24/03/2023
Thank you, Uncle Shane, for that heartfelt Welcome to Country and can I thank you also for everything that you do in support of reconciliation. I know as an Aboriginal man, that's not always an easy task, even in your own community. Thank you very much and thank you for joining us today.
As I've said, I'm Melinda Cilento, the CEO of CEDA, and it's great to have so many of you in the room with us here today. As we contemplate the future of infrastructure in this country over the course of the day, I think it's important to begin by reflecting upon the land on which our built infrastructure stands and, in that spirit, acknowledge and pay respects to elders past and present; acknowledge the traditional owners of this land, the Wurundjeri people; and pay respects. I'd like to also call out emerging leaders and elders and the responsibility that they will carry in the future as they take the next generation of reconciliation forward, hopefully on the back of a Voice to Parliament. Uncle Shane has made his views known, and I look forward to that conversation in this country in the months ahead.
Can I also thank our sponsors for this conference today, Australian Unity and PwC. Both of these organisations are valued members of CEDA. They and their people support our work in many ways, including through their sponsorship of events such as this, but also in their support for our broader program of work. To say that it is greatly appreciated is a great understatement.
Today is the second of CEDA’s annual infrastructure conferences. Our aim is to make them an important feature of our annual program of work. This year, the focus is on how infrastructure can deliver both economic as well as social value. This is particularly relevant as the sector in Australia is facing critical challenges driven by the transition to net-zero, population growth and demographic change, and the adoption of new and emerging technologies.
It comes as Australia, like many other countries, grapples with constraints on our ability to deliver an ambitious infrastructure agenda consistent with the needs and expectations of the community. These problems have been exacerbated by supply chain challenges and escalating materials costs, which are contributing to infrastructure projects running over time and over budget.
Managing these challenges requires us to take an ambitious and long-term approach to infrastructure and its critical role in our future. How well we navigate the energy transition, demographic trends, and the opportunities presented by new technologies will frame and be framed by our approach to infrastructure planning, design, investment and operation. What is clear is the need for business and government to work well together with the aim of developing long-term national plans for our future infrastructure – infrastructure that helps us as a country to meet our emissions goals, to incorporate technological opportunities, and to address the needs of our communities.
Today we'll hear about the Federal government's infrastructure priorities. We'll have a chance to hear from the Victorian Government about their infrastructure agenda. You'll also hear from and engage with fantastic panels of experts on the challenges facing the sector. The team and our sponsors have pulled together a great line-up today, and we've got a heap ahead of us. I have to say, it is a packed agenda.
To get us started, I would like to introduce the Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development, the Hon. Catherine King, who's going to provide a keynote address, after which she's going to be joined on stage by Senior Chairman Diane Smith-Gander. And thank you for being with us, Diane, for a conversation and Q&A.
You'll hear a bit more from me over the course of the day, but for now, please welcome the Minister.