Chapter 2Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts portfolio (excluding Communications and the Arts)

2.1This chapter outlines some of the key issues discussed during hearings with the Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts portfolio (excluding Communications and the Arts) on 22 and 23 May 2023.

2.2The Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee (the committee) heard from the following areas of the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts (the department) and portfolio agencies:

Corporate matters divisions (Human Resources and Property, Communications, Finance and Business Services, Legal Services, Information Technology, Ministerial and Parliamentary Services, and Assurance, Integrity, Risk and Governance);

divisions under Outcome 1 (Infrastructure Investment);

divisions under Outcome 2 (Surface Transport, Road Safety, and Air Transport);

divisions under Outcome 3 (Regional Development, Local Government, Cities, and Growing a Stronger Northern Australia Economy);

divisions under Outcome 4 (Services to Territories);

Administrator of the Norfolk Island Regional Council;

Airservices Australia;

Australian Rail Track Corporation;

Civil Aviation Safety Authority;

Infrastructure Australia; and

Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility

Corporate Matters

2.3The committee commenced its examination of the department by examining the divisions under corporate matters on Monday, 22 May 2023. Evidence heard by the committee regarding these divisions included:

timeliness of responses to questions taken on notice (pp. 6–7);

independent review of the department’s Infrastructure Investment Priorities (pp. 5, 14–18 and 31);

impartiality of the public service (pp. 9–11);

current and upcoming PwC contracts (pp. 12–13);

Melbourne suburban rail loop (pp. 15–16);

Infrastructure pipeline changes since last budget (pp. 13, 16–19);

construction price increases and Infrastructure Australia’s mining review (pp. 17–19);

departmental budget increases under 2023–24 Budget (pp. 20–21);

staffing levels and locations (pp. 21–22);

consultancy spending and new contracts (p. 23);

legal and advertising costs (pp. 23–24, 28);

department liaison officers staffing breakdown and salaries (pp. 25–29 and 32–33);

ministerial briefings and breakdown by Ministers and Assistant Ministers (pp. 25–26);

Net Zero Unit (pp. 35–36);

cultural issues and workers compensation claims at Airservices Australia (pp. 37–38); and

Australian Maritime Safety Authority board positions and ministerial briefings (pp. 33 and 38–39).

Outcome 1: Improved infrastructure across Australia through investment in and coordination of transport and other infrastructure.

2.4The committee heard evidence from divisions under Outcome 1 of the department on 22 May 2023. Topics discussed included:

Hobart Stadium funding commitments, construction, and consultations with Tasmanian State Governments (pp. 41–46);

Western Sydney Transport Infrastructure Panel (p. 47);

Western Sydney Infrastructure Planning Panel (pp. 47–49, and 65);

Remote Roads Upgrade Pilot Program (pp. 49–50);

Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games governance and oversight agreements and federal funding (pp. 51–53);

Infrastructure Investment Priorities 90-day independent review (pp. 41, 53–55, 59, 65–71, 81, 86–87, 95 and 98);

election commitments under the infrastructure portfolio (pp. 55–59);

infrastructure funding in the Australian Capital Territory (pp. 56–57);

inland rail constructure updates (pp. 66–68);

infrastructure projects under review in Western Australia (pp. 68–69);

Melbourne Airport Rail Link constructure status (pp. 58–61 and 102–107);

Melbourne Suburban Rail Loop construction status and federal funding (pp.73–74 and 102–103);

Parkes intermodal terminal (p. 81);

infrastructure preparations for AUKUS (p. 83);

the use of recycled materials in road construction (p. 96);

Rockhampton Ring Road (pp. 96–97);

Queensland beef corridors (p. 98);

inland freight corridors (p. 98);

Bunbury Ring Road (pp. 100–102);

Construction Forestry Maritime Mining and Energy Union’s involvement with construction workers (pp. 105–107 and 138); and

Infrastructure Australia’s Independent Review (pp. 137–138).

Outcome 2: An efficient, sustainable, competitive, safe and secure transport system for all transport users through regulation, financial assistance and safety investigations.

2.5The committee heard evidence from divisions under Outcome 2 of the department on 22 May 2023, these topics included:

Heavy-vehicle seatbelts for women in trucking (p. 110);

Aviation White Paper progress update (pp. 110–114);

Melbourne third runway (pp. 112–114);

Regional Airports Program (pp. 114–116);

Regional Airports Screening Initiatives reprofiled funding and scope of the program (pp. 115–116);

Women in Aviation Program (pp. 116–117);

Heavy-vehicle usage tax (pp. 118–120);

Airservices Australia board vacancies and cultural issues (pp. 120–123);

Road Safety Programs (pp. 124–125 and 129);

Brisbane Airport noise complaints and master plan (pp. 129–131 and133);

Sydney Airport community forum (p. 131);

establishment of Jet Zero Council (pp. 134–135);

Avalon Air Show roundtable (pp. 134–135); and

Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport review and consultations (p. 135).

Outcome 3: Strengthening the sustainability, capacity and diversity of our cities and regional economies including through facilitating local partnerships between all levels of government and local communities; through investment in infrastructure and measures that stimulate economic growth; and providing grants and financial assistance

2.6The committee heard evidence from divisions under Outcome 3 on 23 May 2023. The following topics were discussed:

Productivity Commission 5-year Productivity Inquiry report (p. 5);

Hobart Stadium (pp. 5–9);

Launceston City Deal (pp. 9–14);

Community Development Grants (pp. 14, 22, 31, and 34);

Building Better Regions Fund (pp. 14–16 and 18);

Growing Regions Program (pp. 14 and 18);

Women’s World Cup upgrades (pp. 22–23);

Middle Arm Sustainable Development Precinct government consultation process and environment approvals (pp. 23–25, 37–39 and 58–59);

Cradle Mountain Cable Way (p. 34);

scope and funding of city deals (pp. 40–41);

Urban Precincts and Partnership Program (pp. 40–43);

Western Sydney City Deal (pp. 42–44);

Priority Community Infrastructure Program (pp. 28, 33-34, 44-47, and 52-54);

Ballarat election commitment projects (pp. 50–53);

Regions of Growth report for Northern Australia (pp. 55–56);

Office of Northern Australia staffing and locations (pp. 57–63);

Roads to Recovery Program (pp. 62, and 65–67);

National Urban Policy (pp. 68–70);

State of the Cities report (pp. 41, and 68–71);

Albury/Wodonga Regional Deal (pp. 71–73 and 78–79); and

Barkly Regional Deal (pp. 73-74).

Outcome 4: Good governance and service delivery in the Australian territories including through the maintenance and improvement of the laws and services for non-self-governing territories, and the overarching legislative framework for self-governing territories.

2.7On 23 May 2023, the committee heard evidence by divisions under Outcome 4 of the department. Topics discussed under this outcome included:

Calvary hospital (80–81);

Norfolk Island hospital (p. 84);

Pacific Australia Labour Mobility scheme (p. 84);

ACT light rail (p. 85); and

National Capital Authority board vacancies (p.85).

Administrator of the Norfolk Island Regional Council

2.8The committee heard evidence from the Administrator of the Norfolk Island Regional Council, Mr Mike Colreavy and the council’s Chief Executive Officer Mr Andrew Roach on 23 May 2023. The committee discussed the following topics:

electric bikes (pp. 86-87);

Economic Stimulus Package (p. 88); and

the tax system in Norfolk Island (p. 90).

Australian Rail Track Corporation

2.9Topics discussed with the Australian Rail Track Corporation on 23 May 2023 included:

impacts of flooding on rail infrastructure (pp. 91–92 and 98-99);

climate resilient strategies (pp. 99–100);

busiest and most profitable networks (pp. 101–102);

repairs and maintenance (p. 103);

land acquisitions for inland rail (pp. 105–107);

intermodal terminals (pp. 96–97 and 107–109); and

Dr Schott’s independent review on inland rail (pp. 92–97 and 109–111).

Airservices Australia

2.10The committee heard evidence from Airservices Australia on 23 May 2023, and they discussed the following matters:

Australian National Audit Office’s report on OneSKY Tender and outcomes of recommendations (pp. 117–118);

noise complaints (pp. 117–119);

Brisbane Airport Community Airspace Advisory Board (pp. 118–120);

Qantas flight delays (pp. 120-121);

air traffic controllers and firefighters (pp. 121–122);

workers compensation claims (p. 125);

bullying investigation (pp. 125–127);

Broderick Review implementation of recommendations (pp. 126–127); and

board appointments (p. 127).

Civil Aviation Safety Authority

2.11Topics discussed with the Civil Aviation Safety Authority on 23 May 2023 included:

staff located in Northern Australia (pp. 128–129);

Robinson Helicopters independent analysis (pp. 129–132);

benefits received by executives (p. 134);

health related issue for pilots (pp. 135–137); and

safety performance factors for Northern Australian airstrips (pp. 137–140).

Infrastructure Australia

2.12Evidence was heard from Infrastructure on 23 May 2023, and the following matters were discussed:

Melbourne Suburban Rail Loop (pp. 140–141);

Melbourne Airport Rail Link (p. 142);

port development in Queensland (p. 143); and

current projects that Infrastructure Australia are consulting on (p. 144).

Northern Australian Infrastructure Facility

2.13The committee heard evidence from the Northern Australian Infrastructure Facility on 23 May 2023. They discussed the Middle Arm Sustainable Development Precinct and Townsville Airport project (pp. 145–146).