5.14 Infrastructure Australia was established to improve the quality of infrastructure planning and investment strategy, and to identify those investments expected to make the biggest impact on Australia's economic, social and environmental goals for least cost to the taxpayer.136 Accordingly, it is a goal of Infrastructure Australia that infrastructure funding decisions will be taken following careful planning and rigorous assessments that are based on sufficient evidence.137 The importance of this approach has been recognized by the Minister, who has stated that the creation of Infrastructure Australia was aimed at:
removing the temptation towards short‐termism. It gives business a transparent process, and promotes evidence‐based public investment decisions.138
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136 ANAO Audit Report No. 29 2008-09, Delivery of Projects on the AusLink National Network, Canberra, 23 April 2009, pp. 218-221.
137 ANAO Audit Report No. 29 2008-09, Delivery of Projects on the AusLink National Network, Canberra, 23 April 2009, p. 220.
138 The Hon Anthony Albanese MP, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Keynote address to the Australian Logistics Council's 8th Annual Forum, Australian Technology Park, Sydney, 3 March 2010.