Anthony Albanese may be in opposition now, but he's still pushing his favourite project - high-speed rail from Brisbane to Melbourne, via Sydney and Canberra.
The former infrastructure and transport minister on Monday introduced a private member's bill to establish a High Speed Rail Planning Authority.
Mr Albanese said studies he commissioned when in government found the massive project was viable, but warned it faced challenges.
He said the proposed authority, whose members would include technical experts and commonwealth, state and territory representatives, would take the project to the next stage.
The first step would be to start securing a corridor.
Mr Albanese said high speed rail planning should not become a political issue.
Big projects demanded leadership and "what might seem unlikely now might be a necessity in the future" as the population along the southeastern seaboard increased.
Debate on the High Speed Rail Planning Authority Bill 2013 was adjourned without the government indicating its attitude to the measure.
