Infrastructure Australia has released 11 decision-making principles that outgoing Chief Executive Philip Davies says will set a new benchmark for transparency and accountability around infrastructure projects. 

Davies, who is leaving at the end of the month as his three-year contract draws to a close, has challenged governments to stop putting politics ahead of sound road and rail planning or risk increased congestion in Australia's capital cities.  

“While the Infrastructure Priority List has helped create a credible pipeline of future infrastructure investments, too often we are still seeing instances of projects being committed to before a business case has been prepared, a full set of options have been considered, and rigorous analysis of a potential project's benefits and costs has been undertaken,” he says.

“Ultimately, we want to ensure that community needs are properly understood, all options considered and communities consulted before projects are committed. This should include making better use of existing infrastructure by deploying new technologies or utilising the data we're already collecting.

“The Infrastructure Decision-making Principles should act as a guide for Australia's governments, establishing clear lines of responsibility and accountability for major infrastructure projects and providing the broader community with a clear set of expectations with which to hold decision makers to account.

“We want to see Australia's governments do more to engage with communities, both in communicating long-term infrastructure plans, problem identification and by incorporating community input in a meaningful way into the project development processes. Part of this involves being more transparent around project decision-making by publicly releasing the analysis and processes that form the basis of funding decisions.

“The scale of investment in major projects and the long life of most infrastructure assets warrants rigorous decision-making processes. Our hope is that Australia's governments embrace these Infrastructure Decision-making Principles and give the community added confidence that decisions on public infrastructure projects are robust, transparent and accountable." 

The Infrastructure Decision-making Principles

1. Governments should quantify infrastructure problems and opportunities as part of long-term planning processes.
2. Proponents should identify potential infrastructure needs in response to quantified infrastructure problems.
3. Proponents should invest in development studies to scope potential responses.
4. Where an infrastructure need is identified, governments should take steps to ensure potential responses can be delivered efficiently and affordably.
5. Governments should undertake detailed analysis of a potential project through a full business case and should not announce a preferred option or cost profile before undertaking detailed analysis involving multiple options.
6. Proponents should assess the viability of alternative funding sources for each potential project.
7. Project proposals should be independently assessed by an appropriate third-party organisation.
8. Governments and proponents should undertake meaningful stakeholder engagement at each stage, from problem identification and option development to project delivery.
9. Governments and proponents should publicly release all information supporting their infrastructure decisions.
10. Governments should commit to, develop and release post-completion reviews.
11. Where projects are funded as part of a broader program, the corresponding decision-making processes should be robust, transparent and prioritise value for money.

Infrastructure Decision-making Principles is available here.   

Do you want to contribute to Australia's future infrastructure decision-making? Make your voice heard and get access to the experts at IPWEA's Asset Management Congress, 14-15 August, Canberra. Find out more.