John Tookey: Construction expert: worries changes to the Fast Track Bill will limit the number of significant projects

A construction expert worries changes to the Fast Track Bill will limit the number of significant projects.

Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop yesterday announced Cabinet will recommend changes to the proposed law, to the Environment Select Committee.

It includes switching who has the final say from Ministers to an independent panel.

AUT Construction Expert John Tookey told Mike Hosking he hopes the panel approves projects other than just what politicians want.

He says no government has been willing to do the right thing for the maximum number of people.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:02):
I could certainly see when you start to get into
either ignoring bypassing fast tracking whatever environmental legislation. It's quite
sensitive to including truly white hank issues as well, So
there's a lot to it.

Speaker 2 (00:19):
What about the expert panel though, because there was always
an expert panel, whether the minuts they had the final
sign off and on, there was always an expert panel.
Did we not trust them? Do we not trust them?

Speaker 1 (00:31):
Well? The government's successive governments like to have the opportunity
to be able to sign off on different projects that
they have particular aspirations to deliver on. I personally, I'd
like to get more properly and trained to be able
to make the decisions that allow us to deliver on

(00:52):
the types of projects that transcend single parliamentary sessions. We
have so much.

Speaker 3 (00:57):
Demanded this country for significant infrastructure and investment. The money
availability is only part of the deal, but these deals
take a long time to set up. They require multi
party coverage.

Speaker 1 (01:11):
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