Sixty years ago the world was struggling to recover from two horrific end-on-end events. These were the Great Depression and the Second World War. Two things were needed desperately. First, the world needed co-ordinated action by governments to provide the bare necessities of life, especially housing and social security, then basic education and health services. Second, governments needed to assemble the infrastructure to underpin future growth and prosperity.
Delivering these things was never going to be easy. First, governments -- and we're talking about developed nations here -- needed to find the funds. Second, governments needed new departments and utilities to deliver the services and build the infrastructure.
It was a confronting agenda, but it got done. People and governments didn't have a lot of money; but housing, social security, education and health services were delivered and infrastructure was funded and built. The basic services and infrastructure that underpin Australian cities today can be traced largely to the efforts of Australian governments during those years.
Then, amazingly, from the mid-1980s onwards, governments thought it a good idea to flog off government enterprises and utilities without directing the substantial returns to new infrastructure provision.
In Australia the big sell by the feds included Qantas, the Commonwealth Bank and Telstra. At state levels, it included insurance offices and state banks, electricity and gas generation and distribution businesses, and rail freight assets.
It was easy money, but it wasn't used strategically. I'm sure the political leaders who built the enterprises and utilities that have been sold off -- like Joe Cahill, the NSW premier during the 1950s -- would shake their heads in disgust at the wasted opportunities.
Now, the global financial crisis has stripped Australia's budget surpluses. These were earmarked by the Rudd government for the roll-out of much needed infrastructure, especially for our choked-up cities.
Where the funds will come from now to undertake this rollout is not clear. In Sydney, for example, the much needed north-west rail link won't start until 2017. The delay is for a simple reason: there simply isn't enough money in the state coffers.
Australians and their politicians in the 1950s and 1960s wouldn't accept such an excuse. Services and infrastructure were sorely needed. So the expertise and funds were assembled and the services and infrastructure were provided.
There was a will, and a way was found.
Today's politicians need to behave with similar courage and vision.
Phillip O'Neill is Professor and Director, Urban Research Centre, The University of Western Sydney.
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