The Government’s delays to its own legislation to reform Infrastructure Australia are undermining public confidence in Labor’s infrastructure priorities.
Reforming Infrastructure Australia was a Labor election promise.
Shadow Infrastructure Minister Senator Bridget McKenzie said the Government has been refusing to bring on the debate which would allow key amendments to be adopted that increase transparency and accountability, while bringing social infrastructure projects in scope of Infrastructure Australia’s oversight, such as the $2.5 billion Brisbane Live Arena.
“What have the Albanese Government got to hide?” Senator McKenzie said.
“Despite the Bill having several opportunities to be debated and resolved, the Albanese Government has sought to delay its progression by listing the Bill further and further down the order of business at each sitting week for months.
“The Liberals and Nationals recognise the importance of Infrastructure Australia as the independent adviser for the Australian Government on the investments needed to deliver better infrastructure outcomes for Australians, and as such this legislation should not be delayed any further by the Government.
“The Albanese Government continues to rip billions of dollars out of infrastructure projects and has cancelled and delayed hundreds of projects across Australia that would have eased congestion and made our roads safer and more reliable.”
Australian Olympics supremo, John Coates AC has revealed his concerns for the delivery of the 2032 Olympics with Labor’s cuts to infrastructure funding and key transport projects in Queensland.
Senator McKenzie said the land transport planning chaos, coupled with the troubled $2.5bn Brisbane Live Arena stresses the need for Minister King to bring on the Infrastructure Australia Amendment (Independent Review) Bill 2023 in the Senate without delay.
“Catherine King needs to stop the delays and bring the Bill forward so we can debate key amendments to make Infrastructure Australia more transparent, more accountable, and ensure the projects that are trying to be delivered for the Olympics come under its remit,” Senator McKenzie said.
“The Senate should amend and then pass this Bill and not add the governance of Infrastructure Australia to Labor’s long list of cancelled and delayed projects.”
The Infrastructure Australia Amendment (Independent Review) Bill 2023 has been before the Parliament since March this year, but has been lingering in the Senate since June.
The Government’s Bill seeks to redefine Infrastructure Australia’s principal purpose and functions, to align it more closely with state government priorities, and establish a new governance structure.