About Major Cities Unit
The Major Cities Unit is part of the Department of Infrastructure and Transport, under the Hon Anthony Albanese MP. The Unit’s core focus is on Australia's eighteen major cities with populations over 100,000 people.
The Unit provides advice to the Australian Government on issues of policy, planning and infrastructure that have an impact on our cities and suburbs. It also provides coordinated action across government, the private sector and the community, to help secure the nation's economic, environmental and social wellbeing in our major cities. It oversees the implementation of the Australian Government's National Urban Policy and produces the annual State of Australian Cities Report.
The Major Cities Unit's strategic work program includes the following streams:
Governance and Policy |
The Unit’s role is to advance integrated governance structures and best practice strategic planning to support the coordinated development of Australia's major cities. It works across portfolios to ensure that relevant policies and investment are aligned with, and support, the objectives of the National Urban Policy. It also aims to set a geographic context for policy, planning and investment decisions, including infrastructure. |
Engagement and Consultation |
All three levels of Government—Commonwealth, State and Territory and Local—have roles to play in improving the productivity, liveability and sustainability of Australia's cities, together with communities and the private sector. The Unit works across all of these stakeholder groups to provide input into the development of urban policy and planning. |
Research, Benchmarking and Best Practice |
The Unit helps to provide an information base for Australia’s major cities. A strong information base is required for better understanding growth and change in Australia's cities and identifying issues and priorities for action. It can also be used for informing the best paths for public and private investment in cities, benchmarking the performance of our cities and monitoring progress towards goals. |
Investment and Program Delivery |
The Unit works across portfolios to ensure that relevant investments and programs are aligned with, and support, the objectives of the National Urban Policy. |