“The report further highlights that growing congestion is impacting productivity and liveability,” AAA Chief Executive Michael Bradley said. 

“It also clearly shows how and why increasing consumer demand for new infrastructure, and decreasing capacity of governments to fund it, means a new approach is needed,” he said. 

“The telecommunication and energy sectors have changed in recent years to boost efficiency and allow consumers greater choice. Allowing access to similar arrangements that let people pay for what they use in the transport sector should now be considered and encouraged,” Mr Bradley said. 

Infrastructure Australia’s report audits Australia’s infrastructure and congestion problems and states: 

“In 2011, the cost of delays on roads in the six largest capital cities was $13.7 billion. This figure is projected to grow by around 290% to $53.3 billion in 2031, in the absence of appropriate strategies, including integrated land use and transport planning, new road construction, additional public transport investment and the introduction of demand management measures”. 

“This is further evidence that congestion has huge economic and social consequences for the people living in Australian cities and cannot be allowed to become a central part of the Australian story,” Mr Bradley said. 

Federal Budget Papers show revenue raised through fuel excise in 2015-16 will increase to $15.2 billion and expenditure on land transport in that period will be $7 billion. 

“The AAA strongly welcomes the Infrastructure Australia report and supports a system that provides a transparent link between taxes motorists pay and transport planning and expenditure.”