The establishment of Infrastructure WA will take the politics out of infrastructure planning in Western Australia, benefiting businesses and households.
The Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA (CCI) has urged all members of the WA Parliament to progress the State Government’s legislation as a priority to provide transparency and certainty to industry around the State’s pipeline of works and their timing.
Businesses need to plan their investments, manage their workforce, and retain critical specialised skills within the State. The strategy developed by Infrastructure WA will help them achieve that.
WA business cannot afford to wait any longer for a long-term strategic infrastructure plan.
An independent infrastructure body, comprised of both public and private sector representatives, will assist in improving community support for projects that are demonstrated to be of value. This gives WA businesses and the community the assurance they need that infrastructure planning will transcend short-term politics.
CCI welcomes the Government’s focus on Infrastructure WA being tasked with developing a 20-year State Infrastructure Strategy as its first priority and being responsible for the coordination of the State’s submissions to Infrastructure Australia.
This will ensure WA has a clear direction and strategy for infrastructure investment that business can plan around and will increase the likelihood of WA projects featuring on the Infrastructure Australia priority list, which is critical to access Federal Government infrastructure funding.
CCI welcomes the appointment of John Langoulant AO as Infrastructure WA’s chair-designate.
Mr Langoulant made clear recommendations in his Special Inquiry into Government Programs and Projects report to improve project management and business case analysis, as well as the need to develop a whole-of-state infrastructure plan. Mr Langoulant brings significant public and private sector experience, including previous service as Chief Executive Officer of CCI.
We urge all members of the WA Parliament to support the passage of the Government’s Infrastructure WA legislation as a priority.
