If there is no change in the way infrastructure is conceived and delivered in Australia, there's no reason to expect any different outcome in future. Australians can expect a steady stream of cost overruns, especially on larger projects and projects that are announced before a formal commitment.
A better approach is entirely achievable, with three strategies. First, megaprojects should be the last, not the first resort. Second, the tools for estimating costs could be much better, as they are in many countries. And third, learning the lessons from completed projects would enable successful strategies to be repeated and less successful ones avoided. The following sections explain.