Australia's future prosperity will be underpinned by productivity growth that comes from greater investment in infrastructure and innovation.
That is why the Australian Government is committed to:
- A high-speed National Broadband Network that will deliver fast broadband to all Australians.
- First-rate transport networks, investing $35.8 billion to build metro rail networks, extend the freight rail network, upgrade the national road network, and develop our port facilities
- A world-class national innovation system, increasing the total research and innovation budget to $8.6 billion in 2009-10, which is 25 per cent more than last year.
These investments will transform the Australian economy so that it is more productive and achieves more sustainable growth – creating more jobs and raising living standards for working families.
Australia's future prosperity will be underpinned by productivity growth that comes from greater investment in infrastructure and innovation.
Despite the importance of infrastructure and innovation investment to our future wellbeing, the Liberals wasted a decade of opportunity.
Labor is committed to building a modern economy that generates the high-skilled, high-paying jobs of the future - an innovative economy that builds on Australia’s strengths and successfully competes in global markets.
Labor believes the national government has a responsibility to provide leadership in the planning and delivery of national infrastructure, including transport, water and communications networks. Building world-class infrastructure directly creates jobs during the construction phase, provides employment in ongoing management of infrastructure assets and services, and creates jobs in the broader economy by unblocking bottlenecks in the supply of goods and services.
Labor will support and foster innovation and creativity across the whole Australian economy. Investing in innovation and skills is critical to generating the jobs and businesses of the future. Labor will use strategic public and private investment in innovation to grow new industries and transform existing ones. Labor's goal is to lift Australian business expenditure on research and development.
Key Policy Points
The key points of the Australian Government’s policy include:
- Establishing a national infrastructure advisory council to audit the nation’s infrastructure needs and develop a national infrastructure priority list.
- Delivering an optical-fibre National Broadband Network.
- Revitalising our innovation system – from the laboratory to the factory floor.
- Re-energising our manufacturing sector – because we must be a country that makes things
Some Key Achievements
- We’ve established Infrastructure Australia, which has produced its first national infrastructure audit (December 2008) and infrastructure priority list (May 2009)
- We’ve committed $35.8 billion to transport infrastructure to build metro rail networks, extend the freight rail network, upgrade the national road network, and develop our port facilities
- We’ve has established NBN Co to build and operate the National Broadband Network that will provide fibre to the premises (FTTP) connections capable of delivering broadband speeds of 100 Mbps or more to 90 per cent of Australian homes and businesses. Using next generation wireless and satellite services, the NBN will also deliver speeds of 12 Mbps or more to the remaining 10 per cent of premises
- We’ve commenced the first stage of the National Broadband Network rollout in Tasmania and announced the priority locations for early delivery of services.
- We’ve committed $60 million to the Digital Regions Initiative to co-fund innovative digital enablement projects with state, territory and local governments in order to improve the delivery of education, health and/or emergency services in regional, rural and remote communities.
- We’ve increased the total research and innovation budget to $8.6 billion in 2009-10 – a 25 per cent increase on 2008 09. This is the biggest increase – and the biggest commitment – since records began. It will boost Australia’s ability to generate new ideas and turn them into new jobs and new industries.
- We’ve established a nationwide Enterprise Connect network of manufacturing and innovation centres, which have already helped 2,000 Australian SMEs become more productive and competitive.
- We’ve launched a $6.2 billion New Car Plan for a Greener Future that is already transforming the automotive industry. With Green Car Innovation Fund support, Toyota will make the hybrid Camry, Holden will make a new small car and Ford will introduce its EcoBoost technology to the Falcon.
