Additional comments by Labor Senators
Labor Senators
recognise the need for and support policies which will provide an integrated
national transport policy for Australia.
Whilst Labor
Senators agree in the main with the Committee's report, including recommendations
regarding the passage of the Bills, some issues require further clarification.
It is important that
the funding appropriated to AusLink be used in a transparent manner to deliver
integrated national transport infrastructure which will serve the national
interest.
However, in the wake
of the highly politicised and questionable use of Regional Partnerships funding
in the lead up to the 2004 election, the lack of transparency surrounding the
assessment of AusLink projects approved in the same period and evidence heard
by this committee, Labor Senators remain concerned that AusLink funding has the
potential to become another part of the National Party's electoral slush fund.
National Highway Funding
The creation of an
integrated land transport network has the potential to improve strategic
infrastructure planning.
In the view of Labor
Senators however, the implementation of an integrated land transport network is
threatened by the change to the funding mix by the Howard Government in the
first five year AusLink plan.
By abandoning its
full responsibility to fund the construction and maintenance of the former
National Highway System and requiring matching funding from the States, the
Howard Government's AusLink policy threatens to force State governments to
divert funds away from other important State road and rail infrastructure.
The Howard
Government’s decision to cap road maintenance funding at $300 million per annum
for five years coupled with a lack of ongoing commitment to maintenance foreshadows
a significant threat to the condition of the former National Highway in
future.
In the view of Labor
Senators, the change to the funding mix must not foreshadow a future withdrawal
or reduction of the Howard Government's responsibility to adequately fund both
construction and maintenance of important national transport links, including
all roads formerly fully funded by the Commonwealth.
Removing Politics from the Strategic
Regional Projects Program
The Committee heard evidence that demonstrated the Howard
Government had manipulated the Strategic Regional Projects program for
political purposes during the 2004 election campaign.
Originally the
program was to make available $120 million, on a competitive basis to regional
groupings, over five years.
However, prior to
the development of guidelines and in many instances prior to receiving
applications for funding, the Howard Government committed $93 million of the
available $120 million in funding under this program in the lead up to the 2004
election.
It is now unclear
whether a number of projects promised to date by the Howard government under
this program will proceed given some funding commitments were made based on
matching State/Territory Government funding without adequate consultation with
or approval of funding by the relevant State or Territory Governments.
Recommendation
To avoid the
perception or reality of the use of Strategic Regional Projects program funding
for political purposes, the Howard Government must ensure all projects
announced to date and all future projects are rigorously and transparently
assessed, following the development of appropriate guidelines, and in
consultation with all other funding contributors.
Such guidelines
should be developed and publicly available no later than 1 July 2005.
National Transport or Infrastructure
Advisory Council
In addition to the
overwhelming views of stakeholders, the experience prior to the 2004 election
of politically-driven decision-making in relation to Strategic Regional Projects
illustrates the importance of independent industry, expert and consumer input
into the development of strategic infrastructure priorities.
Recommendation
The Howard
Government must provide national leadership and work with the members of the
Transport Ministerial Council to design and establish an appropriate advisory
council to provide input from independent industry, expert and consumer
organisations into the development of strategic land transport, and where
appropriate national infrastructure priorities.
Senator Geoff Buckland (Deputy Chair, Labor
Senator for South Australia)
Senator Kerry O'Brien (Labor Senator for
Tasmania)
Senator Ursula Stephens (Labor Senator for
New South Wales)
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