12th Sep 2016, 3:54 PM – Senate Motions - Roads - Access to information

The majority voted against a motion introduced by Greens Senator Janet Rice, which means it was unsuccessful.

What was the motion?

That the Senate—

(a) notes:

(i) Transurban now either fully or partially operates 13 of the 15 toll roads in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane,

(ii) Transurban's role in the construction and future operation of Melbourne's Western Distributor, a 'market-led' proposal,

(iii) Transurban's stated intention to become the 'natural custodian' of Australia's motorways as policy shifts towards greater road pricing,

(iv) the New South Wales Government's stated intention to sell down its stake in the WestConnex project,

(v) the extension of Transurban's Citylink monopoly as part of the Western Distributor contract, and

(vi) the Productivity Commission's assessment of the dangers of public private partnerships unless the "risks are transferred efficiently, transparently and credibly, with incentives that align the interests of the private sector with that of the public"; and

(b) supports the approach that all contracts, business cases, transport and economic modelling and other associated documents of governments and between governments and private contractors in the planning, construction and operation of toll roads should be made fully available to the public, unredacted, in a timely manner.