L–R Max Moore-Wilton, Tony Shepherd, Martin Ferguson, Roger Massy-Greene and Brendan Lyon
Politics, projects and people Four respected Australian infrastructure sector leaders discuss the barriers to reform and what political leaders need to do to break through these obstacles. Key points:
Chair: Brendan Lyon, Chief Executive, Infrastructure Partnerships Australia Panellists: • The Hon Martin Ferguson AM, Non-Executive Director, Seven Group • Roger Massy-Greene, Chairman, Networks NSW • Max Moore-Wilton AC, Director, Infrastructure NSW • Tony Shepherd AO, Chairman, WestConnex Delivery Authority
Brendan Lyon (BL): Do you think that reform is increasingly possible in this country? Perhaps starting with Max, can you each give an outlook for reform in Australia? Max Moore-Wilton (MMW): There is a general dissatisfaction at the moment with the pace of reform, both at the federal level and, less so, at the state level. New South Wales is making very significant strides in the reform process, which shows with the number of cranes in the sky, and recent business activity; but there does need to be a sense of partnership. Infrastructure is long-term, so it needs to transcend partisan politics. There needs to be an understanding and acceptance that there are things for the general good that both sides of politics can embrace in a reasonably bipartisan way. That’s the change of mindset that is needed. Instead of owning projects for a term of government and then starting again, you need a strategy. Where governments have embraced a strategic approach, and have recognised that
• A degree of long-term consensus and political transparency are key to resolving infrastructure challenges. • Transparency about the problem will drive better accountabilities for enabling microeconomic and fiscal reforms. • With an honest political debate, Australia can achieve substantial reforms, without waiting for a sense of ‘crisis’.
infrastructure is the key productivity driver, progress is made. We’re in a bit of a dip at the moment, but I’m very hopeful that we will come out of it in a constructive way. BL: Tony, your Commission of Audit was designed to give a lot of cover, but we haven’t seen a huge amount of discussion around a lot of the aspects raised. Do you think politics has changed in this country, or do you think we’re in a dip? Tony Shepherd (TS): I think we’re in a dip. The reform process is continuing in New South Wales, and we’re seeing the results of that reform process in a stronger rate of growth, and plenty of cranes in the sky. There’s far more to come when the $9 billion for WestConnex starts hitting the market. New Zealand embarked on a process of quite dramatic reform in some respects, but the Government brought the community with it, and was returned with an increased majority. Ditto in the United Kingdom, where the Government embarked on quite a savage Volume 6 Number 1
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