Statutory planning practice in Victoria has struggled with the concept of net community benefit since the advent of this term in the Victoria Planning Provisions in 1996. This paper explores the reasons for the continuing controversy surrounding how the idea of net community benefit might be applied in the planning system and proposes some ways forward.

With a change of national government, particularly one of a progressive inclination, we see an outpouring of expectation in the urban policy community for positive Commonwealth action on cities. So, how should a progressive Commonwealth Government proceed on national urban policy? I propose four elements and three principles to guide the overarching design...