Embracing Australia’s infrastructure challenges By Jeanette Leigh
An interview with Anthony Albanese
On taking office in 2007, the Australian Government under Prime Minister Rudd outlined plans for an unprecedented infrastructure program to prepare the Australian economy for growth over the next 40 years. The government moved quickly to establish Infrastructure Australia’s Advisory Council, consisting of commonwealth, state and private sector representation. Infrastructure Australia produced its first national infrastructure audit in December 2008. After a priority list was established May 2009, the government committed to a record national investment of $36 billion in roads, railways and ports. Anthony Albanese, the Minister for Infrastructure, is very pleased with progress to date. He says that the current government has spent more on rail in 12 months than the previous government spent in 12 years. “We have established everything that we committed to in the Nation Building Program and more because we got the structure right in the first place. “Infrastructure Australia applied a rigorous methodology to assess and prioritise projects. Prior to this, the development of infrastructure and investment was not approached in a coordinated and exacting manner,” says Mr Albanese. Government priorities are to deal with clogged and outdated railways, roads and ports that pose a very real threat to growth and productivity. Road traffic congestion alone cost the economy approximately $9.4 billion in 2005, and according to the federal government’s ‘State of Australian Cities 2010’ report, this figure is projected to rise to $20.4 billion by 2020. Port congestion is so chronic that in some places more than 50 ships can be waiting to dock. At one stage in November 2009 there was a vessel queue of 76 ships waiting to enter the coking coal export terminal at Dalrymple Bay in Far North Queensland. In some places, coal production is reduced because the infrastructure is unable to keep pace – a costly outcome. “At the Australian Transport Council last year we agreed to have single national regulators for rail safety, heavy vehicles and maritime sectors. That will lead to significant productivity benefits over the medium and long term,” says Minister Albanese. EDITION 1
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