Setting the scene for

1. Setting the scene for Connecting the Dots - a conference shaping the future of infrastructure in remote Indigenous communities Brian Gleeson Coordinator General for Remote Indigenous Services Alice Springs, 6 February 2012

2. Outline • Why infrastructure matters • Some of the key infrastructure issues in remote areas • The expectations of the National Partnership Agreement on Remote Service Delivery • Reasonable expectations of CGRIS • CGRIS recommendations and status • Some ideas for action

3. Why infrastructure matters • Key enabler for economic development: • reliable transport and communications essential • construction industry underpins many regional economies • housing essential for employees • Government has a number of priorities in remote areas: • sustainable employment outcomes achievable from well planned capital works program • good environmental health critical for improving wellbeing • good environmental design assists in crime reduction • attracting private sector investment

4. Key remote infrastructure issues • land tenure and serviced land availability, power and water constraints • inconsistency servicing by local governments and unclear service standards • blow outs caused by remoteness and lack of contractors, protracted community consultations • fuzziness around ongoing responsibility for governance and maintenance of the facility • uncoordinated approach by governments and small scale of projects (lack of economies of scale) • tensions between delivery and other agreed policy objectives (eg local employment)

5. Expectations of governments • National Partnership Agreement on Remote Indigenous Services: • Outcome 16 (a) standards of services and infrastructure to be comparable with non-Indigenous communities of similar size, location and need elsewhere in Australia; • Output 17 (i) - the identification of gaps in priority local infrastructure Government investment will be prioritised and coordinated to ensure each priority location has the infrastructure and services that support and sustain healthy social norms so people can reach their potential and communities can thrive. Minister Arbib, 2R speech, Coordinator General for Remote Indigenous Services Bill, 25 June 2009

6. Reasonable expectations? • Governments should seek secure tenure over land and service in accordance with a long term plan for infrastructure development (including essential services) in communities • Capital works be phased so as to facilitate the sustainable development of local employment opportunities – whole of community infrastructure plans • Announcements of new projects not be made until after appropriate consultation and planning has occurred • Agencies fund the “true cost” of delivering services to remote communities including all associated employee costs, such as staff housing, repairs and maintenance costs for the life of the asset and ongoing costs such as lease payments and shire rate charges • Governments develop innovative approaches to securing sufficient housing (community and staff), including partnering with the private sector

7. Recommendations and status • Report 1 – Recommendation 4.1: • That the Australian Government Departments of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government; and Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, in consultation with relevant State and Territory departments, investigate the feasibility of a single whole of government contracting entity to plan and manage construction of community facilities in remote locations, with a scoping paper to be presented for consideration by COAG in the second half of 2010.

8. Recommendations and status • Report 1 – Recommendation 4.1 status: • NT – five infrastructure working groups • QLD - Remote Indigenous Land and Infrastructure Program Office to address land and infrastructure planning issues • SA – significant work has been undertaken to identify key priority projects in water, energy and road projects, cross government committee to plan and drive • WA – trialling new procurement options, including the best way contracts can be either bundled or divided to maximise Indigenous employment opportunities and involvement and development of Indigenous enterprises.

9. Recommendations and status • Report 2 – Recommendation 4: • Noting the work underway within the Australian Government to assess infrastructure needs within priority communities, it is recommended that future Local Implementation Plans should identify local infrastructure priorities to inform the development of a cross-government infrastructure investment plan. • Status: • Whole-of-community infrastructure plans are in place or will be developed in the Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia. • Sustainable planning processes are in place or being developed in New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland and South Australia.

10. Recommendations and status • Report 4 – Recommendation 4: • It is recommended that changes to land tenure better reflect the range of issues, including service delivery, land use planning and economic opportunities, as well as ensuring effective property and asset management into the future. Work currently being done by State and Northern Territory governments to reform land tenure and planning systems and ensure application and enforcement of relevant standards should give priority to Remote Service Delivery communities and aim to be completed by the term of the National Partnership in 2014. • Status: • BOMs asked to identify specific land related issues impacting on service delivery in their jurisdiction and coordinate appropriate strategies to address these matters and escalate where necessary.

11. Some ideas for action • Need a clear understanding of the cost of not filling the infrastructure gaps (economic modelling) • Need a national approach to clarify roles and responsibilities and agree on a long term plan, priorities for investment and service standards (which would not be one size fits all) • Need to consider diverse sources of investment • Native title owner equity investment in large projects (eg ports, airports) • Mining sector to also support infrastructure • Private sector investment • Philanthropic organisations

12. Some ideas for action • Governance of Indigenous infrastructure -  need to adopt a “portfolio manager” approach • Institutional capacity  and policy/legislative mandate to drive whole of government approach  (e.g. the Queensland Remote Indigenous and Land Program Office model)  • Separate the funding  gap discussion from accountability discussion • Develop criteria to ensure we get best value from available funding  (linked to development of service and infrastructure standards)   • Local government capacity remains an ongoing concern • Need to consider solutions more suitable for scale – e.g. draw on international development experience

13. Joining the dots • Alice:would you tell me which way I ought to go from here? • Cheshire Cat:That depends on where you want to get to. • Alice:I don’t much care where. • Cat:Then it doesn’t matter which way you go.