Kirsten Livermore (Capricornia, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government.

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The last time this happened, it was the member for Capricornia. I am not playing favourites. I am quite happy on this occasion to give the opposition two questions in a row to square it up. But I simply say to them: there was a very long pause before somebody rose on the left. I am happy to square it up. The member for Capricornia has the call.

Kirsten Livermore (Capricornia, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government. Will the minister outline progress with the government’s infrastructure agenda, and when will Infrastructure Australia hold its first meeting?

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Capricornia for her question. The Commonwealth is engaging in infrastructure development after 12 years of neglect. We have already had three meetings of the COAG infrastructure working group, which is working through issues between the Commonwealth and the states to make sure that we get greater harmonisation of regulation to improve efficiency and productivity. For the first time, however, we are not just working between the Commonwealth and the states; we are engaging directly with the private sector to ensure there is national coordination of infrastructure. That is why we have established Infrastructure Australia, which I am pleased to report will have its first meeting this Wednesday here in Canberra.

The council will be chaired by Sir Rod Eddington, who brings broad experience from the aviation, resources, energy and finance sectors. The advisory council’s inaugural members bring a wealth of experience from planning, financing and regulation through to the construction and maintenance of infrastructure. The inaugural members include Ms Heather Ridout, the Chief Executive of the Australian Industry Group—

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

who somehow is opposed by those opposite, it would appear.

Joe Hockey (North Sydney, Liberal Party, Manager of Opposition Business in the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Hockey interjecting

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for North Sydney is suggesting that Heather Ridout is biased. That is an interesting observation from the member for North Sydney.

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The minister will ignore interjections. The member for North Sydney will not interject.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am sure the Australian Industry Group, whose members take in the construction and manufacturing industry, will be interested to hear that. Other members include Mr Phil Hennessy, the Queensland Chairman of KPMG; Mr Ross Rolfe, Senior Executive, Infrastructure, Babcock and Brown; Garry Weaven, the Chair of Industry Funds Management and also a director of Members Equity and of Pacific Hydro; and the Hon. Mark Birrell, a former minister in the Kennett government and Chairman of Infrastructure Partnerships Australia, which comprises both public and private sector organisations engaged in the infrastructure industry. In addition, they will be joined by Professor Peter Newman, the Professor of Sustainability at Curtin University in Western Australia, Mr Terry Moran, Dr Ken Henry, Mr Jim Hallion, Mr Anthony Kannis and Dr Kerry Schott. Showing just how serious the government is about infrastructure investment, we have made an unprecedented commitment of $20 billion for the Building Australia Fund to invest in critical economic infrastructure.

Infrastructure Australia’s advice based on a rigorous analysis of costs and benefits will feed into the government’s decisions about allocations from the Building Australia Fund. The government understands that a considered approach is vital to ensuring a well targeted investment strategy that boosts productivity, captures private sector investment funds and makes efficient use of existing infrastructure.