Failing to Act

IBISWorld

The future image painted by IBISWorld forecasts presents a challenging task for Australia.

The magnitude of growth across key corridors and across modes within those corridors will require a sustained substantive response from both the public and private sectors.

Under normal circumstances, a task of the magnitude of the 2050 freight challenge would be extremely challenging. However, given existing inefficiencies in the current use of freight infrastructure assets and insufficient historical investment, it becomes an even larger requirement.

The cost of getting the freight task wrong is immense. The impacts of investment in freight infrastructure, or a lack thereof, are seen across the entire Australian economy.The freight task affects every one of our lives. Everything we Buy, Sell and Consume.

The freight challenge is not simply a question of how much we pay for the goods we buy.It is also directly related to the capacity of Australian businesses to grow, and in turn to create sustainable employment.

Appropriate freight infrastructure investment also contributes to an efficient commuter transport environment. This provides people with more time to spend as they desire rather than in transit, with their families, at work, in education or simply enjoying leisure time.

There is a pressing need to understand the challenges ahead and to ensure appropriate measures are taken that allow the freight sector to address these challenges.

If this can be achieved, then the sector can play its part in helping the Australian economy to grow as well as achieving environmental and social goals.

Meeting the freight task should be seen as pivotal to achieving the broader goals of:

• Increasing the standard of living for all Australians;
• Generating better social outcomes and an enhanced quality of life; and
• Promoting environmental sustainability and reduced greenhouse emissions.