In 1993, the (then) Industry Commission reported on impediments to regional adjustment of industry, and on ways of facilitating the efficient movement of people and businesses within and between regions.

Public ownership and development of land is a powerful means of controlling the development of an urban area, avoiding high speculative costs of land for housing and public purposes, and siphoning increases in land values that accompany urban growth into the public purse. This paper compares government control of public land in Stockholm and Canberra.