Briefs

As technological disruption of transportation gathers pace with the continued growth of ride-sharing, the expansion of electric cars and the inevitable arrival of autonomous vehicles, governments are grappling with how best to consider innovation in transport planning.

As Australia continues to deal with COVID-19 outbreaks, one of the methods Australian states and territories have used is restrictions on who can move through an area and how far they can go. However, to keep societies functioning there are key workers who need to be at their workplaces, regardless of where they commute from. This has led to question as to just who is a key worker and how far do they commute through Australia’s large capital cities of Sydney and Melbourne.

Internationally, improving the environmental sustainability of residential property has been identified as an important way to ensure that economic stimulus spending is invested wisely. It can reduce energy bills and greenhouse gas emissions, improve comfort and health and support employment in the construction sector.

The AHURI-HUD International Housing Policy Exchange highlighted the role of social and economic inequality in health outcomes. The participating countries all reported people with inadequate housing who lived in low socio-economic areas were disproportionately affected by the virus.

This AHURI Brief summarises the activities already undertaken by local governments in responding to the challenges created by COVID-19. It draws on the findings of the COVID-19 Policy Exchange: Local Approaches to Pandemic Recovery, held in late 2020.