It’s the Monday after our industry’s ‘night of nights’ – a yearly marker that gives us a chance to pause, celebrate visionary leadership, and reflect on what we’ve achieved collectively before we roll up our sleeves for what comes next.
This month has been a big one. We’ve hosted Collab X, engaged with governments, unpacked political promises and deepened our conversations on digital transformation. Each of these shapes our outlook – and each is explored in this month’s Consulting Matters.
As we move closer towards a federal election, last week’s federal budget was a critical milestone. There’s some good news for infrastructure and industry. A $17.1 billion boost for road and rail projects is a welcome investment. The $2 billion expansion of the Clean Energy Finance Corporation will accelerate renewable energy projects. And with $330 billion committed through 2033–34 for the Integrated Investment Program, the Australian Defence Force transformation promises a steady pipeline of work.
Beyond the dollar signs the message is clear: infrastructure priorities are shifting.
Discussions at Collab X 2025, held in Canberra earlier this month, brought this shifting landscape into sharp focus. The scale of defence infrastructure spending in sheer numbers is unprecedented: 180 capital works projects worth around $41 billion are in progress, for instance.
As Celia Perkins, Deputy Secretary of Estate and Security with the Department of Defence pointed out, defence infrastructure spending has surged by around 200% over the past decade, but the internal workforce has shrunk by 11%. “This is our shared reality,” she said. “And as partners, we want to work on these challenges together.” A perspective we can all get behind.
Australia’s infrastructure pipeline sees each state face its own pressures and opportunities. In the past month alone we’ve seen several developments with consequences for our industry: the WA election, Queensland’s 100-day Olympic infrastructure review, questions about Victoria’s signature Suburban Rail Loop, and the evolving defence posture among them.
While some states are pushing ahead with their infrastructure agendas, others are scaling back. Restructuring and talent loss in Victoria and NSW contrasts with capacity constraints in the north.
Keeping sight of these shifts requires more than a national view. Real insight and targeted advocacy depend on understanding local nuances. That’s where Consult Australia plays a critical role – ensuring we have ‘eyes on the ground’ in every market to bring clarity to complexity and champion the opportunities ahead.
When it comes to leadership, vision is everything, which is why I want to shout out one standout winner from the Consult Australia Awards. Aurecon’s CEO, William Cox was presented with both the Consult Australia President’s Award and the Champions of Change – Diversity & Inclusion Award last Thursday.
Under Bill’s leadership, Aurecon has made major strides in gender equity, First Nations inclusion and cultural diversity. And his impact extends well beyond Aurecon – proof that clear-eyed vision, backed by action, can drive industry-wide change.