$1000 a day for NAIF’s travels
Tightening controls on council conflicts
STAFF and board members of the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility spent nearly $1000 a day on travel in just a year, despite only flagging one project for a loan.
The NAIF’s first annual report shows the regional economic development agency’s seven board members and 10 full-time staff spent a total $347,000 traversing the continent last financial year.
The agency’s headquarters are in Cairns, however, the report states it also has employees based in Efic – the Federal Government’s export credit agency – in Sydney.
Since it was launched in June last year, only one project has received support from the NAIF, an $18.6 million concessional loan to the builder of the Onslow base supporting shipping along the West Australian coast linked to oil and gas exports.
The NAIF says it has fielded inquiries about funding a further 140 projects, including 32 in Queensland.
A NAIF spokesman said the facility was committed to identifying projects that created jobs and grew the economy in Northern Australia.
“NAIF staff and board members will continue doing what they can to unlock those benefits,” he said.
“This will require travel across the country to meet and work closely with proponents, investors and others who want to build projects that grow the country’s north.”
Earlier this year, the Turnbull government was criticised for allowing NAIF board members to earn more than $500,000 a year, while only meeting a few times since the $5 billion program was announced.
The report shows the board met six times during the 12month period. Some meetings were held in Northern Australia, including Cairns, Rockhampton and Darwin.
Opposition spokesman for Northern Australia Jason Clare said the travel costs showed how “out of touch” the government was with what the Far North needed.
“Instead of delivering infrastructure projects for the North, (the government) has made the choice to blow more than half a million dollars on executive salaries and travel perks,” he said.
“Not one project has been approved in Far North Queensland by the conservatives and not one job created.”
NAIF STAFF AND BOARD MEMBERS WILL CONTINUE DOING WHAT THEY CAN TO UNLOCK THOSE BENEFITS NAIF SPOKESMAN
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A SUITE of proposed changes to local government laws would force councillors to explicitly state the details of any conflicts of interest that arise in public meetings.
The Local Government Act amendments before Queensland Parliament will apply to councils across the state if passed, tightening the current rules and making correct administrative processes more clearly delineated.
In response to Queensland Ombudsman Phil Clarke’s investigation into Cairns Regional Council’s flawed declaration process, the State Government outlined what would be required if amendments were passed.
The changes would have statewide implications.
If conflicts arise because of a relationship with another person or a donation received, councillors will have to tell the meeting the name of the person, the nature of the relationship, what interest the other the person holds and the date a gift was received.
Mr Clarke found the Act in its current form created “uncertainty in terms of what is expected of councillors when making conflict of interest declarations during meetings”.
“I referred this issue to the department for its consideration,” he continued.