Infrastructure Australia is calling for submissions to help it determine a priority list to guide government investment in infrastructure
The Rudd Government’s Infrastructure Australia is calling for public submissions to help it formulate its infrastructure priority list.
The list is intended to guide government investment in key infrastructure projects to be bankrolled by the $20 billion Building Australia Fund.
Transport guru Sir Rod Eddington, who chairs the infrastructure body, has opened the submission process to any member of the public or business community until October 15.
Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Anthony Albanese says the Government is keen for communities and businesses to have a say on how to address infrastructure investment in railways, roads, ports, water and energy and telecommunications.
“We as a government do not believe that we have a monopoly on all the good ideas for Australia’s future,” Albanese says.
Eddington says one of the goals of Infrastructure Australia is to facilitate public discussion to help the 12-member board determine how best to plan, finance, build and use major infrastructure.
“We have indications that members of the community, including people working in industry and government, have both ideas and information potentially of great value to our work,” Eddington says.
Infrastructure Australia is currently auditing the nation’s infrastructure to help it priorities investment.
The priority list is to be handed to the Council of Australian Governments (CoAG) when it meets in March next year.
As well as guiding investment opportunities, the list will also set out measures to streamline public-private partnerships.
The Rudd Government set up Infrastructure Australia earlier this year. Its board is made up of a mix of government and industry representatives.