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Audit office urges IA to be more transparent

<span class="" id="parent-fieldname-description"> Greater transparency should be a key focus for Infrastructure Australia (IA)when outlining the nation’s infrastructure needs, according to a report by the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO). </span> <div class="plain" id="parent-fieldname-text"><p>By Sineva Toevai</p><p>ANAO found that while IA’s methodology provided a robust framework for the development of its interim and final infrastructure priority lists, it failed to improve the level of disclosure on the 94 projects it outlined in its interim priority list.</p><p>The nine priority projects in IA’s final list satisfied the tests outlined in its methodology but it was unsuccessful in doing the same with the pipeline projects.</p><p>&quotThere was no clear record maintained of the reasons for the council deciding which projects were to be included on the final priority list and those projects that were to be excluded, the report said.</p><p>ANAO called on IA to maintain records that clearly outline when decisions are made and the reasons for them, to include information on different criteria when developing future prioritisation processes, and to provide clearer advice on priority projects and funding.</p><p>Inevitably, there will be experience gained by any new organisation with such a critical role that will result in some modifications or streamlining of approaches.</p><p>IA’s&nbspcoordinator Michael Deegan welcomed ANAO’s and said the report’s recommendations were incorporated in IA’s second infrastructure priorites report, released last month.</p><p>IA&nbspwas set up in by the Federal Government in 2008 to develop a strategic blueprint for Australias future infrastructure needs.</p>