Review of Future Provision of Motorways in New South Wales: Some Comments

Abstract

The NSW Government Premiers Department Review of Future Provision of Motorways in NSW (www.premiers.nsw.gov.au) has many of the elements required to improve the procurement of motorways (and public infrastructure generally). However there is considerable mixing up of prescriptions for operational issues with broader policy mechanisms and how they should be governed. A delicious mixed metaphor comes to mind that could describe the Review as fire fighting by “naked Emperors”. Under the Terms of Reference there were a number of issues (bushfires) that had to be dealt with but some of the recommendations ignore fundamental tenets of transport public infrastructure economics (hence naked Emperors). This commentary aims to contribute to a framework that can accommodate the majority of the recommendations and provide a perspective from which the NSW Government can strengthen recent initiatives on public private sector participation in the governance, planning, finance and operation of transport infrastructure services in the State of NSW. Specific comments on detailed conclusions and recommendations in the Review are appended.