Why the federal government should stay in its lane on infrastructure funding - Podcast

Why the federal government should stay in its lane on infrastructure funding

by Marion Terrill, Natasha Bradshaw, Kat Clay

17.07.2023 Podcast
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The federal government has called a 90-day snap review of the Infrastructure Investment Program. The program was originally intended to fund projects of national significance, but has since ‘drifted away’ from those lofty ambitions.

But should the federal government be involved in infrastructure funding at all? Grattan Institute research has shown that federal funding of state and local infrastructure projects is often an exercise in pork-barrelling. After all, local road roundabouts and train-station carparks aren’t exactly the Sydney Opera House.

In this special Grattan Podcast, our transport and cities experts Marion Terrill and Natasha Bradshaw discuss with host Kat Clay how federal infrastructure money should be best used.

Marion Terrill
Transport and Cities Program Director
Marion is a leading transport and cities expert with a long history in public policy. She has worked on tax policy for the federal Treasury, and led the design and development of the MyGov account. She has provided expert analysis and advice on labour market policy for the Federal Government, the Business Council of Australia, and at the Australian National University.

Natasha Bradshaw
Associate
Natasha Bradshaw is an Associate in Grattan Institute’s Transport and Cities Program. She previously worked at the Australian Treasury, with a focus on structural issues in the labour market and barriers to women’s economic security.

Kat Clay
Head of Digital Communications
Kat Clay is the Head of Digital Communications at Grattan Institute. She has more than a decade of experience in digital content and creative services across the non-profit and government sectors.

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