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Internationally, a key driver for the popularity of smart city initiatives has been their potential to deliver economic benefits for cities and their governments, businesses, and citizens, and their ability to increase a city’s competitiveness locally and internationally.

Deliberate policy packages focussed on encouraging economic development in specific geographical areas have come to be known as place-based deals or ‘City Deals’. Their aim is to bring together separate powers, responsibilities, funds, programs and expertise into a cohesive ‘package’ designed to reflect place-based conditions and priorities.

Within national policy frameworks, City Deals have emerged as primary vehicles for the Commonwealth to fund ‘catalytic infrastructure investments’ while also driving ‘urban governance and land use reform’.

For tenants who experience a disability, poor health or complex needs and are reliant on income support, social housing offers their best chance of stable, secure and affordable housing, new ���������research confirms.

This Brief addresses the urban governance arrangements for Australian cities, the role of long-term planning strategies and other regulation. The focus is on state and territory level strategies, current Federal government policies and infrastructure bodies.