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The 9th Henry Parkes Oration
Associate Professor Philip Laird
RAILWAYS IN AUSTRALIA
FEDERATION UNFULFILLED
Saturday 22 October 2011
School of Arts, Tenterfield NSW
Associate Professor Philip Laird is an Honorary Principal Fellow at the University of Wollongong and a graduate of Victoria University of Wellington, the Australian National University and the University of Calgary in Canada. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, a Companion of the Institution of Engineers Australia, and a Life Member of the Railway Technical Society of Australasia.
One hundred and twenty two years ago, Sir Henry Parkes as the Premier of New South Wales delivered a speech that gave real direction to Federation of the Australian colonies.
In this speech, Parkes had a clear vision of an Australian Federation that included an efficient rail system to increase both the nation’s defence capability and its prosperity.
If Sir Henry were to return today to Australia, he would be impressed with advances in railway engineering along with some world class operations. However, he would be greatly disappointed and quite angry at the substandard nature of rail in New South Wales. He would also demand to know why, 110 years after Federation, the nation’s railway gauges had not been standardised; and, why successive federal governments have failed to give Australia a fit for purpose rail system.
Download the full speech as a PDF.
This oration will be broadcast as part of ABC Radio National's Big Ideas program on Tuesday 14 February 2012 at 8pm (7pm in WA, Qld and NT). You will also be able to listen via podcast. Find out more.