Infrastructure

Australia’s current approach to road spending will soon generate up to $20 billion every year in new public sector debt – making it impossible for any new Commonwealth government to benefit from much-needed tax reform and revenue increases.  This also cooks the goose of the road freight sector which Australia’s economy relies upon, while the

Botched State road projects, toll road fee hikes and congestion grab big headlines and make good sport for critics of State governments.  Canberra escapes criticism by arguing it allocates funds to States, who execute poorly. Yet Canberra deserves particular opprobrium in all things roads.  It is crying out for reform. Most of all it needs

A recent report on freight and supply chains leads Governments astray. This is the last of three articles seeking to put them back on course. My previous freight articles considered: the proposal to expand bureaucracies in order for freight to be taken more seriously https://johnmenadue.com/john-austen-australian-freight-policy-where-is-my-chainsaw-part-1-of-2/; what freight policy should be about – the public interest;

A recent report on freight and supply chains leads governments astray.  This the first of two articles challenging its view that more bureaucracy and data is needed to deal with a supposedly ubiquitous task.  Recently I promised to comment on the freight and supply chains review report – a subject of a post by Luke

Infrastructure Australia should be made a Commission and do its work in public.  Earlier this year there was controversy about infrastructure club ‘revolving doors’ – movement of Ministers and officials between the public sector and organisations whose members can benefit from Government spending. https://johnmenadue.com/george-rennie-the-revolving-door-at-the-infrastructure-club/ John Menadue also identified senior public servants sitting on the (advisory)

One of the things that makes basketball so dynamic is the ‘shot clock’:  once a team takes possession, they have 24 seconds to make a realistic shot – otherwise they turn the ball over to the opponents.  This speeds up … Continue reading →