Nationbuild

Australia is a nation of vast physical size, but of relatively small population. Therefore, more than most other nations, Australia needs the best and most cost-effective transport and infrastructure it can get in order to maximise our international competitiveness. We must have world-class roads, railways, airports and ports to move both people and goods around the country efficiently, cheaply and safely. As government budgets are likely to become more and more stretched into the future, it will become increasingly important to investigate alternatives to the traditional government provision and/or funding of essential national infrastructure.

downloadable documents

Three speeches from the launch of 'Infrastructure First':

[20k] Untangling the web of Commonwealth/State/Local government funding - what did your GST buy? by John Quiggin. (Click here for associated paper [140k PDF]).

[20k] Sydney be dammed: why can't we debate the dam issue? by Bernard Salt. [Click here for associated paper [110k PDF]).

[20k] Cash grabs wrecking home ownership dreams by Graham Walker. [Click here for associated press release [30k PDF]).

To find out more about Infrastructure First---what it aims to do and who is involved---click here for its Charter document [Word 10k], or visit its Website at www.infrastructurefirst.com.au.