22 May 2015 CCI welcomes Australian Infrastructure Audit Report Statement from CCI Chief Executive Officer Deidre Willmott CCI has welcomed Infrastructure Australia’s Australian Infrastructure Audit Report, which echoes its concerns about the gap between infrastructure and population growth in Western Australia. The report found WA’s economy and population are projected to grow at a higher rate than any other state or territory in the next 20 years, with the population set to reach 3.97 million by 2031. CCI Chief Executive Deidre Willmott said the report concurred with CCI’s recent Future of Infrastructure paper and she called on the State Government to look for solutions within the private sector. “With the State Government having announced a $2.7billion budget deficit for 2015-16, we cannot rely on Government to continue funding infrastructure into the future,” Ms Willmott said. “We need to find alternative ways to fund our infrastructure needs such as engaging the private sector in financing, designing, building, operating and maintaining infrastructure and introducing user payers where appropriate. “We congratulate the State Government for progressing with the sale of the Fremantle Port and strongly urge this approach be adopted with other major strategic assets.” Contact: Byron Vale – 0468 988 911 Chamber of Commerce and Industry Western Australia 180 Hay Street, East Perth, Western Australia 6004 | P: (08) 9365 7555 | F: (08) 9365 7550 | E: [email protected]