In this current environment of risk, change and uncertainty, there is an urgent need to rethink how Australian infrastructure is planned, delivered and operated.
The scale, pace and interconnectedness of the threats we face are more challenging than ever.
To counter the impact of global trends, shocks and stresses, along with a changing climate and extreme weather events, infrastructure must be resilient and adaptable.
This was clear even before the COVID-19 pandemic. Australia experienced a devastating range of natural disasters, including floods, drought, and one of the worst bushfire seasons on record.
These emergencies impacted the reliability of telecommunications, energy, water and transport services and underlined the need for more resilient networks to keep communities safe.
Another ongoing risk is that Australia's urban water supply is highly dependent on rainfall. With likely shifts in rainfall patterns due to a changing climate, there needs to be a move away from sources that are climate-dependent to those that are secure and reliable.
To ensure infrastructure plays its role in protecting lives, enabling business continuity and preserving the natural environment, this country needs to embrace new practices.
A nationally consistent, systemic approach to understanding and quantifying risk is required to ensure all Australian assets, networks, systems, communities and places are resilient.