Northern Australia Roads Programme discussion paper released

The Australian government has released a discussion paper on the viability of private sector involvement towards developing northern Australian infrastructure.

Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development, Warren Truss, said the paper invites private sector bodies to bring forward innovative funding towards projects.

“The government is keen to test the market to see what the appetite is for delivering innovative investment in road transport infrastructure in the north,” Truss said.

“Our focus is on delivering outcomes for Northern Australia—and we will choose whatever works best, be it a private sector proposal or delivery by government. And what works for one particular road may not work for another.”

The paper iterates how private sector involvement can provide competition and investment towards the Northern Australia Roads Programme.

Minister for Major Projects, Paul Fletcher, said it was important to test whether private sector ideas could allow for more efficiency.

“We are therefore seeking the private sector's input on realistic and workable concepts and innovative models that will maximise the value of public investments in northern Australia road infrastructure,” Fletcher said.

“Not all models may be commercially viable—but the best way to find out is to call for expressions of interest.”

Expressions of Interest from the private sector will close on 29 January 2016.

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