Improving infrastructure planning and funding using UK-style City Deals

Key Points:

The UK's "City Deals" provides powerful inspiration which could facilitate meaningful improvements to infrastructure planning and funding for our cities.

The Australian Government has recently released a "Smart Cities Plan", setting out its approach to drive a national reform agenda that aims to transform infrastructure planning for our cities by requiring all levels of government, the private sector and the community to work together to form "City Deals".

The Turnbull government recognises the importance of our major cities to our economic prosperity and social wellbeing. Our major cities are home to more than three quarters of our population, and almost 80% of Australia's economic activity occurs in our major cities.