The Minister outlined the role of the new Victorian Infrastructure Delivery Authority (VIDA), announced in February, which amalgamates the Major Transport Infrastructure Authority and the Victorian Health Building Authority.
VIDA is overseeing more than 200 projects, including the Metro Tunnel, North East Link and West Gate Tunnel, 110 level crossing removals, new hospital builds and upgrades to ambulance stations, specialist health services and early parenting centres.
The Minister noted that VIDA would provide the opportunity to apply lessons from transport to health projects, where appropriate.
Consult Australia’s Uplifting Productivity report drew out lessons from more than 20 projects including the Victorian Level Crossing Removal Project, “a large and complex project that used innovative procurement approaches”.
The Victorian Level Crossing Removal Project broke up work into multiple programs that allowed smaller consultants and contractors to participate. Sharing the work with various market participants provided industry certainty and ensured the government could meet value for money objectives.
Kristy took the opportunity to ask the Minister, noting his position also as Assistant Treasurer: “How can Consult Australia help drive similar procurement reform through the contracts developed by Department of Treasury and Finance?”
“Minister Pearson emphasised the role of Consult Australia in promoting best practice, as sightlines across all agencies and departments are not always clear from within government,” Kristy said.
“We can take this as a green flag from the Minister that we must continue to push for procurement reform and productivity uplift throughout Victorian Government, including the Department of Treasury and Finance. This will be welcome news to Consult Australia’s Liability & Contracts Roundtable that has highlighted these contracts as some of the most onerous.”
This event, like all Consult Australia’s events, was a powerful and positive opportunity for members to engage with government decision makers, Kristy adds. Non-members are invited to join Consult Australia to gain insider access to government and industry leaders.
“It is clear the Minister is truly passionate about the positive impact that infrastructure projects have on everyday lives of Victorians.”