Page 1332 - Week 04 - Wednesday, 24 March 2010
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Infrastructure Partnerships Australia are the nation’s peak infrastructure body, comprising a national forum of public and private sector CEO members advocating the public policy interests of Australia’s infrastructure industry. They produced an extensive submission. Their comments include that:
Australian Capital Territory’s interest will be best served through the delivery of an effective framework for the planning, procurement and delivery of major projects.
Under the section “The need for a territory-wide infrastructure plan”, it states:
Although the pressures for new infrastructure in the ACT are not as high as those in more highly populated states, the need for long term infrastructure is no less important.
They go on to state:
The reform of infrastructure planning and delivery within the Australian Capital Territory is an important priority for supporting growth in the national economy.
The report notes that the current government has been declaring that it will, one day, produce such a plan. But Infrastructure Partnerships Australia notes:
However, in the absence of any further indication as to when the plan will be released, IPA supports the intent of the exposure draft legislation as a means of advancing the process and development of the Plan.
Again, the IPA have given some specific and detailed feedback which will form part of the debate on the implementation of this scheme. But importantly, IPA state that, subject to their comments, they “commend its future incorporation into territory law”.
The Housing Industry Association in their submission noted:
… that the main focus of your bill is to provide a more strategic approach to the provision and delivery of infrastructure in the ACT. This will include the appointment of an independent Commissioner to provide the necessary oversight and a Board that will enable critical input from a range of relevant stakeholders, including representatives from the residential construction industry.
On this basis, HIA provides its in principle support for the Bill …
The Master Builders are also supportive. They say:
… the provision of infrastructure to support the economic and social well-being of communities is one of the highest order responsibilities of government as well as being of significant importance to the private sector in helping to meet policy objectives.
On this basis, the concept of an Infrastructure Commission that engages with stakeholders at all levels (government, community and business) is a worthwhile
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