Legislative Council, Wednesday 20 November 2024

Ms FORREST, question to the LEADER of the GOVERNMENT in the LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, Mrs HISCUTT

With regard to capital works projects within all departments, offices or entities including government business enterprises and state-owned companies, can the government:

(1) Provide a full list of all capital works projects valued at over $50 million; and

(2) For each capital works project include:
(a) an update on the project’s status,
(b) details of any challenges to delivery time frames;
(c) details of any known or anticipated cost increases; and
(d) each project’s expected completion date?

Mr President, I have the answer to question 18 on the Notice Paper for the member for Murchison about capital works projects.

The 2024 25 Budget invests $5.1 billion in infrastructure funding over the Budget and forward estimates period. This investment demonstrates the government's ongoing commitment to invest in contemporary and economically productive infrastructure across the state. The key priority of the government is to invest in intergenerational infrastructure that will contribute to economic growth in the state and create opportunities for job creation. This substantial investment is a key component of the government's 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania's Future, which will secure the state's long term prosperity and resilience.

The Budget and forward estimates includes almost $3.9 billion in investments by the general government sector, with a further $1.2 billion in supporting investment by other government businesses and entities. The investment by the general government sector includes:

• Funding for roads and bridges $1.9 billion
• Hospitals and health $649.6 million
• Schools, education and schools $359.2 million
• Tourism, recreation and culture $356.4 million
• Law and order $287.3 million
• ICT to support service delivery $283 million
• Other infrastructure totalling $20.6 million

Chapter 6 of Budget Paper No. 1 outlines the agency allocations for projects for 2024 25 and the forward estimates. Individual agencies are responsible for managing and delivering their respective capital investment programs. The Department of Treasury and Finance is responsible for monitoring and reporting on within year spending against the budget allocations for capital projects within the general government sector. The agency does not hold detailed project specific information in relation to the delivery of infrastructure projects.

I seek leave to table an amended version of table 6.3 of the 2024 25 Budget Paper No. 1 for projects with a total cost exceeding $50 million, appended with the current project status for each initiative as reported by agencies as of 30 September 2024. I seek leave to table that and have it incorporated into Hansard.

Leave granted.

Mrs HISCUTT - To go on, as at 30 September 2024, Treasury has not been advised of any known cost increases from the projects listed in the 2024 25 budget papers. Treasury does not have direct visibility of within year spending of capital works projects outside the general government sector including the government owned business portfolio.

The capital expenditure program for each of the government business is outlined in their respective corporate plans. The government has an oversight role in accordance with an established corporate governance framework and has a number of related reporting expectations for its government businesses, including for capital works projects. While the government maintains visibility and oversight on these respective projects, detailed information in respect to the capital projects being undertaken by the government businesses is more appropriately answered by the government business themselves.

Ms Forrest - You could not ask them? No?

Mrs HISCUTT - This information can be attained through the upcoming annual government business scrutiny hearings and is outlined in the annual reports for the businesses. Additionally, Infrastructure Tasmania maintains the Tasmanian 10 Year Infrastructure Pipeline on its website, which includes information on major projects by government businesses.

This interactive database can be searched by various criteria including asset owner and includes information such as estimated budget, project stage, and estimated timelines.