Infrastructure experts say a sharp slowdown in population growth coupled with workplace changes started during coronavirus lockdowns may make some projects more worthy of consideration while making others less vital | swrighteconomy
Some of the nation's biggest planned infrastructure projects should be re-appraised as analysts warn billions of dollars are being sunk into works that may not still be warranted in the wake of the COVID-19 recession.
But analysts say there has to be scrutiny of those projects to make sure they will provide long-term productivity improvements and are necessary.The Grattan Institute's transport and cities program director, Marion Terrill, said two changes out of the coronavirus recession could affect the usage of planned infrastructure projects for years if not decades.
In its July economic and fiscal update, the federal government revealed it expected annual population growth to fall to 0.6 per cent this financial year. It would be the slowest growth rate since 1916-17 when many Australians were involved in World War I in Europe and the Middle East.
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