Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee, , 9:28:51 to 9:30:54
Senators inquire about the frequency of meetings for the Cities and Planning working group and the staffing levels dedicated to implementing city deals. The department confirms recent interactions with Treasury and addresses the reporting requirements for ongoing city deal projects before the session adjourns.
Topics: Infrastructure, Public service staffing
Speakers: Hon James McGrath, Lisa Rauter, Senator Glenn Sterle, Speaker 36, Unknown Speaker
>> Okay. I'll move on to um cities and planning. How many times has the cities and planning working group met since February of this year?
>> Uh I believe we have met once uh which was last week. >> but we do have other regular interactions with Treasury. >> and I sit on one of their project steering committees as well which helps sharing information.
>> How many staff are currently tasked with the implementation of city deals?
>> Uh the team has 8.8 ASL um noting that they do more than just the city deals.
How many meetings has the department held with city deal partners for each of the ongoing city deals since the beginning of the year?
>> We would have to take that time.
>> Have any progress or implementation reports been published on any of the ongoing city deals since I last asked about these?
We don't publish progress reports, but what we do do is receive um reports as part of paying milestones under each of the deal projects.
>> Um in relation to you're winding me up, chair um more. >> Yeah. No, that's fine. Um in relation to the cities and and planning working group, can I request copies of any the meeting papers circulated or meeting minutes please from your meeting from
last week? I would have to check the Treasury that they're happy to release those. But yes,
>> thank you, chair.
>> Thank you. And on that, we shall now suspend till 7:30. Thank you very much. In continuation, uh oh, that's right. Sorry. Uh sorry, we're going to release Infrastructure Australia as well. It's been agreed. Um but we were we're still in outcome three and Senator McGrath in continuation. Thank