A REVIEW of Infrastructure Australia has concluded, and the government has considered its findings.
The government commissioned a review of Infrastructure Australia in July, led by Nicole Lockwood and Mike Mrdak, to recommend a new way forward
According to a statement from infrastructure and transport minister Catherine King, the review recommended Infrastructure Australia have a clearer purpose with a legislated mandate, and that its role as a national adviser be enhanced and that its governance structure be reformed.
“The changes the government will put in place will result in a stronger, more focused Infrastructure Australia with a mandate to oversee projects from idea to completion so the significant investment by taxpayers is spent wisely and well for their benefit,” Ms King said.
Infrastructure Australia will:
- produce a more refined, smaller, targeted Infrastructure Priority List;
- develop a national planning and assessment framework to support national consistency in infrastructure assessment;
- adopt a more active role in the post completion stage of infrastructure projects; and
- adopt a structure for Infrastructure Australia to work closely with the infrastructure bodies (i-bodies) set up by states and territories.
Ms King said Infrastructure Australia will also be led by a new governance model, with the current board to be replaced by three commissioners supported by an advisory board with experts from Infrastructure and related sectors and senior public service officials.
“Some of these changes will require legislation but others will commence as soon as practicable,” Ms King said.
“These decisions will strengthen the foundations for better decisions on significant infrastructure investment with better outcomes for Australians. They add to the government’s decisions already taken to improve the way we consider and deliver infrastructure for Australians such as revitalising proper urban policy to bring back national leadership to the sustainable development of our cities.”
