We need a federal champion for fast trains
- Ross Lowrey
- Mar 23
- 2 min read
We need a champion in federal parliament who can convince Australians that fast trains are fundamental infrastructure for the future of Australia
Two weeks ago, I suggested that we should market high speed rail as an economic policy for a better Australia. A colleague has pointed out that investment in faster trains is not just good policy, it is fundamental infrastructure for the future of Australia’s economy.
He pointed to the NBN as an example of a new technology that has become an essential platform for the Australian economy. The NBN has advanced productivity, innovation, and economic growth by providing businesses with the necessary infrastructure for digital transformation. In fact, Australia would have ground to a halt without the NBN during COVID.
But the NBN had no business case before being implemented. It was conceived to ensure that all Australians had access to high-speed internet. It was promoted as boosting digital inclusion and economic opportunities. And it was supported by the public because it was inclusive and just made good sense.
So how did it happen? In 2006, Telstra sought a $4.7 billion subsidy from the Howard Government to upgrade and rollout of its broadband network to all homes across Australia. While the Government rejected the proposal, it gave Stephen Conroy the idea that the Government should build the network. He later told people he wangled his way to sit next to Kevin Rudd, the then leader of the opposition, on a flight from Canberra to convince him of the merits of a government-owned NBN. As a result, the NBN became a key plank for the election of the Rudd Government in 2007. And the policy survived the election of the Abbott Government, although using existing cable instead of fibre to reduce its cost.
So what does this mean for high speed rail?
Just like the NBN, high speed rail connectivity will boost productivity, innovation, and economic growth by providing people with the necessary infrastructure for faster physical movement. It will open more places to live, reduce regional inequality, and increase the resilience of our air and road transport networks. It will be supported by the public because they have seen what high speed rail has done across Europe and Asia.
But the vision has to be made more inclusive. It can’t be just a high speed railway line from Brisbane to Melbourne. It has to be seen as a future network with faster trains to all regional cities in all states. Clearly the high speed line will be the cornerstone of the network. But it should be built in stages out from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. And lines to other regional cities should be upgraded to higher speed standards. These upgrades can include lines in South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania in the future.
And it needs a champion in the federal government. Someone who can spruik for high speed rail for what it is and what it can do for Australia. Someone who can make it so obvious that no analysis or business case will be required - just popular opinion. The rest of the world can do it so. So why can’t we?
