Page 1331 - Week 04 - Wednesday, 24 March 2010
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I did outline the content of this bill in some detail when I presented the exposure draft. However, it is appropriate that I summarise the core aspects of this bill. Most importantly, the bill calls for the development of an infrastructure plan for the territory. It appoints a commissioner to develop and report on that plan and establishes a board of expert advisers to ensure that all voices are heard before, during and after infrastructure projects are undertaken.
The bill calls for the plan to take a holistic approach considering elements such as whole-of-life-cycle costs, maintenance and decommissioning projects, technological innovations and building materials, environmental sustainability, labour supply and training, regulatory reform and certification, a robust open scrutiny of funding and economic impacts, and integration into the national capital and territory plans.
We do not believe that infrastructure is just roads and drains. Therefore, the bill calls for an integrated look at all our infrastructure needs now and into the future, including health and community services, education and training, transport, water supply and sustainability, energy usage, interstate connectivity, sports and cultural venues, communications including broadband, and waste and waste water management in public places including Civic and town centres. This is a vital, visionary plan that is missing from this government and it has been for the entire time they have been in office.
We have spoken on many occasions about the need for an infrastructure plan. We have spoken many times about the failings of this government in delivering infrastructure. We have spoken many times about the short-term opportunism that has strangled our city. It is possibly the single biggest impediment to this city genuinely taking its place amongst the best cities in the world. I do not intend to reiterate every failure of this government today. I will, however, share with this Assembly some of the positive feedback comments we have received from the very many sources from whom we have sought and received advice.
This feedback shows the hard work the Canberra Liberals have been engaging in with the business and development sectors. It shows a positive vision for the future and a positive attitude to cooperative legislative development. It shows a way forward.
Engineers Australia have been helpful in their input since the very earliest days of the development of this bill throughout last year. Their comment is:
Engineers Australia (Canberra Division) supports this bill as it fits in with our national recommendations of having an infrastructure advisory body that provides advice on policy, planning and delivery of infrastructure.
Denton Bocking, the president, also notes that sufficient funding should be provided for infrastructure as recommended in the infrastructure report card produced by the association in 2005. A new report card is due for release in June of this year and it will be interesting to see how this important stakeholder rates the ability of this government to deliver without having a plan such as the one contained in this bill.
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