Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

by leave—I move amendments (9) to (12) on sheet 7463:

(9) Schedule 1, item 8, page 6 (line 14), before "For", insert "(1)".

(10) Schedule 1, item 8, page 6 (after line 22), after paragraph 5C(b), insert:

  (ba) policy issues arising from climate change;

(11) Schedule 1, item 8, page 6 (line 29), at the end of section 5C, add:

  ; (g) the delivery of infrastructure projects.

(12) Schedule 1, item 8, page 6 (after line 29), at the end of section 5C, add:

(2) For the purposes of paragraph (1)(g), Infrastructure Australia may evaluate the delivery of an infrastructure project, including evaluating:

  (a) the delivery against any targets set before or during delivery; and

  (b) any relevant assumptions made before or during delivery.

(3) Infrastructure Australia also has the function of promoting public awareness of the matters mentioned in subsections (1) and (2), including by publishing information on its website.

These amendments relate to the existing areas of general infrastructure provided by IA. Item (10) retains policy issues arising from climate change. The government has tried to take this out. Labor proposes to retain it and leave it to IA to determine how to provide that advice. Item (11) adds a new area of advice sought by several stakeholders, the ability to conduce ex post analyses of projects to compare assumptions at the start with the actual process of delivery—what went right, what went wrong—so that all interested parties can learn and improve project delivery. Item (12) provides greater detail on these reviews and adds a role for IA to provide public education on part 5C advice matters via its website. IA effectively plays this role currently. Item (9) is a consequential renumbering. Once again, these amendments enhance independence and transparency.