5th Dec 2023, 11:35 AM – Senate Infrastructure Australia Amendment (Independent Review) Bill 2023 - in Committee - Initial assessments

The majority voted against an amendment introduced by Victorian Senator Bridget McKenzie (Nationals) to the Greens amendment (6), which means it failed and the Greens amendment will remain as it is.

Amendment text

(1) After subsection 5DA(2), insert:

Initial assessment

(2A) Infrastructure Australia must conduct an assessment under this section, and prepare a report on the assessment, in relation to projects covered by subsection (2) that are commitments of the Commonwealth Government first made on or after 22 May 2022.

(2B) Infrastructure Australia must cause a copy of the report on the assessment under subsection (2A) to be tabled in each House of the Parliament:

(a) within 3 months after the commencement of this section; or

(b) if no sitting day of the relevant House occurs within that period and after the report is finalised—on the next sitting day after the end of that period.

Annual assessments

Original Greens amendment

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

5DA Functions — assessments of certain nationally significant infrastructure projects without prior evaluation

(1) For the purposes of paragraph 5(d), Infrastructure Australia has the function of assessing, and reporting on, projects covered by subsection (2).

(2) A project is covered by this subsection if:

(a) it is a project for investment in, or enhancements to, nationally significant infrastructure; and

(b) the project involves expenditure by or on behalf of the Commonwealth; and

(c) the Commonwealth Government's total expenditure involved in the project is more than $250 million; and

(d) the Commonwealth Government has committed to the project without prior evaluation (or endorsement of evaluation) of a proposal for the project by Infrastructure Australia.

(3) Infrastructure Australia must ensure that assessments under this section are conducted at least once in each financial year beginning on or after the commencement of this section and prepare a report on the assessment.

(4) Infrastructure Australia must cause a copy of the report on the assessment under subsection (3) to be tabled in each House of the Parliament within 10 sitting days after it has been finalised.

Other assessments

(5) Infrastructure Australia may conduct other assessments under this section, and prepare reports on those assessments, on its own initiative.

(6) Infrastructure Australia must cause a copy of the report on the assessment mentioned in subsection (5) to be tabled in each House of the Parliament within 10 sitting days after it has been finalised.

Conduct of assessments

(7) The regulations may prescribe matters relating to the conduct of assessments under this section