Infrastructure Australia to be more independent and transparent
24th January, 2014
THE Federal Government is committed to transforming Infrastructure Australia into a more independent and transparent organisation with a much broader range of responsibilities, Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Warren Truss said today.Mr Truss said comments regarding the government’s proposed changes to Infrastructure Australia Legislation reflected a fundamental misunderstanding of the government’s policy.
Amendments to the Infrastructure Australia Legislation currently before the Federal Parliament are intended to strengthen the independence and transparency of Infrastructure Australia, not restrict it.
They reflect the policy position which the Government took to the election which was strongly supported by industry.
Under the Coalition’s plan, Infrastructure Australia will have an independent board with a Chief Executive Officer answerable to the board – not a Co-ordinator answerable to the Minister
Infrastructure Australia will be tasked with developing a 15 year pipeline of major infrastructure projects to be revised every five years. All Commonwealth Infrastructure expenditure exceeding $100 million will be subject to analysis to test cost effectiveness and financial viability. This requirement will include dams, telecommunications, hospitals, education institutions, energy projects, water networks etc, as well as roads, rail and ports. Defence is not included.
Under Labor, Infrastructure Australia was forced to play catch up after the government had already announced most of its infrastructure projects. The Infrastructure Coordinator reported to the Minister, who was under no obligation to make the advice he received public.
Mr Truss noted that former Minister Albanese appointed the current Infrastructure Coordinator, Mr Michael Deegan, to a new five year term shortly before the election – even though it was the Coalition’s stated policy to abolish this position.
Mr Truss said the legislation was currently under examination by a Senate Committee after having passed the House of Representatives.
“Should the Senate Committee recommend that the legislation require clarification to meet the Government’s objectives, then we would be prepared to consider those amendments,” Mr Truss said.
“I would expect any such amendments to be minor.”
[ENDS]
