PIA continues to ensure the planning profession has a strong voice in the conversations shaping Australia's future. Over the past fortnight, we've been influencing policy across country, engaging directly with governments, providing expert commentary in the media and giving members opportunities to shape our advocacy agenda.
📝 Productivity Commission Inquiry: Housing supply regulation
PIA has lodged its submission to the Productivity Commission's inquiry, ensuring planning is front and centre in the national conversation on productivity.
Our submission demonstrates that improving productivity is not simply about faster approvals. It requires better strategic planning, coordinated infrastructure investment and planning systems that enable housing, jobs and economic growth. By putting planning expertise before the Commission, PIA is advocating for reforms that deliver lasting productivity gains for Australia.
Submission and 1-page summary >> National | Enabling More Homes through Better Planning
📺 Attracting media attention
PIA's advocacy reached thousands of Australians through two television appearances this fortnight, ensuring planning perspectives were represented in mainstream media.
Data centres
As demand for digital infrastructure grows, PIA highlighted the need for strategic planning to balance economic opportunity with energy, land use and community outcomes.
▶️ Watch
Vacant buildings
PIA outlined how planning can help unlock underutilised buildings to support housing supply and revitalise our cities, demonstrating that good planning is part of the solution to complex urban challenges.
▶️ Watch
💰 Influencing state priorities through Budget responses
State Budgets are an important opportunity to assess whether government investment aligns with the long-term needs of communities.
PIA responded to both the Queensland and New South Wales Budgets over the past fortnight, welcoming positive initiatives while identifying where further investment and reform are needed to support housing delivery, infrastructure and sustainable growth.
📍 PIA's response to Queensland Budget
📍 PIA response to NSW Budget
🏗️ Built on Planning: Showcasing the value of planning in action
PIA will shortly release the eighth case study in our Built on Planning series, featuring Queensland's State Assessment Referral Agency.
Built on Planning is PIA's storytelling series to showcase the value of good planning in delivering better housing, infrastructure and places. The series tells the stories behind successful planning initiatives from across Australia, including the Inner West Fairer Housing Plan (NSW), Envi Terrace Housing (Qld), WA R-Codes (WA), Postcode 3000 (Vic), the Land Supply Dashboard (SA), Green Square (NSW) and Queens Walk (Tas).
Our next story reveals how Queensland's Single Assessment Referral Agency has streamlined development assessment and improved consistency across the planning system.
🌏 Turning national sentiment research into planning insights
The release of the 2026 Lowy Poll provided valuable insights into Australians' changing priorities. PIA analysed what these findings mean for planners, helping members understand how public sentiment on issues such as housing, resilience and liveability will shape future policy and planning decisions.
🔗 Read the PIA article
🖥️ Supporting better planning for digital infrastructure
PIA welcomed the South Australian Government's Data Centre Strategy as an example of proactive, coordinated planning for an emerging industry. By publicly supporting this approach, PIA continues to advocate for planning frameworks that provide certainty for investment while protecting community interests.
🔗 Read our media release
🤖 Helping shape the future of planning
Artificial intelligence is already changing how planners work. PIA's new AI in Planning Survey will help build an evidence base to inform future advocacy, guidance and professional development, ensuring the profession is ready for the opportunities and challenges ahead.
📝 Complete the survey
PIA supports NSW new Streamlined Planning Pathway
PIA NSW has lodged a submission supporting the NSW Government's proposed new planning pathways, including Complying Development variations and Targeted Assessment. The reforms would create a more proportionate planning system, allowing straightforward, low risk housing proposals to move through the approvals process more efficiently while enabling planners to focus on more complex developments.
PIA is calling for clear assessment requirements, practical implementation support for councils and ongoing monitoring to ensure the new pathways deliver faster housing outcomes while maintaining confidence in planning decisions.
Read the submission
With every submission, media appearance, policy response and member engagement, PIA is aiming to strengthen the profession's influence with policy makers, industry and the broader community. Thank you to our members who continue to contribute their expertise and help amplify the voice of the planning profession.