Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development) Share this | Hansard source

I move the opposition amendment on sheet 1981:

(1) Schedule 1, item 4, page 7 (after line 29), after section 5D, insert:

5D B Functions — annual statements

(1) Infrastructure Australia must, during each financial year, prepare and give to the Minister the following:

(a) an annual budget statement to inform the annual Commonwealth budget process on infrastructure investment; and

(b) an annual performance statement on the performance outcomes being achieved by States, Territories and local government authorities in relation to the infrastructure investment program and existing project initiatives funded by the Commonwealth.

(2) Infrastructure Australia must cause each annual statement to be:

(a) tabled in both Houses of the Parliament no later than 14 days prior to the scheduled public release of the annual Commonwealth budget each year; and

(b) published on Infrastructure Australia's website as soon as practicable after the annual statement is tabled in the Parliament.

This amendment actually goes to ensuring that the government tables annual reports. It'll result in significant change and public accountability, which Infrastructure Australia needs to subject itself to. It was an actual recommendation from the review that the government has refused to adopt. And so, in the principle of us assisting Minister King to be the minister she should be, if an independent review recommends a certain pathway forward to increase transparency and accountability, we're going to help the government be their best selves when it comes to this.