Following the Australian Labor Party's (ALP) narrow re-election in the August 2010 Federal election, the ALP will need the support of every member of the alliance (including two rural-based independents and Victorian Greens MP, Adam Bandt) to pass legislation through the lower House. In the upper House, the Greens will soon hold the balance of power. In these circumstances the policies advocated by the Greens will be of particular interest with respect to matters relating to infrastructure and transport.

The Greens Party has identified a number of specific principles, goals and measures with respect to sustainable planning and transport including that:

  • They believe that Australia's transport system must function on principles of ecological sustainability, equity of access, and public ownership of critical public transport infrastructure.
  • They believe that transport planning must give high priority to environmental and social impacts.
  • They believe that a high quality national rail network is essential to a modern economy.
  • They want a transport system, including roads, railways, airways and sealanes, that is safe, environmentally sound, efficient and reliable.
  • They will include ecological sustainability as a funding criterion for all Federal development and infrastructure programmes.
  • They will raise the rail network to a standard which enables the operation of fast freight and passenger trains, including between mainland capital cities.

It is in this context that the debate regarding the development of a high-speed rail link from Brisbane to Melbourne has been reignited, with the ALP announcing during its campaign that it would allocate $20 million to a high-level feasibility study for the development.

A study has recently been completed by AECOM (which specialises in planning, designing and advising regarding infrastructure systems internationally) in conjunction with Infrastructure Partnerships Australia (an infrastructure lobby group) which recommends the preservation of infrastructure corridors through the Australian eastern seaboard. This will facilitate the development of a long term infrastructure planning approach to ensure the debated rail link remains a viable option.

High speed rail lines are already in operation throughout Europe, the US and Asia, with significant further development proposed in China.

High speed rail would compete with air travel between Melbourne and Sydney, which is presently the world's third busiest air corridor.

The Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Anthony Albanese, is currently conducting a study in conjunction with the New South Wales Government regarding the need for a second airport for Sydney and has recently indicated that high-speed rail will not solve all the issues in terms of access to Sydney.

In addition, the ALP also announced during campaigning that if re-elected it would:

  • introduce a tax for Australian companies based upon ship tonnage as opposed to profit (in line with tax systems in nations including the US, the UK, France and Germany); and
  • introduce a proposal for an international ships register which would enable the registration of Australian ships with foreign shareholdings in order to facilitate Australia's participation in international shipping.

The Greens and the ALP recently signed an agreement to ensure stability of the ALP in Government under which the Greens will ensure supply and oppose any motion of no confidence in the Government from other parties or MPs. The ALP also agrees to promote the national interest and address climate change. This agreement will necessitate a high degree of cooperation between the parties, particularly with respect to the significant proposals regarding trade, transport and infrastructure.

With the increased influence of the Greens over the policy agenda, the likely outcome will be an increased emphasis on rail rather than roads as a solution for transport issues in the long term and possibly less encouragement of aviation expansion and the associated infrastructure.

© DLA Phillips Fox

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This publication is intended as a first point of reference and should not be relied on as a substitute for professional advice. Specialist legal advice should always be sought in relation to any particular circumstances.