Speeches and Presentations

Reforming Urban Water

Infrastructure Australia Chief Executive Philip Davies launched the latest paper in Infrastructure Australia’s Reform Series, Reforming Urban Water: A national pathway for change. His speech outlines a series of recommendations to governments, which establish a clear pathway to reforming the urban water sector. The paper calls on Australian governments to get on with the job of bringing urban water policy, regulation and governance up to speed so that it can meet the changing needs of Australians in the twenty-first century.

08 December 2017 | Speech

Nation-building: Australia's infrastructure priorities

Infrastructure Australia Executive Director Adrian Dwyer presented at the NRMA Trends and Innovation Series on Funding and Financing in Sydney on 8 November 2017. His speech outlines the initiatives and projects of national significance to Australia’s continued prosperity. Mr Dwyer also discusses the importance of finding more sustainable and equitable ways of funding our national investment priorities and the need to rebalance our system towards a user pays funding model.

08 November 2017 | Speech

Infrastructure Regulation and Market Reform in Australia and the UK

Infrastructure Australia Chief Executive Philip Davies addressed the Australian British Infrastructure Investment Catalyst conference in London on 26 September 2017. His speech outlines how in this time of rapid technological change and great opportunity, Australia's continued prosperity will depend in large part on a rethink of our approaches to infrastructure selection, procurement and regulation. Mr Davies compares Australia and the UKs energy, telecommunication transportation and water sectors, and discusses the key reform lessons from each jurisdiction.

29 September 2017 | Speech

Managing the Consultation Challenges of Road Reform

Infrastructure Australia Executive Director of Policy and Research, Adrian Dwyer, addressed the Infrastructure Association of Queensland on 29 August 2017. His speech, Managing the Consultation Challenges of Road Reform, stresses that we cannot wait for a crisis before we act on road reform, and explains why early and meaningful engagement with the community on road reform will avoid funding crisis before action is taken.

29 August 2017 | Speech

Rail Freight in Australia

Infrastructure Australia Chief Executive Philip Davies addressed the Australasian Railway Association—Rail Freight Conference on 17 August 2017. His speech outlines the substantial growth in the national freight task over the coming decades and the opportunities presented by the booming economies of China and South-East Asia. He also discusses the importance of a wider national and international, freight and supply market perspective and the need to move away from short to medium term thinking. In addition, Mr Davies outlines the benefits of a national freight strategy, scenario planning and the value in extracting great efficiency from our current road and rail networks.

17 August 2017 | Speech

Australian Council of Economists 2017—Foundations for Wellbeing

Infrastructure Australia Chief Executive Philip Davies addressed the Economic Society of Australia on 21 July 2017. His speech, Foundations for Wellbeing, explains why improving the quality of business cases, demonstrating strategic alignment, and transparency and evidence-based analysis is relevant to economic wellbeing, and how this approach can get governments closer to their desired outcomes.

21 July 2017 | Speech

Delivering Resilient Infrastructure for Northern Australia

Infrastructure Australia Chief Executive Philip Davies addressed the Developing Northern Australia Conference 2017 on 20 June 2017. His speech outlines the potential to capitalise on Northern Australia’s existing economic assets, and deliver more efficient transport, water, energy and communications services to support the region’s future growth and prosperity. He also discusses the importance of long-term planning, evidence-based project selection and the maintenance of existing assets to enhance the resilience of Northern Australia’s infrastructure.

22 June 2017 | Speech

Parliamentary Friendship Group for Better Cities — Keynote address

Infrastructure Australia Chief Executive Philip Davies addressed the Parliamentary Friendship Group for Better Cities on 13 June 2017. His speech outlines the key findings from Infrastructure Australia’s new report, Improving Public Transport: Customer Focused Franchising. He also discusses the importance of long-term, integrated land use planning and the need for additional investment to make better use of existing infrastructure.

13 June 2017 | Speech

CEDA Trustee Dinner – Funding the infrastructure WA needs

Infrastructure Australia Chief Executive Philip Davies addressed a CEDA Trustee Dinner in Perth on 7 June 2017. His speech outlines Infrastructure Australia’s investment and reform priorities and explains how transitioning towards a user or beneficiary pays model could help fund Western Australian’s future infrastructure needs.

7 June 2017 | Speech

Roads Australia Summit 2017

Infrastructure Australia Chief Executive Philip Davies addressed the 2017 Roads Australia Summit in Sydney on 1 June 2017. His speech, Transport reform: the national opportunity in front of us, explains why in the context of constrained government budgets, declining revenue from fuel excise and technological change, road market reform is more important than ever.

1 June 2017 | Speech

IPA Reform Series – The case for reforming infrastructure service delivery

Infrastructure Australia Chief Executive Philip Davies addressed Infrastructure Partnerships Australia’s Fiscal, Funding and Services Reform event in Melbourne on 31 May 2017. His speech outlines the case for reforming infrastructure service delivery in Australia and summarises Infrastructure Australia’s proposal for Customer Focused Franchising, where the savings delivered through well-structured competition in public transport service delivery are reinvested back into the network.

Acknowledging that public transport is the responsibility of state and territory governments, he argues that there is an important role for the Federal Government to play in encouraging these governments to embark upon public transport reform under the Customer Focused Franchising model.

31 May 2017 | Speech

ITS National Electronic Tolling Forum 2017

In his address to the 2017 ITS National Electronic Tolling Forum, Infrastructure Australia Chief Executive Philip Davies discusses the transport reform priorities outlined in the 15-year Australian Infrastructure Plan. He discusses the benefits of moving to a fairer approach to road charging where the revenue raised from road users is put back into funding transport infrastructure, as well as the need to invest in data collection and analytics to make better use of existing infrastructure.

24 May 2017 | Speech

CEDA NSW Transport Infrastructure Series 2017

Infrastructure Australia Chief Executive Philip Davies addressed the CEDA Transport Infrastructure Series 2017 luncheon in Sydney on 24 March 2017. His speech outlines why we must diversify the pool of funding available for infrastructure investment in Australia and highlights the benefits of transitioning towards a user or beneficiary pays model to fund the infrastructure we need.

24 March 2017 | Speech

Australian Logistics Council Forum 2017

Infrastructure Australia Chief Executive Philip Davies addressed the Australian Logistics Council Forum 2017 in Melbourne on 8 March 2017.

His speech outlines some of the challenges facing Australia’s freight and supply chain infrastructure, and makes the case for a National Freight and Supply Chain Strategy to guide infrastructure investment and reform.

A key recommendation in the Australian Infrastructure Plan, he argues that a National Freight and Supply Chain Strategy is needed to support growth in the urban freight task, and better equip our freight and supply chain networks to respond to a range of different scenarios that may impact future demand.

8 March 2017 | Speech

Australia-Canada Infrastructure Symposium

Infrastructure Australia Chief Executive Philip Davies addressed the Australia-Canada Infrastructure Symposium in Sydney on 20 February 2017.

In this speech, he discusses the role Infrastructure Australia plays in supporting the development of evidence-based infrastructure proposals and in implementing a culture of long-term, integrated land use planning. He also talks about the importance of achieving consensus with Australia’s three levels of government on investment priorities and opportunities for reform, and highlights some of the major projects currently on the Infrastructure Priority List.

20 February 2017 | Speech

Australian Engineering Conference 2016

This speech was delivered by Infrastructure Australia Chief Executive Philip Davies at the Australian Engineering Conference in Brisbane on Friday 25 November 2016.

He discusses the key recommendations in the 15-year Australian Infrastructure Plan, and the important role the engineering profession has to play in driving infrastructure reform. 

25 November 2016 | Speech

Australian Airports Association National Conference

This speech was delivered by Infrastructure Australia Chief Executive Philip Davies at the Australian Airports Association National Conference in Canberra on Tuesday 22 November 2016.

He discusses the landmark 15-year Australian Infrastructure Plan, and the investments and reforms it recommends to deliver efficient, effective infrastructure to support Australia’s growing cities and regions.

22 November 2016 | Speech

Bus Industry Confederation Annual National Conference

This speech was delivered by Anna Chau, Executive Director of Project Advisory, at the Bus Industry Confederation Annual National Conference in Perth on Monday 7 November 2016.

The speech outlines some of the key recommendations in the Australian Infrastructure Plan. In particular, how we can achieve better planning, better decision-making and better value services for users and tax payers – and what this means for the bus industry.

7 November 2016 | Speech

Public Infrastructure Summit

This speech was delivered by Infrastructure Australia Executive Director, Policy and Research Adrian Dwyer at the Public Infrastructure Summit in Sydney on Wednesday 26 October 2016.

26 October 2016 | Speech

Ports Australia Centennial Conference

This speech was delivered by Infrastructure Australia Chief Executive Philip Davies at the Ports Australia Centennial Conference in Melbourne on Thursday 20 October 2016.

Outlining some of the key recommendations in the 15-year Australian Infrastructure Plan, he explains the importance of long-term, strategic infrastructure planning to meet the increasing demand for Australia's ports.

He also discusses Infrastructure Australia's proposal for a National Freight and Supply Chain Strategy, and explains why we need a fairer and more sustainable system of funding the landside infrastructure that our ports rely on.

20 October 2016 | Speech

Speech: IAQ Queensland Infrastructure Summit

This speech was delivered by Infrastructure Australia Chief Executive Philip Davies at the Queensland Infrastructure Summit in Brisbane on 15 September 2016.

He explains why Australia’s current system of paying for roads is unfair, inefficient and unsustainable, and the need for a public inquiry to chart a pathway towards road reform.

15 September 2016 | Speech

Speech: TTF Australian Transport Summit 2016

This speech was delivered by CEO Philip Davies at the 2016 Tourism and Transport Forum's Australian Transport Summit in Sydney

26 August 2016 | Speech

Speech: Infrastructure Association of Queensland

This speech was delivered by CEO Philip Davies at an Infrastructure Association of Queensland event in Brisbane.

He discusses opportunities to reform the planning, funding and delivery of Queensland’s infrastructure to meet the challenges of the future.

27 July | Speech

Speech: National Infrastructure Summit 2016

This speech was given by Chairman Mark Birrell at the Australian Financial Review National Infrastructure Summit.

15 June 2016 | Speech

Speech: ASPAC CEO conference

This speech was given by CEO Philip Davies at the 2016 ASPAC CEO Conference.

28 April 2016 | Speech

Speech: The 15-year Australian Infrastructure Plan

This speech was delivered by CEO Philip Davies at the Royal Automobile Club of WA stakeholder briefing.

18 April 2016 | Speech

Speech: A National Agenda for Infrastructure—the projects and policies Australian needs

This speech was given by Chairman Mark Birrell at the Committee for Economic Development of Australia (CEDA's) Annual Economic and Political Overview event in Sydney on 8 March 2016.

08 March 2016 | Speech

Speech: Australian Logistics Council Forum 2016—Future Logistics Infrastructure

This speech was given by CEO Philip Davies at the Australian Logistics Council Forum 2016 on 8 March 2016.

08 March 2016 | Speech

Chairman Mark Birrell addresses AusRail 2015 Conference

This speech was given by Chairman Mark Birrell at the AusRail 2015 Conference and Exhibition on 24 November 2015. The Chairman addressed the issue of establishing an infrastructure pipeline for the future growth of Australian rail.

IA's Australian Infrastructure Audit showed how the demands of growth will have a profound effect on Australia's productivity and liveability. Mark outlined IA's proposed reform and investment response to these issues, to be contained in the 15 year Australian Infrastructure Plan.

24 November 2015 | Speech

Speech: Parliamentary Friends for better cities, Infrastructure for our cities: The challenges ahead by Philip Davies CEO, Infrastructure Australia

This speech was given by CEO, Philip Davies, at the Parliamentary Friendship Group for Better Cities. He discusses the future challenges for infrastructure in Australia's cities.

10 November 2015 | Speech

Speech: ANZSOG Infrastructure Research Workshop—How to deliver better infrastructure planning—Philip Davies, CEO, Infrastructure Australia

This speech was given by CEO, Philip Davies at the ANZSOG Infrastructure Research Workshop. He discusses the results of the Australian Infrastructure Audit and the importance of getting back to long term planning.

17 September 2015 | Speech

CEO Philip Davies Australian Infrastructure Audit briefing session

IA CEO Philip Davies has provided briefings on the Audit in each capital city across Australia at events run by various stakeholder partners between 22 June and 20 July. In the presentations, he discussed the results of the Audit at a national and sectoral level and discussed the approach for the 15-year Australian Infrastructure Plan.

22 June 2015–20 July | Speech

Chairman Mark Birrell AFR National Infrastructure Summit speech

This speech was given by Chairman Mark Birrell at the Australian Financial Review National Infrastructure Summit on 11 June 2015. He calls for Australia to lift its global ranking for infrastructure by engaging with ten key reform challenges.

11 June 2015 | Speech

ABARES Outlook 2014 Conference

This presentation for the ABARES Outlook 2014 Conference, given by Rory Brennan, Acting Infrastructure Coordinator of Infrastructure Australia, covers a range of topics to do with the rural road/freight network, focusing on the Bingara roads pilot.

04 March 2014 | Presentation

The Bingara Accord: Australia's Rural Road System — Speech by Mr Michael Deegan

This speech was given by the National Infrastructure Coordinator of Infrastructure Australia, Mr Michael Deegan, at Bingara in New South Wales at the launch of the National Road Asset Reporting Pilot and the signing of the Bingara Accord — an agreement between the Gwydir Shire Council and Infrastructure Australia to improve regional roads.

26 January 2014 | Speech

RDA Infrastructure Summit, South Australia

This presentation to the RDA Infrastructure Summit, given by Michael Deegan, National Infrastructure Coordinator of Infrastructure Australia, outlines Australia's first national infrastructure plan, highlighting the importance of connected global cities, outwardly focused national port and freight networks, adaptable and sustainable water supply, advancing the national energy market, productive and connected regions, and essential Indigenous infrastructure.

23 July 2013 | Presentation

CEDA State of the Nation Conference

This presentation was given by Michael Deegan, National Infrastructure Coordinator, IA. It provides a high-level overview of IA's progress on infrastructure problem-solving, policy development, project assessment and project prioritisation, and argues for a different approach to infrastructure financing and delivery.

25 June 2013 | Speech

Speech by Catharina Elmsäter-Svärd the Minister for Infrastructure, Sweden given at the Towards Zero Conference

This speech by the Swedish Minister for Infrastructure discusses how best to promote a culture of safer roads and railways, focusing on Sweden's Vision Zero approach to traffic safety reform.

04 June 2013 | Speech

Developing Australia's Infrastructure Lessons and Opportunities

This short video presentation on the IA website highlights the importance and challenges of developing infrastructure to enable Australia's economic potential to be realised.

01 January 2013 | Presentation

CEDA, Transport funding and financing — addressing the infrastructure deficit

This presentation, given by Paul Roe, Director Financing and Funding Policy of Infrastructure Australia, outlines the factors involved in Australia's infrastructure deficit. It discusses Infrastructure Australia's national infrastructure audit and its Reform and Investment Framework.

13 November 2012 | Presentation

Road Safety and Productivity

This presentation was given by Michael Deegan, National Infrastructure Coordinator, IA, to the Royal Automobile Club. Addressing the lack of progress on road safety improvements, it proposes a new approach involving the creation of a national road portfolio manager.

23 July 2012 | Speech

CEDA Transport Series 2 — Australia to the world: growing national port infrastructure

This presentation was given by Michael Deegan, National Infrastructure Coordinator, IA. Noting IA's identification of ports as a top priority for scrutiny and action, it discussed the national ports strategy launched in 2010 and IA's recent review of ports balance sheet capacity.

22 June 2012 | Speech

Roads Australia AGM

This presentation was given by Michael Deegan, National Infrastructure Coordinator, IA. It identified major problems with Australia's road system and outlined achievable reforms in the areas of funding; pricing and charging; asset management; grant funding; minimum safety standards; remote and Indigenous Australia; and road productivity.

03 November 2011 | Presentation

Australian Food and Grocery Council

This presentation to the Food and Grocery Council Industry Leaders Forum by Michael Deegan, National Infrastructure Coordinator of Infrastructure Australia, discusses the government's National Ports Policy and the National Land Freight Strategy. Mr Deegan outlines the reasons for having national policies for ports and freight and presents an indicative programme list of projects under the national policies.

02 November 2011 | Presentation

Ms Sara Stace, Major Cities Unit — Active Travel: Transforming Australia's Cities

This presentation to the 2011 Bike Futures Conference by Sara Stace of the Department of Transport and Infrastructure discusses the benefits for Australia's cities of encouraging residents to choose active travel (walking or riding) rather than cars.

13 October 2011 | Presentation

Pacific Highway Taskforce Port Macquarie

This presentation to the Pacific Highway Taskforce by Michael Deegan, National Infrastructure Coordinator of Infrastructure Australia, discusses the Pacific Highway Upgrade and whether tolling is required on the road.

25 August 2011 | Presentation

The role of public transport in transforming our cities, AusRail 2010

This presentation to Ausrail by Michael Deegan of Infrastructure Australia discusses the role of public transport in transforming Australia's cities.

23 November 2010 | Speech

Modern Farmers 2010 National Congress

This presentation to the National Farmers Federation Modern Farmers 2010 National Congress by Mr Michael Deegan of Infrastructure Australia discusses major themes for action in Australia's infrastructure development, covering key areas of national broadband, the energy market, international gateways, freight, water, cities and Indigenous services.

07 September 2010 | Speech

Engineers Australia Harricks Address

This speech to Engineers Australia by Michael Deegan, Infrastructure Coordinator of Infrastructure Australia (the Harricks Address) examines sustainability in infrastructure planning in Australia and Infrastructure Australia's approach to assessing infrastructure projects. It also outlines Infrastructure Australia's work on national policies in key theme areas of ports, roads, rail, water, energy, cities and broadband.

02 August 2010 | Speech

CEDA — InfraStructuring Australia

This presentation to the Committee for Economic Development by Michael Deegan of Infrastructure Australia discusses major themes for action in Australia's infrastructure development covering key areas of national broadband, the energy market, international gateways, freight, water, cities and Indigenous services.

20 July 2010 | Speech

OECD Mission

This presentation to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development by Michael Deegan of Infrastructure Australia discusses current work on a national ports policy, national freight policy and regional and urban water policy as well as reforms to the communication sector. He flags the need to use existing infrastructure more efficiently and promoting efficient infrastructure investment decisions through better regulation.

29 June 2010 | Speech

An overview of Australia's infrastructure challenges, a way ahead

This presentation to the Infrastructure Association of Queensland by Michael Deegan of Infrastructure Australia gives an overview of challenges in the development of Australia's infrastructure and possible solutions to those issues.

23 June 2010 | Speech

National ports policy

This presentation to the International Project Finance Association by Michael Deegan of Infrastructure Australia outlines the government's National Ports Policy. He discusses the reasons for having a National Ports Policy, sets out the issues that need to be addressed in ports management and gives options available to address those issues. He then outlines some issues for further consideration and priorities for a national ports strategy.

23 June 2010 | Speech

Putting Sydney on the right track

This presentation by Michael Deegan of Infrastructure Australia discusses the seven themes that Infrastructure Australia's strategy is built on: the national broadband network, the energy market, international gateways, freight, water, cities and Indigenous services.

08 June 2010 | Presentation

GAMUT — 2010 International Conference Sustainable Transport

This speech to the GAMUT International Conference by Michael Deegan, Infrastructure Coordinator at Infrastructure Australia, discusses the role of the Infrastructure Coordinator and the importance of infrastructure development for productivity, especially in supporting the Asian markets. It covers sustainable transport initiatives in other parts of the world.

03 June 2010 | Speech

Our Cities, Our Future

This presentation by Michael Deegan of Infrastructure Australia discusses the future of Australian cities in terms of population, economic activity, economic growth and as access points to the global economy.

27 May 2010 | Presentation

National infrastructure reform

This presentation by Michael Deegan of Infrastructure Australia discusses national infrastructure reform and Infrastructure Australia's role in developing national top-down reform in the areas of ports, freight and urban policy and rail.

26 November 2009 | Presentation

Moorebank: future development vision

This presentation by Michael Deegan of Infrastructure Australia addresses the future development vision for Moorebank intermodal terminal in Sydney, New South Wales. He discusses the reasons that Moorebank was chosen for this development, its stakeholders in the development, the benefits it offers, timing issues and options for moving forward.

24 November 2009 | Presentation

AusRail PLUS

This presentation to Ausrail Plus 2009 by Michael Deegan of Infrastructure Australia discusses efforts to develop a national rail strategy, issues with the current system and a vision for the future of rail.

17 November 2009 | Presentation

Leading for the future

This presentation to the Melbourne Institute 2009 Economic and Social Outlook Conference by Michael Deegan of Infrastructure Australia discusses the role of Infrastructure Australia and the challenges facing major infrastructure in Australia.

06 November 2009 | Presentation

The future of Policy — How to run a country from the city

This presentation to the Property Council Congress 2009 by Michael Deegan, Infrastructure Coordinator of Infrastructure Australia, discusses the role of cities in our economy and Infrastructure Australia's vision for a National Urban Policy.

15 September 2009 | Presentation

Infrastructure and freight: How infrastructure can deliver

This presentation for Freight Week 2009 by Michael Deegan of Infrastructure Australia discusses issues facing freight infrastructure in Australia. He also outlines Infrastructure Australia's work on a national ports strategy and national freight network strategy.

15 September 2009 | Presentation