Dear colleagues,

I am pleased to announce the release of Infrastructure Australia’s new Infrastructure Priority List—a strategic blueprint identifying 68 of Australia’s highest priority infrastructure proposals for investment now and over the next decade.

This release marks a significantly important milestone for Infrastructure Australia.

As many know, we have gone through a period of evolution following legislative changes made to our agency in 2023. Among the changes—which all sought to strengthen our mandate as the Australian Government’s independent expert infrastructure adviser—was a need to reform our Infrastructure Priority List.

The Australian Government has been clear in its expectations for this new list—a targeted, evidence-based list of infrastructure proposals where Australian Government investment can materially advance national productivity, liveability and sustainability. After two years of rigorous analysis, evaluation and consultation, I am confident we have delivered exactly that.

Releasing our new Infrastructure Priority List comes at an incredibly important time for Australia’s infrastructure journey. We are at a point where, after more than a decade of unprecedented investment into major infrastructure projects, we must think more strategically and carefully about what we invest in and when. We do not have the means to invest in everything, everywhere and all at once and this is the underscoring reason our Infrastructure Priority List exists.

Our new list identifies 68 infrastructure proposals that should be considered for planning or delivery investment now, as well as those that should be targeted for investment over the next ten years.

It is important to highlight the list is not a wish list or catalogue of aspirations. It is a targeted, disciplined tool that narrows the field of potential investments, brings clarity on what should be sequenced over the next ten years, and clearly identifies what national objectives can be achieved through investment.

We have designed this list to be responsive to Australia’s emerging challenges and opportunities. Australia’s population is projected to exceed 31 million within the next decade, with growth concentrated in capital cities and key regional centres. This will place increasing pressure on housing supply, transport networks, water systems and energy infrastructure. Global trade patterns are shifting, the clean energy transition is accelerating, and digital technologies are changing our economy. Climate change further intensifies these pressures, with more frequent and severe weather events already disrupting transport, water and energy systems. Resilience is no longer optional—it is a core requirement of nationally significant infrastructure.

In developing the Infrastructure Priority List, we have considered these challenges and opportunities and identified five key priority areas for investment to meet the nation’s critical needs and aspirations now and into the future.
These priority areas include: 

• High Productivity Freight Networks - addressing the performance of the systems that move goods across Australia, strengthening supply chains, supporting regional economies and improving export competitiveness while lifting productivity and reducing emissions.
• Ports Capacity and Connectivity - focussing on Australia’s critical gateways to global markets, addressing capacity constraints and connectivity gaps that could otherwise limit trade growth, defence capability, the energy transition and economic diversification.
• High Capacity Transport for Growing Cities responds to rapid urban growth and housing pressure, supporting housing supply, reducing congestion and improving access to jobs, education and services.
• Secure, Sustainable Water for Growth recognises water as a foundational enabler of communities, industry and regions, prioritising resilient, climate adapted systems that support population growth, economic development and environmental outcomes.
• Delivering Net Zero and a Clean Energy Economy targets the infrastructure required to decarbonise the economy—including generation, transmission, storage and enabling infrastructure—while positioning Australia to compete in a global clean energy market.

Each priority is designed to support the Australian Government to prioritise with confidence, sequence investment effectively, and work in partnership with states, territories and the private sector to deliver infrastructure that matters—now and over the long term.

As we launch the Infrastructure Priority List, I would like to extend my sincere thanks to our stakeholders across all levels of government and the private sector for their collaboration. Our working relationships are critical to Australia’s future and the strength of our nation’s infrastructure.

I would also like to thank everyone at Infrastructure Australia for their efforts and hard work in delivering this significant piece of work, which will inform the Australian Government’s decision-making for the next ten years and ultimately support the economic, environmental and social prosperity of our nation.

If you have any questions or would like to discuss the Infrastructure Priority List, please do not hesitate to reach out to our team at engagement@infrastructureaustralia.gov.au.

Adam Copp
Chief Executive
Infrastructure Australia