Restoring confidence and continuity in Australia’s infrastructure sector

The confidence of businesses designing and delivering Australia’s infrastructure depends on our ability to see what’s on the horizon.

But three quarters of the respondents to Consult Australia’s 2024 membership survey are operating in a higher risk environment that is harder to predict than just 12 months ago.

Consult Australia members tell us the most unpredictable aspects of running their businesses are the creeping or sudden uncertainties in the pipeline of projects, ‘death by a thousand cuts’ through increasing regulation and red tape, unaffordable insurance and unfair contracts. Some of these uncertainties are outside of our control; but many of these issues sit well within our governments’ sphere of influence.

In 12 months, we’ve witnessed a shift from most businesses saying they had “too much work” to most saying they have capacity; and 77% of respondents across almost all sectors expect to have capacity within the next 12 months.

Having some capacity gives businesses the breathing room to bid on new work; but this can become a concern when the continuity of work is not assured. Pipeline changes mean that almost half (46%) of consulting businesses have made resource cuts.

Consult Australia’s team continues to champion greater infrastructure pipeline transparency and certainty in every roundtable, forum and committee meeting we host. It’s a message that we carry throughout the halls of power in every meeting with ministers and policymakers. We know restoring confidence and continuity in Australia’s infrastructure sector requires a concerted effort from us all. With fairer contract practices, fewer regulatory burdens and greater pipeline certainty, we can look to the future together.