Infrastructure Australia

Infrastructure Australia was established in July 2008 to provide advice to the Australian Government under the Infrastructure Australia Act 2008. In 2014, the Infrastructure Australia Act 2008 was amended to give Infrastructure Australia new powers, and to create an independent board with the right to appoint its own Chief Executive Officer. The amended Act came into effect on 1 September 2014. The new Infrastructure Australia Board was formed in September 2014. Led by Chairman Mark Birrell, the 12 members bring experience from business, academia, the public and private sectors. Under the Act, Infrastructure Australia has responsibility to strategically audit Australia's nationally significant infrastructure, and develop 15-year rolling Infrastructure Plans that specify national and state level priorities. The Act also states that the Minister must not give directions about the content of any audit, list, evaluation, plan or advice provided by Infrastructure Australia. In May 2015, Infrastructure Australia completed one of its principal tasks under the Act, releasing both the Northern Australia Audit and the Australian Infrastructure Audit. The Northern Australia Audit, released on 8 May 2015, is the first ever audit of Northern Australia's infrastructure, identifying key challenges, and opportunities to support the region's projected growth over the next 15 years. The Australian Infrastructure Audit (the Audit), released on 22 May 2015, is the nation's first ever independent, comprehensive review of Australia's infrastructure and our future needs across transport, water, energy and telecommunications. The Audit takes a strategic view of what Australia will look like in 2031, and where the pressures on our infrastructure networks will be felt hardest. The Australian Infrastructure Plan (the Plan), released on 17 February 2016, is Australia's first ever 15-year rolling infrastructure plan. Developed following consultation on the Australian Infrastructure Audit, the Plan recommends fundamental changes to way we plan, fund, deliver and use our infrastructure through reforming the funding and operation of transport infrastructure, completing the national electricity market, improving the quality and competiveness of the water sector and delivering a telecommunications network that responds to user demand. In addition to our work on the audits and plans, Infrastructure Australia also has responsibility to determine which nationally significant projects should be on the Infrastructure Priority List. This is a rigorous prioritisation process that ensures there is a highly credible pipeline of nationally significant infrastructure projects.