1 00:00:00,680 --> 00:00:01,840 Speaker 1: Heather Dup to CLA. 2 00:00:02,200 --> 00:00:05,600 Speaker 2: The government is moving towards taking the politics out of infrastructure. 3 00:00:05,600 --> 00:00:08,760 Speaker 2: It is announced it will establish a National Infrastructure Agency 4 00:00:08,760 --> 00:00:11,719 Speaker 2: this year and this agency will plan our infrastructure projects 5 00:00:11,720 --> 00:00:14,000 Speaker 2: for the country for the next thirty years. Chris Bishop 6 00:00:14,320 --> 00:00:15,400 Speaker 2: is the Infrastructure Minister. 7 00:00:15,440 --> 00:00:17,520 Speaker 1: Bish Hello, hi Heather. 8 00:00:17,840 --> 00:00:20,400 Speaker 2: Who gets to pitch to these guys what gets built? 9 00:00:22,000 --> 00:00:25,279 Speaker 3: The private sector, local government and communities will be able 10 00:00:25,320 --> 00:00:27,600 Speaker 3: to pitch to the Infrastructure Commission to take a really 11 00:00:27,600 --> 00:00:30,000 Speaker 3: good hard look at what projects we need for the 12 00:00:30,040 --> 00:00:32,240 Speaker 3: future and what ones make sense and what ones don't. 13 00:00:32,520 --> 00:00:35,080 Speaker 3: The aim is to get a bit of an independent 14 00:00:35,240 --> 00:00:37,080 Speaker 3: view about what we should be building in New Zealand 15 00:00:37,120 --> 00:00:39,840 Speaker 3: and also what we shouldn't be building, and then put 16 00:00:39,840 --> 00:00:42,160 Speaker 3: that list out there publicly, and then that will serve 17 00:00:42,200 --> 00:00:44,599 Speaker 3: as a bit of a guide for what politicians might 18 00:00:44,720 --> 00:00:47,400 Speaker 3: or might not want a campaign on in future elections. 19 00:00:47,440 --> 00:00:48,760 Speaker 1: This is about planning for the future. 20 00:00:48,760 --> 00:00:51,080 Speaker 2: But are you saying therefore that that central government because 21 00:00:51,200 --> 00:00:53,199 Speaker 2: that was not on the list, So you guys in 22 00:00:53,240 --> 00:00:55,880 Speaker 2: government can't pitch ideas. 23 00:00:55,600 --> 00:00:57,840 Speaker 1: Oh, central government be part of it as well. Yeah. Sorry. 24 00:00:57,840 --> 00:00:59,720 Speaker 3: The point I'm making is that it'll be available for 25 00:00:59,760 --> 00:01:01,600 Speaker 3: every body central government, local government. 26 00:01:01,720 --> 00:01:03,800 Speaker 2: So will this as well, will they be free of 27 00:01:03,840 --> 00:01:08,000 Speaker 2: political interference? They will get to make the final say no. 28 00:01:08,319 --> 00:01:12,760 Speaker 3: The Infrastructure Commission is independent, so they will be making 29 00:01:12,760 --> 00:01:15,040 Speaker 3: the assessments and they will be public and they won't 30 00:01:15,040 --> 00:01:18,600 Speaker 3: be touched by politicians. They'll be independent assessments by independent 31 00:01:19,080 --> 00:01:22,399 Speaker 3: economic experts. Decisions around what we build and what we 32 00:01:22,440 --> 00:01:25,560 Speaker 3: don't build those remain in the hands of local government 33 00:01:25,600 --> 00:01:29,520 Speaker 3: and also central government as well, because ultimately we're accountable 34 00:01:29,560 --> 00:01:30,520 Speaker 3: for those funding decisions. 35 00:01:30,520 --> 00:01:33,559 Speaker 1: But here's the point. You know, politicians might. 36 00:01:33,400 --> 00:01:36,760 Speaker 3: Decide to fund the dumb project and that might not 37 00:01:36,840 --> 00:01:40,200 Speaker 3: be on the infrastructure priority list, and then the politicians 38 00:01:40,240 --> 00:01:42,280 Speaker 3: will have to explain to the public why they're funding 39 00:01:42,560 --> 00:01:47,160 Speaker 3: something that isn't a priority as identified by independent experts. 40 00:01:47,319 --> 00:01:48,800 Speaker 1: But also the flip side is true too. 41 00:01:48,960 --> 00:01:50,560 Speaker 3: It will become a selling point to be able to 42 00:01:50,600 --> 00:01:52,880 Speaker 3: say to the public, you know what infrastructure commissions that 43 00:01:52,920 --> 00:01:54,880 Speaker 3: analyze this, they reckon it's a really good project for 44 00:01:54,880 --> 00:01:56,960 Speaker 3: the following reasons, we're going to fund it, and here's why, 45 00:01:57,000 --> 00:01:57,920 Speaker 3: and here's how we're going to do it. 46 00:01:58,040 --> 00:02:00,200 Speaker 2: The thing about it is, I mean you you you 47 00:02:00,280 --> 00:02:02,400 Speaker 2: might have if the list is too long you may 48 00:02:02,400 --> 00:02:04,760 Speaker 2: have the Greens picking stuff at the bottom of the list, 49 00:02:05,040 --> 00:02:07,160 Speaker 2: even yourselves picking stuff at the bottom of the list 50 00:02:07,160 --> 00:02:09,920 Speaker 2: that aren't you know, high priority? Will it will it be? 51 00:02:10,160 --> 00:02:12,520 Speaker 2: Will it be ordered sort of an order of priority, 52 00:02:12,560 --> 00:02:14,560 Speaker 2: like this is the most important, this is the least important? 53 00:02:15,280 --> 00:02:17,840 Speaker 3: That will that will develop over time? Yes, that is 54 00:02:17,880 --> 00:02:20,520 Speaker 3: that is certainly my intention of the list over time. 55 00:02:21,160 --> 00:02:23,959 Speaker 3: It's early days, you know, we've just just literally started today. 56 00:02:23,960 --> 00:02:24,880 Speaker 1: I've announced it today. 57 00:02:25,080 --> 00:02:27,440 Speaker 3: Will publish the first list or the Commission will publish 58 00:02:27,440 --> 00:02:30,520 Speaker 3: the first list in April next year. And certainly if 59 00:02:30,520 --> 00:02:32,240 Speaker 3: you look at what Australia does, which is where we've 60 00:02:32,240 --> 00:02:34,160 Speaker 3: picked up the idea from both in New South Wales 61 00:02:34,160 --> 00:02:36,400 Speaker 3: and also federally, they do have a kind of rank 62 00:02:36,520 --> 00:02:39,359 Speaker 3: order for things, and that that again developed over time. 63 00:02:39,440 --> 00:02:41,280 Speaker 3: So this is the start of a process to get 64 00:02:41,360 --> 00:02:41,880 Speaker 3: us to that point. 65 00:02:41,960 --> 00:02:43,880 Speaker 2: Chris, thank you really appreciate your time. That's Chris Boship 66 00:02:43,880 --> 00:02:44,600 Speaker 2: the Infrastructure min. 67 00:02:44,560 --> 00:02:47,600 Speaker 1: A step For more from Heather du Plassy Allen Drive. 68 00:02:47,760 --> 00:02:51,200 Speaker 2: Listen live to news talks it'd be from four pm weekdays, 69 00:02:51,280 --> 00:02:53,440 Speaker 2: or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.