THE Federal Government is currently considering options to develop the inland railway between Melbourne and Brisbane in the most efficient and cost effective way possible, according to Finance Minister Mathias Cormann and Infrastructure Minister Warren Truss.

"This inland rail route offers a strategic opportunity to invest in nationally significant infrastructure, which would service Australia for the next 150 years," the Ministers said in a joint official release.

"It offers the prospect of significant improvements in the productivity of freight services in Eastern Australia by providing a new high performance freight rail corridor.

"Work on developing a business case and potential financing and delivery options for this project is currently underway.

"The Australian Rail Track Corporation will be an important part of developing any options on this project.

"As such, the scoping study into options for the future management, operations and ownership of the Australian Rail Track Corporation will need to be broadened to take this important strategic initiative into account.

"Consequently, the Department of Finance has decided not to proceed with the current tender processes for business and legal advisers for the ARTC Scoping Study. A new process to appoint suitable advisers will begin later this year.

"The ARTC scoping study remains on track for consideration by the Government in the 2016-17 Budget process."

THE Australian Government is calling for submissions on the proposed rules and regulations for the Emissions Reduction Fund safeguard mechanism.

The safeguard mechanism will start on 1 July 2016 and will be an integral part of the Emissions Reduction Fund – along with the crediting and purchasing elements.

"The Government has already consulted extensively on the design of the safeguard mechanism, and the draft rules and regulations released today include feedback from businesses and community groups on the consultation paper released in March 2015," Federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt said.

"Businesses and the community are invited to make submissions about the drafting of the safeguard mechanism regulations by 16 September 2015 and rules by 21 September 2015.

"The safeguard mechanism has been designed to ensure that emissions reductions purchased by the Government are not displaced by significant increases in emissions above business-as-usual levels elsewhere in the economy.

"The Government will consider the submissions received during this public consultation period before finalising the rules and regulations next month.

"A final decision on business access to high quality, prescribed international units under the safeguard mechanism will be reviewed in 2017-18 subject to the accounting rules established following the Paris climate conference later this year.

"With our Direct Action plan we will meet Australia's 2030 target of reducing emissions by 26-28 per cent below 2005 levels.

"Only the Coalition is committed to taking serious action to tackle climate change without hurting Australian families and businesses in the process with a painful carbon tax. We are already achieving significant results.

"In just the first Emissions Reduction Fund auction, the Government has contracted more than 47 million tonnes of emissions reductions. That's around four times the amount of emissions reduction achieved during Labor's carbon tax experiment – and we've achieved it at around one per cent of the cost."

For more information about the Emissions Reduction Fund, visit www.environment.gov.au/emissions-reduction-fund.

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THE BOARD of Hunter Water Corporation (Hunter Water) has resolved to explore the sale of its multi-award winning Kooragang Island Water Scheme (KIWS).

Proceeds from the sale will be used by Hunter Water as part of its commitment to invest over $1 billion in new water and wastewater infrastructure over the coming decade.

The KIWS is an advanced water treatment plant located within the industrial precinct of Steel River in Mayfield West which uses a micro-filtration and reverse osmosis process to produce recycled water superior in quality to rain.

Commissioned in November 2014, the plant is capable of delivering up to 3.3 billion litres of highly treated recycled water per annum, which is sold under a long term contract with fertiliser and explosives manufacturer Orica.

Hunter Water Interim Chief Executive Officer Jeremy Bath said the sale would have no impact on the operation of the Plant, on the local water supply or on water prices.

"The KIWS will continue to supply Orica with several billion litres of recycled water each year, regardless of who owns it and so the proposed sale will have no impact on the local water supply. The plant is considered by our pricing regulator to be an “unregulated asset” meaning any costs or income associated with the plant are not considered when determining water prices.

"Selling the KIWS benefits Hunter Water's balance sheet by freeing up capital to invest in the region over the coming decade and will also reduce expenditure on servicing the borrowings associated with its construction.

"Hunter Water intends to invest more than $1 billion to improve infrastructure over the coming ten years as part of our commitment to ensure the region is ready for the population growth forecast over the coming three decades.

"By carefully and selectively identifying assets that free up capital, Hunter Water can ensure we still get the benefits that come with infrastructure such as the KIWS, but without the substantial associated costs.

"The Kooragang Island Water Scheme has the potential to reduce Orica's demand on the potable water supply by up to 5%, effectively increasing Hunter Water’s storage levels by that same amount. It has also substantially increased the percentage of sewage we recycle to around 8% of total wastewater.

"Given the quality of the plant and the rarity of such assets on the open market, I expect there will be a substantial number of interested parties," he said.

Those wishing to register their interest are invited to contact Pottinger on +61 2 9225 8000.

The KIWS is currently owned by Hunter Water, but operated and maintained by Veolia.

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AUSTRALIA’s resource industry is disappointed the Federal Parliament chose not to support the government’s tough stance against union corruption and unlawfulness, with the Senate voting down legislation to restore the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC).

“In the current environment it is beyond belief that the Senate has voted against a more effective industrial watchdog for the construction industry, and more severe penalties for those found to be breaking the law,” says Australian Mines and Metals Association (AMMA) chief executive Steve Knott.

“This sends a very bad signal that our parliament is not interested in cleaning up the unlawfulness and thuggery bringing down one of Australia’s most important industries.

“As the Senate voted against a more effective regulator, the existing FWBC agency launched yet another Federal Court prosecution against the CFMEU, this time alleging two officials forced their way onto a public school construction project, stopped work and coerced employees into signing up to the union.

“Under the current regulator the maximum penalties for such behaviour is $10,200 for an individual and $51,000 for the union. This is less than one-third of the penalties that would apply, at $180,000 for unions and $36,000 for individuals, if the Senate had today voted in favour of the ABCC.

“Australia needs stronger deterrents to stamp out thuggery, intimidation and illegality from our construction sector.  Strong deterrents also have clear economic benefits, with the former ABCC having delivered a 9% productivity increase, reduced industrial action and saved consumers $7.5 billion.”

Mr Knott says it is especially disappointing to see the Senate evenly divided, at 33 votes for and 33 against, on a key aspect of the Coalition’s pre-election policy platform that seemingly has broad community support.

He says continued efforts by the government to restore the ABCC should be supported, and a contingency plan developed to bolster the powers and penalties available to the FWBC.

“AMMA calls on the government to reintroduce this legislation as soon as possible and continue to work with crossbench senators to get it over the line,” Mr Knott adds.

“This may require confidential briefings on any serious cases of criminality, coercion and intimidation uncovered by the Royal Commission into Trade Union Corruption that have not yet been made public.

“If restoring the ABCC with its full former powers turns out to be politically unfeasible, the parliament could instead look to bolster the resources and deterrent penalties of the FWBC.

“With a record number of cases before the courts, the existing agency must be given all the tools it needs to successfully prosecute, penalise and discourage ongoing unlawful behaviour in our construction industry going forward.”

www.amma.org.au

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