘Call for big city revamp’
Herald Sun opinion piece ‘Making tax dollars work’
Herald Sun article – we need an economy of experience
The Age article ‘Suburban Rail Loop: the right track or ‘extravagance and folly’?’
It is the first state election held since the COVID-19 pandemic. Victoria was particularly impacted with extended lockdown periods and border closures, triggering social and economic consequences.
Addressing the challenges associated with global warming and climate change, as well as the ongoing health and economic consequences of the pandemic, will be of prime importance for the next Victorian Government.
But there are also other challenges that are important for Melbourne’s future. Many of these were highlighted in the Committee’s Benchmarking Melbourne 2022 report, which measured Melbourne’s performance against three pillars that make up a city’s success: Liveability & Urban Optimisation; Future Economy; and Infrastructure & Sustainability.
Whilst Melbourne has much to be proud of including a rich arts and culture environment as well as strong research and skills foundations, there remain many opportunities for policy action. The Committee in its policy brief, has called upon the incoming Victorian Government to focus its attention on a range of policy areas for the benefit of Melbourne. The areas of focus include transport network pricing reform, bus reform, energy reform and investments in social and affordable housing and CBD revitalisation in the context of Greater Melbourne.
This call to action was reinforced in the Herald Sun article on 20 October 2022 entitled “Committee for Melbourne puts forward bold ideas to help city’s liveability”.
The Committee in its Media Release also asks the incoming Government to commit to a reprioritisation of infrastructure spend. The Committee asks that all infrastructure spend is put on the table to determine the most productive, effective and timely outcomes from the use of significant taxpayer dollars. Mark Melvin, CEO, Committee for Melbourne has also written in an opinion piece for the Herald Sun on 20 October 2022, about the imperative for an incoming state government to be bold and to commit to a reprioritisation of Melbourne’s infrastructure spend.
For media enquiries, please contact Leanne Edwards, Director Policy & Advocacy: ledwards@melbourne.org.au