The Parliamentary Friends of Australian Urban Design initiative, launched on Monday at the 2024 Australian Urban Design Awards ceremony, will see senators and members of parliament join the drive for positive change in the built environment.
The awards, held at the Parliament House, were chaired by Greens Minister for Ryan, Elizabeth Watson Brown, Labor Minister for Moreton, Graham Perrett and Liberal Minister for Fadden, Cameron Caldwell.
Led by the Australian Institute of Architects, the Planning Institute of Australia, and the Australian Institute of Landscape Architecture, the initiative fosters bipartisan support among senators, members of parliament and relevant stakeholders on issues influencing the built environment.
The goals of the initiative are established to:
- provide a bipartisan forum – facilitate construction discussions among politicians on matters related to Australian urban design
- raise awareness: increase awareness of the importance of good urban design among politicians and showcase good design practices
- engage stakeholders: collaborate with stakeholders on issues related to the economic, environmental, social and cultural wellbeing of communities
- communicate the critical role of urban design: advocate for good urban design and the way it shapes the nation’s identity and establish relationships to drive betterment in the built environment industry
Watson-Brown said she was enthusiastic about the initiative, saying that collaboration was needed to positively influence the built environment and the multi-partisan group will help drive change in each respective industry,
“I am very proud to be co-chairing this important group as a relatively new MP after a 40-year career as an architect and an urbanist. Of particular personal and professional interest to me has always been the design and shaping of our cities where over 85 per cent of Australians live and where most carbon pollution and much social dislocation is produced.
“Urban resilience, decarbonisation, accessibility and social equity are fundamental to a sustainable, survivable future for all of us and the professions, the community and the parliament can share agency in designing this future together.”
Other members of the Parliamentary Friends include:
- Tania Lawrence, ALP Member for Hasluck
- Bridget McKenzie, National Senator for Victoria
- David Pocock, Independent Senator for ACT
- David Shoebridge, Greens Senator
- Libby Coker, ALP Member for Corangamite
- Jerome Laxale MP, ALP Member for Bennelong