The Committee received evidence that the public interest in relation to PPP projects is protected under existing arrangements in several ways:
• planning processes must include consultation with the community, particularly local communities, when determining the benefits or otherwise of major PPP projects on those communities most affected by such undertakings in making decisions about project commitments;
• there is usually a separation of governing mechanisms from the state's commercial interests throughout decision making processes in major infrastructure projects, and once decisions have been made to proceed with a major infrastructure project, the public interest is also protected through competitive tender arrangements that encourage value for money for the state;
• there are high levels of transparency in contractual arrangements and commitments;
• there is a network of accountability elements including freedom of information, administrative law, the Auditor-General; parliamentary committees and the Ombudsman;
• there is ultimate electoral accountability through voting.