Welcome to Emerging Excellence! In this episode, we are delighted to have Simon Kuestenmacher, a renowned demographer and co-founder of the Demographics Group, back on the show. Simon delves into the current infrastructure boom in Queensland and across Australia, highlighting significant bottlenecks, workforce issues, and economic implications. He discusses the backlog of infrastructure, the effects of the pandemic, and the challenges posed by inflation. Simon also explores possible solutions, including educational reforms and immigration policies, while emphasizing the importance of efficiency and innovation in the construction and civil infrastructure sectors. Tune in for an insightful conversation on Australia's future infrastructure landscape and workforce strategies.

00:00 Welcome and Introduction

01:28 Australia's Infrastructure Backlog

02:01 Pandemic Impact on Infrastructure

02:49 Challenges in Workforce and Inflation

04:23 State Coordination and Infrastructure Australia

08:47 Queensland's Olympic Opportunity

12:21 Workforce Shortages and Solutions

21:23 Political Landscape and Migration

26:52 Opportunities for Young Leaders

35:21 Conclusion and Final Thoughts