Australia has two pressing issues to address at present. Well, more than two but these ones are of far-reaching significance for the present day, the next 10 years and decades beyond: They are productivity and infrastructure and both impact directly on the freight and logistics sector.
We’re making a reasonable effort at long last on productivity, as is New Zealand and some of our other Asia-Pacific regional neighbours. There’s lots more to do and we can learn from others; indeed we can work on many productivity essentials together.
Infrastructure is more localised in terms of planning, even though some of it reaches regionally and globally, such as air and marine freight corridors, passenger services, telecommunications and the internet.
Localised in terms of planning, especially. Building national infrastructure is complicated, costly and challenging.
Establishing a new international air link is far from simple. Supporters have to assess its long-term revenue deliveries, sustainability and market appeal, as well as securing the necessary rights and setting up ground arrangements, staffing and administration.
But it is relatively straightforward in comparison to the need for national transport and resources infrastructure that embraces roads, rail lines, ports, airports, fuel lines, transport hubs and much more.
Such an infrastructure is not only aligned to the national wellbeing, it is part of daily lives.
As we report in this issue, Infrastructure Australia – a body that functions as an independent advisor – has a list of what it sees, with input from stakeholders, as priority projects and initiatives.
A first read of the list might suggest that aviation, while well represented, is to some extent outweighed by other modes.
That would be a misinterpretation. The evolution of Australia’s 21st century infrastructure is a balanced affair. Air freight cannot prosper without efficient road networks and not just the main airport roads. Pick-up and delivery of air cargo consignments can be affected by something as seemingly unrelated as Melbourne’s ongoing problem of railway level crossings which cause congestion and delay for people and freight alike.
What’s more, it is in the national interest – and sheer common sense – that some freight moves by rail, road or sea rather than air.
Infrastructure is in every way a big picture. It affects everyone whether they are aware of this or not. And it’s ongoing – there will never be a point where we can sit back and say ‘well, that’s done’. But we can develop infrastructure to a point where it needs only building on or tweaking, rather than starting from scratch. We’re starting to make real progress.