Aviation is infrastructure too

I have been reading plenty of infrastructure articles lately. This year federal and state governments have announced $250b in infrastructure projects. Governments don’t have all of the money needed and will rely on a fashionable concept, public private partnerships (PPPs). It is yet to be seen whether major private capital will be attracted. There are also transport infrastructure summits being held in most States and the NT throughout 2009 to thrash out more ideas on improving the nation’s transport needs and directions.

What is staggering is that aviation is not mentioned anywhere in the government documents, nor by commentators in their discussions about Australia’s future transport needs. Rail, road and seaports dominate all debate. It’s almost as if the need for aviation infrastructure development does not exist.