24th May 2023, 11:15 AM – Representatives Infrastructure Australia Amendment (Independent Review) Bill 2023 - Consideration in Detail - Community and transparency

The majority voted in favour of disagreeing with amendments introduced by North Sydney MP Kylea Tink (Independent), which means they failed.

What does this amendment do?

Ms Tink explained that:

My first amendment, then, is straightforward on the face of it. It's just the insertion of one simple but vital word, and that word is 'community'. [...] As it stands, the bill requires Infrastructure Australia to consult with government, commercial, industrial, consumer, academic and professional bodies or organisations, but not with community. In this way, this bill continues Infrastructure Australia's focus on economic and productivity gains for infrastructure, but it does not fully account for the social and community needs of our collective society, nor does it allow or require the organisation to look at the overall impact of any and all infrastructure projects or measures such as quality of life or the right of all to a safe and healthy environment.

My second amendment relates to transparency around Infrastructure Australia's advice. It would legislate recommendation 4 of the 2020 review, which called for two new annual statements to be tabled in parliament in the interests of transparency and accountability. All members in this place, as well as the media and voters, should be able to review the reports on the performance outcomes being achieved from the investment of taxpayer funds.

Amendment text

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

5DA Functions — annual statements

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

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

(b) an annual statement on the performance outcomes being achieved from the investment program and existing project initiatives.

(2) Infrastructure Australia must:

(a) make each annual statement available on Infrastructure Australia's website as soon as practicable after giving the statement to the Minister; and

(b) cause a copy of each annual statement to be tabled in each House of the Parliament within 15 sitting days of that House after giving the statement to the Minister.

(2) Schedule 1, page 8 (after line 9), after item 5, insert:

5A Paragraph 6B(a)

After "consumer,", insert "community,".

(3) Schedule 1, page 8 (after line 14), after item 6, insert:

6A Subparagraph 39B(b)(i)

After "consumer", insert ", community".

(4) Schedule 1, item 8, page 9 (after line 13), after subitem (5), insert:

(5A) Section 5DA of the Infrastructure Australia Act 2008, as inserted by this Part, applies in relation to a financial year starting on or after the commencement of this item.