- Infrastructure -

Queensland's cabinet has approved a public-private partnership strategy expected to save 20% on major infrastructure costs. It is based on UK and Victorian models and endorses partial privatization. Private sector proposals over $30m will only proceed if they can demonstrate that they are a better value-for-money option than the public sector can provide on its own. The Infrastructure Association of Queensland said that the policy would get projects moving fast. (Strutt S. and Allen L. 'Queensland Cabinet backs partnership strategy', Financial Review, 21/9/01) [CPDS Comment: it seems unlikely that private involvement in infrastructure investment will move fast if any project over $30m is subjected to a government assessment process that seems to assume that private provision is the second best option]]