This month’s straw in the wind asks whether the South Australian Government’s actions on the Whyalla steelworks have increased risks for private sector investors in essential infrastructure.

The High Court’s decision to strike down the Victorian Government’s road-user charge tax on electric vehicles now means the Federal Government will need to implement a national road user charging system.

Will the Federal Government limit the system to electric vehicles, or will they take the opportunity to introduce a bold new model to pay for our road network and improve its performance?

This month’s straw in the wind draws from the Federal Government’s proposed green energy industry policy and revamp of the Productivity Commission. Does this herald a return to governments trying to pick winners, or is it about leveraging Australia’s comparative advantages?