Legislation to create Infrastructure Victoria has been tabled in the state parliament
The Victorian government says the new Infrastructure Victoria will provide crucial oversight of public spending and take the short-term politics out of infrastructure planning.
It has introduced legislation enabling the independent body’s formal creation to the state parliament today.
“We’re putting evidence and transparency at the front and centre of Victoria’s infrastructure decisions,” special minister Gavin Jennings says.
“Infrastructure Victoria will give the community and businesses certainty that those decisions are based on priorities – not politics.”
The legislation demands the new body create a 30-year infrastructure plan as its first major task.
This will be released publicly and will detail short, medium, and long-term needs and priorities.
The government will then develop a detailed five-year infrastructure plan in response, with Infrastructure Victoria responsible for assessing the government’s ongoing progress against the plan.
Victorian Transport Association (VTA) CEO Peter Anderson has welcomed the progression toward stronger and clearer infrastructure decision making.
“The VTA welcomes legislative moves by the Victorian Government today to establish Infrastructure Victoria,” Anderson says.
“We look forward to working with the new body on coordinated infrastructure outcomes that will benefit our economy.”
Premier Daniel Andrews says the new body will deliver important long-term strategy to the state’s planning processes.
“Governments come and go, but our long-term infrastructure priorities always remain,” Andrews says.
The establishment of Infrastructure Victoria is expected to pass the parliament with support from both major parties.