Infrastructure Australia has a central role to play in the Government's strategy to enhance the quality of Australia's infrastructure and improve productivity. The Government is following through on its commitment to strengthen Infrastructure Australia by reforming its governance arrangments to create a more independent, transparent and expert advisory body.

The new governance arrangements will provide for greater accountability and clarity of roles and responsibilities. The existing advisory Infrastructure Australia Council will be replaced by an Infrastructure Australia Board with clear accountabilities under the Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act 1997. A Chief Executive Officer (CEO) position will be established, reporting to the newly established Board, replacing the existing Infrastructure Coordinator role. The CEO position will be responsible for implementing the Board's strategic objectives.

In order to develop a national view on infrastructure priorities and policies to ensure better value for money and deliver the infrastructure this nation needs in the 21^st century, the Government has tasked Infrastructure Australia to:

• undertake 5-yearly evidence-based audits of Australia's infrastructure asset base;
• develop top-down priority lists at national and state levels;
• develop a 15-year infrastructure plan; and
• evaluate proposals for nationally significant economic infrastructure, as well as proposals in the education and health sectors.

Projects seeking Australian Government funding of $100 million or more will be required to be evaluated. Infrastructure Australia will be expected to publish its findings.

The 15-year infrastructure plan will be instrumental in ensuring early and rigorous planning for Australia's infrastructure. It will include clearly defined service standards for project delivery, outline short- and long-term productivity gains and identify any complementary projects required to maximise productivity gains. The plan will also articulate a recommended timeframe in which projects be brought to market, commencing with those projects of highest productivity value.

This will give certainty to industry and ensure public funding is used to deliver the right infrastructure projects at the right time.

The Productivity Commission inquiry into public infrastructure is examining the cost and efficiency of delivering infrastructure projects in Australia. The Government will consider the findings to determine ways to further improve the selection and delivery of projects.