5 years ago
MORE NAIF SECRECY - WHAT DOES CANAVAN HAVE TO HIDE?
Senator Murray Watt
New government documents show that Northern Australia Minister Matt Canavan is extending the veil of secrecy that hangs over his infamous NAIF.
Today, fifteen months after the Senate’s Inquiry into the Governance and Operation of the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility (NAIF), the Government has rejected every single recommendation that would boost the transparency and accountability of the $5 billion NAIF.
To make matters worse, the Government has tabled its response while the Senate is not sitting, in the hope it would slip through unnoticed.
Recommendations rejected by Minister Canavan include:
- Giving two Ministers oversight of the NAIF;
- publishing board member conflicts of interests, for projects they are responsible for approving;
- explaining how approved projects met mandatory investment criteria;
- publishing the loan conditions agreed between the Government and the project proponents; and
- allowing the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner to review the NAIF’s transparency and freedom of information procedures.
The $5 billion NAIF has become notorious for the lack of transparency around its decision making processes. From the outset, it has been beset by issues over potential conflicts of interest involving its directors, including a prominent LNP donor, who recently had their board position renewed by Minister Canavan.
The Auditor General has also raised concerns over the NAIF’s lack of transparency, having reported in April this year that the NAIF did not implement effective arrangements to support integrity and transparency throughout all elements of its operations.
Freedom of Information processes have also been brought into question, with the NAIF having rejected 99.4% of the FOI requests it received.
Despite this, Minister Canavan has now rejected any increase in the NAIF’s accountability.
Perhaps Minister Canavan doesn’t want any more questions about why his No Actual Infrastructure Fund has only released 1% of its budget, or $50 million, since being established four years ago.
This is a Government fund. Australians have a right to know where their money is going and why.
Minister Canavan is showing once again that this LNP Government will do anything to avoid accountability.
Minister Canavan and the Office of Northern Australia are scheduled to appear before Estimates this evening.