Foreword
Chairman’s Foreword I am delighted to present this edition of Future Building – the proceedings of Partnerships 2017, Australia’s most prestigious annual gathering of infrastructure leaders. On the one hand, this year’s programme spoke to the heavy political overlay impacting infrastructure projects and markets – with New South Wales Treasurer Dominic Perrottet’s opening address noting that ‘the road to hell is paved with government interventions’. But the proceedings also spoke to countervailing positives, with a booming project market in New South Wales and Victoria, and with mounting demand for economic and social infrastructure across the country. Our keynote addresses by Dr Kerry Schott AO (energy markets), John Pickhaver (capital markets) and Mark Birrell (national reform) each outlined challenges and opportunities ahead. While our respected leaders, special purpose vehicles, transport technology and investment panels provided deep perspectives about our historical strengths, contemporary challenges and forward requirements. Given the heavy national political overlay in infrastructure, I was particularly pleased that we were able to present the Federal Minister for Urban Infrastructure and his Opposition counterpart, Paul Fletcher and Anthony Albanese, respectively. Infrastructure Partnerships Australia has an important role as the fearless and honest broker in infrastructure policy, which was reflected in Paul and Anthony’s agreement to address the topic ‘The things we agree on’, complete with real agreements – and delivered with genuine good humour. I hope you find that the proceedings of Partnerships 2017 offer you new insights into Australia’s infrastructure challenges – and how they can each be addressed. Yours faithfully,
Adrian Kloeden Chairman, Infrastructure Partnerships Australia
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