ANDREW GILES MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR CITIES AND URBAN INFRASTRUCTURE
SHADOW MINISTER FOR MULTICULTURAL AFFAIRS
SHADOW MINISTER ASSISTING FOR IMMIGRATION AND CITIZENSHIP
MEMBER FOR SCULLIN
Federal Labor welcomes the announcement today by Steve Bracks, John Brumby and Scott Ryan of a blueprint to shape the future of Melbourne’s north and west - the North and West Melbourne City Deal Proposal.
The proposal has brought together 13 local governments, two universities and a number of representative organisations in a shared vision for the areas, grounded in local understanding, as a city deal proposal should be.
This warrants serious consideration as a major contribution to the debates about Melbourne’s future and our economic recovery, and must serve as impetus to progress this overdue city deal, and to remedy the infrastructure neglect of Melbourne’s north and west under the Abbott-Turnbull-Morrison Government.
Melbourne’s northern and western suburbs are the fastest growing parts of Australia’s fastest growing city but this hasn’t been recognised by the Liberals after seven years in government.
As with so many other things under the Morrison government, city deals are too often slogans without substance.
It’s time for this to change, and for a plan to secure jobs to be put in place.
To meet the challenges of a recovery that leaves no one behind we need real partnerships - where all levels of government work together and with the private sector and communities.
The people of Melbourne’s north and west deserve a real plan for cities and jobs.