The Rev Fred Nile, Leader of the Christian Democratic Party, has supported the Nation Building and Jobs Plan (State Infrastructure Delivery) Bill 2009 in the NSW Parliament.

“The Christian Democratic Party supports the Nation Building and Jobs Plan (State Infrastructure Delivery) Bill 2009. The bill will ensure the timely delivery in New South Wales of the infrastructure projects funded by the Commonwealth under the Nation Building and Jobs Plan to implement the Council of Australian Governments [COAG] agreement of 5 February 2009 to reduce the impact on Australia of the global economic recession. All members are aware of the current economic crisis facing the United States of America, Europe, Australia and other nations throughout the world, and that it caused the recent serious collapse of the United Kingdom's financial viability. Jobs have been lost in Australia and overseas. The United States motor vehicle industry has collapsed and so has its banking sector, mainly through low-security or no-security housing loans that were provided over a period of time. Australia is coping with the crisis better than most countries but it still has to face it”, said Rev Fred Nile.

“I support the Rudd Federal Government's attempt to deal with the crisis, with its $10 billion stimulus package last December. There is debate about whether that package had as much impact as was hoped, but it certainly had some. The Federal Government's decision to allocate a further $42 billion in a stimulus package was made more urgent by the closure of some Australian industries. In New South Wales there has been debate about the closure of Pacific Brands and the loss of jobs of long-term employees. The bill will provide for the expenditure of that part of the $42 billion stimulus package to be allocated to New South Wales.

The stimulus package must not replace normal State Government expenditure, nor is its purpose to save the budget of the State Government. The money is to be spent on new projects. Each State will receive a percentage—I am not sure if the breakdown has been decided to the last dollar—based on the size of its population. A very strict timetable has been laid down. We have all heard that New South Wales paid a penalty because it was slow in taking up a funding allocation. The same principle will apply to this State's share of the $42 billion package if the Government does not efficiently organise itself to meet the strict timetable. I agree that the timetable is necessary to focus State governments, including Ministers and bureaucrats, on what must be achieved to ensure projects get off the ground.

In the $42 billion stimulus package the Federal Government has included personal grants of up to $900 per family to be used for spending. It is hoped that will stimulate the economy. Many people will no doubt use the money to pay off loans or credit cards and perhaps a small percentage of it will go into poker machines or on cigarettes. I believe it would have been better if the Federal Government had devised a voucher system so that the allocated money could only be spent on products and not on gambling or other wasteful expenditure.

The bill is very simple. It provides a special structure for the efficient handling of the stimulus package. It provides for a Co-ordinator General to be responsible for the planning and timely implementation of infrastructure projects. The Co-ordinator General will be appointed to that office under the Public Sector Employment and Management Act 2002. The legislation also provides for a taskforce, to be comprised of the Co-ordinator—who will act as the presiding member—members of government agencies and private sector representatives and experts. The taskforce will advise on the exercise of functions in relation to infrastructure projects. Separate taskforces may be established for different projects or different classes of projects.

Clause 9 imposes an obligation on State government agencies to cooperate with the Co-ordinator General in relation to infrastructure projects, including providing information and assistance and complying with reasonable requests of the Co-ordinator General that agencies exercise their functions in a timely manner. The bill will also enable the Co-ordinator General to streamline the planning and other approval processes for infrastructure projects in order to ensure that the projects are delivered within the Commonwealth timeframe under the COAG agreement.

That is a very important part of the legislation. If the Co-ordinator General does not have that power, we will not meet the timetable. Clause 23 will enable the Co-ordinator General to declare that an infrastructure project is exempt from all or any specified development control legislation or from such legislation if the carrying out of the project is authorised by the Co-ordinator General. Some people may believe that provision is draconian. I believe it is necessary in the crisis we are facing. These infrastructure projects must go ahead and must not be obstructed or delayed by a technicality. I am pleased to support the bill before the House”, Rev Nile said.

For Media Interviews contact: Rev Fred Nile (02) 9230 2478 or 0418 619 731
Research Assistant: David Copeland (02) 9230 2978

 Christian Democratic Party, GPO Box 141, Sydney NSW 2001.
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