The Australian Local Government Association (ALGA), together with seven other peak bodies, has launched a joint infrastructure statement to publicly advocate for continued Commonwealth funding into infrastructure. The statement makes a strong call to all political parties to make a commitment to maintain long-term infrastructure spending, address the growing infrastructure shortfall and improve national productivity.
The signatories of the joint statement included ALGA, Institute of Public Works Engineering Australasia, Planning Institute of Australia, Australian Logistics Council, Urban Development Institute of Australia, Property Council of Australia, National Farmer’s Federation and Green Building Council of Australia.
This initiative leverages all of our shared interests for better infrastructure and provides a powerful voice in our calls for greater investment in public infrastructure. Such a partnership is also important in the lead up to next month’s Federal election providing a concise and succinct call to all Federal political parties and their candidates to take a long-term, strategic view of infrastructure investment to ensure Australia’s cities and regions remain competitive, liveable and sustainable.
We know that the key to improving living standards is the maintenance of economic growth through improved national productivity. However, years of under-investment in public infrastructure (and transport infrastructure in particular), has resulted in transport networks that are no longer fit for purpose. This under-investment has also affected Australia’s freight routes, including local roads, which has constrained growth and productivity now and will continue to do so in the future unless there is a change.
The joint statement contains a nine-point Infrastructure Plan, which outlines critical areas of focus for the government to support transport infrastructure to achieve productivity, growth and economic prosperity. The statement has been provided to all political parties and Federal MPs seeking their explicit commitment to the Plan and its nine points.
We all agree that the economy is in transition, but the need for infrastructure spending, to create jobs and move passengers and freight, has not reduced. As a nation we must refocus infrastructure spending to meet the needs of Australia’s economy now and into the future.
