INDUSTRY LEADERS
Infrastructure Australia to advise on Covid-19 recovery GOVERNMENT AGENCY, INFRASTRUCTURE AUSTRALIA, HAS RECEIVED ADDITIONAL FUNDING IN THE 2020–21 FEDERAL BUDGET TO PROVIDE REFORM AND INVESTMENT ADVICE IN SUPPORT OF THE INFRASTRUCTURELED COVID RECOVERY. Infrastructure Australia CEO, Romilly Madew.
This funding will ensure Infrastructure Australia is resourced to expand the 2021 Australian Infrastructure Plan to respond to Covid-19, lead new research on the capacity of the infrastructure sector to deliver the investment pipeline and conduct an 18-month comprehensive reset of the Infrastructure Australia Assessment Framework, the basis for inclusion on the Infrastructure Priority List. “We are pleased to receive additional resources to advise Australia’s governments on the investments and reforms needed to accelerate recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Infrastructure Australia CEO, Romilly Madew. “This year’s Budget has provided further investment in a sector already undertaking record levels of activity. This additional funding will support improved planning and decision-making to avoid constraints and overheating in the sector, reflective of the impacts of Covid-19.
and industry data to provide an annual
Australia has been focused on improving the
“This expanded role for Infrastructure
snapshot of market capacity to support
efficiency of our business case assessments,”
Australia as the nation’s independent
targeted investment and reform,” she said.
said Madew.
infrastructure advisor speaks to the
Madew said population growth in cities and
“In an extension of that work, we are pleased
importance of infrastructure in the Covid-19
other major shifts prior to the pandmic have
to have the opportunity to conduct a major
recovery and the Australian Government’s
impacted how infrastructure is used.
reset of the Assessment Framework, which is
ongoing support for independent oversight,”
“Covid-19 has shown we need to think
our methodology for assessing proposals for
she said.
differently about how we plan for times
inclusion on the Infrastructure Priority List.
In an extension of work first requested by the
of uncertainty,” she said. “Beyond capital
“Communities rightly expect decisions on
Prime Minister and other First Ministers at
projects, we need to focus on reform
public infrastructure projects to be robust,
COAG in March, Infrastructure Australia has
to shape Australia’s long-term recovery
been tasked with delivering annual analytical
response.”
transparent and accountable. “We want to ensure that our assessment
assessments of infrastructure market capacity.
The next Australian Infrastructure Plan,
process continues to champion this, while also
“As Australia looks to catalyse economic
according to Madew, presents the best
supporting quality proposal development and
growth, understanding the impacts of
possible reform response to Covid-19 through
enabling publicly-funded projects to come to
Covid-19 on infrastructure needs to be a
collaboration with government, industry and
market quickly. Harmonising and streamlining
priority,” said Madew.
community to get the long-term settings
Infrastructure Australia’s Framework with
“Infrastructure Australia’s research will bring
right.
State and Commonwealth guidelines will be a
together Commonwealth, State and Territory
“Over the last 12 months Infrastructure
key focus of this project.”
50
Trailer Magazine NOVEMBER 20
