Foreword I am delighted to present the 2016 edition of Future Building, which presents the proceedings of the 2016 Partnerships conference – Australia’s pre-eminent annual infrastructure policy and economic reform symposium. Noting the wider global economic transition, this year’s proceedings saw a very strong focus on the structural changes that must occur to infrastructure markets – and to the structure of the government sector itself. The depth and breadth of contributions – and their honesty – reflect the gathering momentum and understanding about what changes Australia needs to contemplate and to reform productivity and performance. The launch of the Transurban-funded, yearlong study into the behavioural impacts of a whole-of-network road pricing is a solid example of the gathering consensus about major changes. Through the upbeat opening address by the Victorian Treasurer Tim Pallas; the challenging but optimistic keynote address by Fred Hilmer; the leaders’ panel with David Gonski, Margaret Jackson and Terry Moran; and through Macquarie’s Christopher Voyce’s outline of global financial markets, these delegates shared pathways to, and opportunities for, better infrastructure. And through the contributions of Standard & Poor’s Craig Michaels and the Western Australian Shadow Treasurer Ben Wyatt, we also shared respectively in the non-discretionary need for substantial changes – but also the political complexity of doing so. I hope that you find Future Building of abiding interest, and I would welcome any feedback you may have.
Adrian Kloeden Chairman, Infrastructure Partnerships Australia
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