The Australasian Railway Association has questioned the Coalition Opposition’s intentions with Infrastructure Australia’s funding allocation policies if they were to win government.
In presenting their plans for infrastructure and transport policies at a recent function in Sydney, Anthony Albanese and Warren Truss both highlighted the vital role Infrastructure Australia (IA) must continue to play.
Australasian Railway Association CEO, Bryan Nye congratulated the Federal Government for establishing IA, and expressed support for the Coalition’s plan to maintain and improve the statutory body if it succeeded in the pending election – but also expressed concern about political interference.
“Continual improvement in all areas is important and so I welcome Warren Truss’ support for IA and his intentions to make some changes,” said Mr Nye.
“However, noting Tony Abbott’s comments in recent weeks that a Coalition Federal Government would only fund road projects, I urge the Coalition to ensure that infrastructure for all modes, whether it be road or rail is treated to a fair and equal cost benefit analysis before investment decisions and announcements are made.”
The key role of IA is to take infrastructure investment out of political cycles by advising the government and ensuring the right infrastructure project is granted approval to proceed.
“We need an integrated transport system that is capable of moving our growing population and freight into the future and if to create a network with these abilities we need long-term investment in projects that stack up,” said Mr Nye.
“Just recently, IA released its 50-year National Infrastructure Plan, within which nearly a quarter of the projects listed involved rail.
“I urge the successful government in the upcoming election to allow IA to operate as intended and to take its advice on which infrastructure projects should proceed, without letting politics sway decisions,” concluded Mr Nye.
