Premier Peter Malinauskas names housing, AUKUS major projects co-ordinator general

An “unprecedented amount of urgent work” on housing and other major projects will be spearheaded by a new chief appointed by Premier Peter Malinauskas.

An “unprecedented amount of urgent work” on housing, defence and decarbonising major industry will be spearheaded by a newly appointed co-ordinator general charged with slashing red tape.

Premier Peter Malinauskas has appointed Victorian government executive Andrew McKeegan, saying his role will include accelerating the “pace of housing delivery” and driving projects in special economic “go-zones” for development.

The position, which is similar to a major projects tsar role created in the late 1990s by the-then Liberal premier John Olsen, was first announced by Mr Malinauskas in March, 2023, during a so-called State of the State major economic address.

Premier Peter Malinauskas at a Woodville Park housing site to announce the new rent-to-buy scheme for first homebuyers. Picture: Supplied

Mr McKeegan, currently the Victorian Transport and Planning Department deputy secretary, will start work immediately to establish the Co-ordinator General’s Office.

“Our state has an unprecedented amount of urgent work ahead of it to capitalise on the opportunities presented by AUKUS, defence and the decarbonisation of major industry,” Mr Malinauskas said.

“We must also continue to accelerate our pace of housing delivery through the Housing Roadmap.

“The co-ordinator general will play a crucial role in ensuring the critical work needed to achieve this can be done quickly and effectively.”

Mr Malinauskas in February unveiled details of his plan to accelerate housing and employment delivery, including by establishing special economic zones for major projects and a co-ordinator general to slash red tape.

This was ahead of legislation that recently passed parliament, a key plank is so-called state development areas – billed as designated, pre-assessed “go-zones” where red tape will be slashed by pre-completed regulatory work.

The new laws also are pitched as bolstering the state’s ability to centrally co-ordinate important assessments related to the AUKUS nuclear-powered submarine construction, centred on Osborne Naval Shipyard, in an “efficient, responsible and rigorous manner”.

Mr McKeegan, who starts work immediately, was an expert panel member during the 2023 review of South Australia’s planning system.