The massive swing of approval and endorsement for the new Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and his reshaped ministry is already resonating across business and the community and can be summed up in one word: confidence.
Confidence that things will start moving again. Confidence that the man at the top has the business acumen and nous to fully consider issues and bring the public along the journey through consultation. Confidence that injecting new talent into portfolios, younger ministers, more women in ministries, and new ministries will bring renewed approaches to problems. And confidence a fresh approach will reignite the hitherto stubbornly stagnating Australian economy.
IPWEA is nonpartisan. That doesn’t mean we don’t engage in politics - far from it. When Government policy is poor we stand up and say so. When it is travelling in the right direction we need to say so. At the moment, all the signs are very positive not just for our industry, but far more importantly, the economy and the community as a whole.
Australia might just be back in business.
It’s early days of course for this new Federal Government, and yes there is always a honeymoon period.
But for our industry, if this was your business, and a new CEO came on board and within three days had done the following, then you’d you have to stand up, take notice, and say “thank you” – finally someone is paying our sector some serious recognition:
- Created a new ministry of Cities and the Built Environment (Minister Jamie Briggs).
- Put local government back into the spotlight after two years of not being represented through the new ministry, Territories, Local Government and Major Projects (Minister Paul Fletcher).
- Retention of the Infrastructure and Regional Development ministry (Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss).
- Redefined the infrastructure spend to no longer prioritise roads over public transport.
- Renewable energy to be a key part of the Government’s platform embracing alternate energy supplies and committing to the 23.5 per cent renewable energy target by 2020.
I’m sure that behind the scenes, the fact that the Prime Minister’s wife of 35 years, Lucy Turnbull, being a former Lord Mayor of Sydney City Council, means that the important role that local government plays, and its issues, are understood and appreciated.
I will be seeking meetings with each of the above ministers (see the Badgerys Creek interview with the Deputy Prime Minister in this edition of intouch) over the ensuing months to explore where IPWEA and its members can play their part in keeping the lights burning strongly - LED lighting of course!
Robert Fuller
Chief Executive Officer
IPWEA Australasia