Infrastructure Australia's short-list released today includes proposals which would help build a sustainable Australia and others which would lock the country into a high-polluting path for decades, the Australian Greens said today.

The proposals across transport, ports and energy are on balance positive, with more than half (based on indicative capital cost) likely to have a net positive environmental impact and less than half a questionable or net negative impact.

"Minister Albanese faces a clear choice as he considers these proposals - does he want to build a sustainable Australia or does he want to lock us into our high-polluting path," Australian Greens Deputy Leader and Climate Change Spokesperson, Senator Christine Milne, said.

"Around the world, momentum is growing for a 'Green New Deal' that will see a massive injection of public funds into zero emissions infrastructure, building our way out of the financial meltdown and the climate meltdown with the same simple act.

"If the Minister chooses to invest Australia's current wealth in rail networks, urban public transport and upgrading the electricity grid for a renewable energy boom, he will be setting Australia up to ride the wave of the 'Green New Deal' and be part of the most exciting economic and social transformation in recent history.

"If, however, he chooses to throw billions more at roads and coal ports, he will be locking Australia in to a high-polluting, oil-thirsty future, just as the rest of the world realises it is time to move on.

"Peak oil is real and the focus on road funding is difficult to understand, when even the International Energy Agency in predicting an oil crunch by 2020. The current low oil price because of reduced demand in the financial crisis provides the ideal opportunity to make the transformation to public transport and rail infrastructure. Not to seize this opportunity will be a mistake for which we pay dearly within a decade.

"Minister Albanese - the choice is now yours. Which will it be?"

The Full list can be downloaded from http://www.infrastructureaustralia.gov.au/files/A_Report_to_the_Council_...