Key messages

•  The earliest stage of each project is the optimal point to ensure the best solution is identified and the right infrastructure is built.

•  Thorough and robust due diligence processes are effective tools for minimising or removing risks. They should occur before major commercial contracts are awarded and are the key to successful infrastructure delivery.

•  Australia's governments have an important role to play in advocating for and driving best practice in due diligence through Front-End Engineering and Design (FEED) and a 'go slow to go fast' mentality.

•  Governments should collaboratively partner with industry to mitigate risks when defining and delivering infrastructure.

•  Consistently using standard form contracts that support more collaborative behaviours and allocate risk to those able to manage it are immediate opportunities for reform.

•  Governments should seek out and address other industry pinch points, such as payment certainty, access to insurance, contract complexity and market deliverability.

•  Governments should see infrastructure design and delivery as both a long-term endeavour and one of continuous improvement. Areas of opportunity include embracing focused innovation, increasing transparency and improving long-term estimating.