Roads versus railways

This will mean that, in capital cities, we need trains or buses running every five minutes from every station at low fares so there is no reason for anyone ever to get their car out.

Equally important is the need for fast intercity rail services that are competitive with airlines in time and cost. This must include improved train services connecting regional cities, which will be paid for in the long-term by movement of population to those growing cities for reason of ease of access to them both in cost and speed.

While the world has moved over to rail with alacrity, Australia has lagged behind. We have not accepted that a nation that perpetuates parochialism and is based on cars and trucks is a cost heavy, uncompetitive country that cannot be described as quality civilisation.

It’s time for a courageous leader to step forward and bite the bullet with vision and skill.

When he or she does emerge, we must hope that the investment in rail will be accompanied by a similar emphasis on the science and innovation of logistics. The way that we currently handle freight is a huge cost and time burden on the nation as is shown by the absence of freight hubs and corridors. We have managers and workers with logistical skills but they are not backed by adequate investment.

There has to be a better way to move people and freight around our continent. Invest in it now.