35. Access to transport remains a critical social equity consideration, particularly for the outer suburbs of Australia's cities and most parts of regional Australia. These areas generally have an undersupply of transport services (especially public transport) and of local employment options.
36. Telecommunications have become a highly important part of people's lives, for social as well as economic reasons. The National Broadband Network (NBN) is expected to materially improve service levels and the ability of households in rural and remote regions to connect with their wider social networks.
37. Following completion of the NBN roll-out, governments will still need to consider what steps are required to provide appropriate and equitable services in rural and urban telecommunications services.
38. Dealing equitably with the affordability of infrastructure services is an important consideration, as a matter of social policy. Unless affordability concerns are addressed, the necessary shift to greater application of user charging will struggle to gain community and political support.
39. Households with incomes in the lowest 20 per cent are the most exposed to the monetary costs of inefficient economic infrastructure. Public policy settings need to assist Australians on low incomes to access the infrastructure services they need, in an equitable manner.