The Australian Government's attempts at national urban policy have been sporadic and inconsistent, under the constraints of constitutional, financial, ideological and political factors. This paper concerns the recent resurgence of national urban policy under the rubric of “smart cities” adopted by the Turnbull Government and carried on by the incumbent Morrison Government. It investigates how this round of smart cities agenda articulates with Australia's political tradition of national urban policy to seek continuity and change, through comparing historical policies, unpacking major smart cities programmes, identifying explanatory factors and critically commenting on its innovation and legacy. Drawing upon these analyses, this paper argues that understanding the smart cities agenda needs to move beyond the political, ideological “to‐and‐fro” pendulum to national urban policy observed in history. Rather, it resonates with a globalised policy norm established upon the city‐based global integration and competition, driven by an imperative of transitioning to a knowledge economy and pursuing innovation capacity. It is too early to judge whether the smart cities agenda will bring changes to Australian cities in the way it wishes, since it involves long‐term infrastructure investment and urban development projects. However, a comprehensive and consistent national urban policy to govern the Australian system of cities and towns has not been established yet.

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澳大利亚的国家城市政策：智慧城市议程的前景

在宪法，财政，意识形态和政治因素的制约下，澳大利亚政府对国家城市政策的尝试是零星的和前后矛盾的。本文涉及特恩布尔政府通过，现任莫里森政府推行的“智慧城市”专栏，最近国家城市政策的复兴。它通过比较历史政策，整理主要智慧城市计划，确定解释性因素并对其创新和遗产进行批判性评论，调查这一轮智慧城市议程如何与澳大利亚国家城市政策的政治传统相呼应，以寻求连续性和变革。根据这些分析，本文认为，对智慧城市议程的理解需要超越政治，历史上观察到的对国家城市政策的意识形态“来回摇摆”。相反，它与建立在以城市为基础的全球一体化和竞争基础上的全球化政策规范共鸣，这是向知识经济过渡和追求创新能力的必然要求。现在判断智慧城市议程是否会以其希望的方式为澳大利亚城市带来变化还为时过早，因为它涉及长期的基础设施投资和城市发展项目。但是，尚未制定出全面，一致的国家城市政策来管理澳大利亚的城镇体系。迫切需要向知识经济过渡和追求创新能力。现在判断智慧城市议程是否会以其希望的方式为澳大利亚城市带来变化还为时过早，因为它涉及长期的基础设施投资和城市发展项目。但是，尚未制定出全面，一致的国家城市政策来管理澳大利亚的城镇体系。迫切需要向知识经济过渡和追求创新能力。现在判断智慧城市议程是否会以其希望的方式为澳大利亚城市带来变化还为时过早，因为它涉及长期的基础设施投资和城市发展项目。但是，尚未制定出全面，一致的国家城市政策来管理澳大利亚的城镇体系。