Roads Australia has urged the Federal Government to ensure construction sector productivity is a key focus of the Australian Government’s new economic agenda, following the announcement of a Productivity Roundtable to establish consensus around key opportunities for reform.
Welcoming Treasurer Jim Chalmers’ commitment to addressing flatlining productivity and recognition in his National Press Club address that the construction sector faces unique challenges, Roads Australia Chief Executive Ehssan Veiszadeh said: “Improving the delivery of transport infrastructure presents an immediate opportunity for government to boost living standards and economic growth.
“Australia must continue its focus on long-term planning and investment in our transport system to meet demand and maintain living standards as our cities and regions grow. However, with construction productivity in a steep 10-year decline, there is an urgent need to prioritise specific and practical reforms that would optimise infrastructure delivery to enable better value and better community outcomes,” said Mr Veiszadeh.
“The construction sector remains one of Australia’s largest economic contributors, employing 1.25 million people and contributing nearly 8% of GDP. A productivity boost would therefore deliver outsized national benefits, so we must not miss this opportunity to review the policy settings around infrastructure procurement, design and delivery.
“With work underway on a National Construction Strategy to improve productivity in the delivery of land transport infrastructure, it’s vital that this work and the perspective of industry be a central part of the Government’s productivity reform agenda.
“A more productive sector is in the national interest as it will drive greater value, reduce bottlenecks, and build the modern, efficient transport system Australians need,” Mr Veiszadeh said.
Roads Australia’s forthcoming Boosting Productivity report will outline recommendations to reduce time in procurement, design and delivery of major transport infrastructure projects without compromising on quality.
Roads Australia looks forward to sharing our ideas on boosting productivity with the Federal Government during the upcoming consultation process on productivity reform.
Media contact:
Elizabeth Kelleher-Cook