1.12 Section 27 of the Infrastructure Australia Act establishes an 'Infrastructure Coordinator'. The primary function of the Infrastructure Coordinator under the Act is to assist Infrastructure Australia in the performance of its functions. The Infrastructure Coordinator is appointed by the Minister on a full‐time basis for a period not exceeding five years.
1.13 The Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government requested that the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government (DITRDLG) engage Mr Michael Deegan to assist the Minister in his role as the Chair of the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Infrastructure Working Group in early 2008. A contract was signed between DITRDLG and the company engaging Mr Deegan in January and February 2008.
1.14 Applications for the role of Infrastructure Coordinator role were called for in March 2008. The appointment of the inaugural Infrastructure Coordinator, Mr Michael Deegan, was announced on 22 June 2008, with his role formally commencing on 1 July 2008.50
1.15 The Office of the Infrastructure Coordinator supports the Infrastructure Coordinator in his role. As of October 2009, there were 16 permanent staff members in the Office of the Infrastructure Coordinator (including four staff in the Major Cities Unit51 staff). As well as these permanent staff members, the Office engages a range of external advisors and secondees from State and Territory governments to undertake its functions.
1.16 Infrastructure Australia is a departmental body recognised in legislation52 (rather than a prescribed agency under the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997 (FMA Act)). Accordingly, the Office of the Infrastructure Coordinator operates within the legal framework of DITRDLG. Specifically:
• staff are engaged under the Public Service Act 1999, and are employees of DITRDLG;53 and
• financial reporting is consolidated within the annual financial statements of the DITRDLG.
1.17 For the purposes of this audit report, the term 'Infrastructure Australia' is used to refer jointly to the Infrastructure Australia Council, the Infrastructure Coordinator and the Office of the Infrastructure Coordinator. Otherwise, the report explicitly refers to the relevant party.
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50 The Hon Anthony Albanese MP (Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government), Appointment of Infrastructure Coordinator, Media Release, 22 June 2008.
51 The Major Cities Unit focuses on national urban policy. Sources: Senate Committee on Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport, Estimates Hansard from Wednesday 27 May 2009, p. 64 and Senate Committee on Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport, Estimates Hansard from Tuesday 20 October 2009, p. 37.
52 Department of Finance and Deregulation, List of Australian Government Bodies and Governance Relationships as at 1 October 2009, 3rd Edition, Financial Management Reference No. 1, p. 458.
53 Explanatory Memorandum to the Infrastructure Australia Act.