Recomendations for out transport infrastructure future
Colleagues, I am very pleased to support the recommendations put forward for the infrastructure theme.
The question for us today is not whether change is needed — but how we curate the transition to a model of governance and funding that is more sustainable, more inclusive, and fit for the future. These recommendations point us in exactly that direction.
Framing the problem
For too long, we have relied on a model where governments pay and governments decide. That model has achieved much, but it is now under strain:
Funding priorities too often reflect politics rather than productivity.
Governments alone cannot keep pace with the investment required.
And the private sector’s role is too often fragmented, confined to the margins.
At Infralegal, much of our work involves helping governments and private operators navigate precisely these governance and funding challenges. From that vantage point, I can say these recommendations capture the reality we see every day — the need to broaden participation, share responsibility, and modernise funding models.
Recommendation 5.1 – A system-wide view
The first recommendation is to take a system-wide view of transport planning and delivery.
Today, planning is too often fragmented — project by project, mode by mode. But connected and automated transport will only succeed if our infrastructure functions as an integrated network.
For freight, that means automated corridors linking ports, airports, and logistics hubs.
For public transport, it means treating robotaxis and ride-hailing as part of the system, alongside trains, buses and active modes.
For aviation, it means planning for vertiports, drone hubs and traffic management systems that connect seamlessly with existing networks.
This is exactly the shift we need: from isolated projects to true networks.
Recommendation 5.2 – Digital infrastructure and cybersecurity
The second recommendation is to build a robust digital infrastructure platform and cybersecurity regime.
As vehicles and networks become more connected and automated, the digital backbone will be just as important as the physical one. Without trusted digital infrastructure — and without confidence in cybersecurity — adoption will stall. Embedding these requirements into planning now is essential.
Recommendation 5.3 – Ownership, management and funding
The third recommendation is to review ownership, management and funding models for both physical and digital infrastructure.
This is vital. Public funds alone cannot close the gap between our growing infrastructure needs and available resources. At the same time, the private sector is more than just a financier — it is a user, operator, and manager of critical assets.
This recommendation rightly calls for:
Exploring funding models beyond traditional PPPs.
Unlocking private capital, including superannuation funds.
Sharing risks and responsibilities between government and industry.
From my experience at Infralegal, I know this is not just aspirational. We are already seeing new models emerge where governments and private operators share both risk and responsibility. This recommendation will accelerate that shift and, if done well, can deliver better outcomes for all stakeholders.
Addressing concerns
Now, some may worry that giving the private sector more involvement could risk private interests overriding public interests. But the recommendations don’t call for a handover of control. They call for shared responsibility, with government continuing to safeguard community interests and ensure equity for those who cannot represent themselves.
Conclusion
Taken together, these recommendations provide a clear, practical roadmap.
They encourage us to think in networks, not projects.
To build the digital spine alongside the physical.
And to share governance and funding responsibility across government, industry and community.
I support these recommendations wholeheartedly. If adopted, they will help Australia transition to an infrastructure system that is more resilient, more productive, and more sustainable — one that truly supports the transport networks of the future.
