Infrastructure projects will be assessed for funding under new criteria on their ability to compete globally, to lower greenhouse gas emissions and improve quality of life and expand productivity.

“The Government is committed to implementing the single largest infrastructure program in the history of the Commonwealth,” Mr Rudd told business leaders in Brisbane.

“The Government agreed with the States and Territories at the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) meeting in Perth last week, we are now bringing forward our long-term nation-building agenda,” he said.

At the Council of Australian Governments meeting, the Commonwealth agreed to ask Infrastructure Australia to bring forward by the end of 2008, an interim report on the National Infrastructure Audit and the Infrastructure Priority List.

The interim report is aimed at enabling the Commonwealth, advised by Infrastructure Australia, to make timely decisions on projects that will advance Australia’s nation building agenda. 

States and Territories are being asked to progress any further submissions to Infrastructure Australia as a matter of priority.