Greens spokesperson on sustainable cities Senator Scott Ludlam said the National Sustainability Council's report released today "drives home the need for new thinking on urban planning to deal with growing populations, pollution, congestion, and housing affordability".

"Bad urban planning has turned up bad results. People are struggling to find affordable places to live and are spending more time and money getting to and from work. Poor planning costs the economy and the environment.

The Greens have congratulated a new alliance of peak bodies for taking the initiative with proposals for sweeping urban planning reforms.

"A New Deal for Urban Australia - released today by The Urban Coalition - sets out a vision for fixing Australia's cities and major towns, and is a stinging rebuke to Tony Abbott's destructive stance on urban policy," said Greens spokesperson for sustainable cities Senator Scott Ludlam.

Senate Additional Estimates February 2012

Rural, Regional and Transport Committee

Major Cities Unit February 14^th 2012

Topics covered:

Environment and Communications Committee

Monday 13 Feb 2012

Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities

Outcome 2 - Sustainable Communities. Program 2.3 Sustainable Communities

Topics covered:

• Sustainable Jobs Program
• Biodiversity Indicators project

Despite limited terms of reference, the COAG reform council's findings on its first ever report on capital cities has made the urgent need for action clear, the Greens said today.

Greens transport and sustainable cities spokesperson Senator Scott Ludlam said state and federal governments are "on notice" to deal with the planning crises in Australia's capital cities.