[Greens-Media] FW: MEDIA RELEASE: 'Auditor General Confirms WestConnex Business Case “Deficient” and Fails to Meet Basic Standards; Greens MP calls for full Business Case Release and Inquiry' (Greens NSW MP Dr Mehreen Faruqi MLC)

[Matthew Hilton]

Media Release
18.12.14
Auditor General Confirms WestConnex Business Case “Deficient” and Fails to Meet Basic Standards; Greens MP calls for full Business Case Release and Inquiry
Greens NSW MP and Spokesperson for Transport has commented on the release of the Auditor General’s report into the WestConnex project, which has highlighted severe deficiencies in the business case, governance arrangements and the lack of independent overview and assurance, including failing to meet the Government’s own standards, such as the Major Projects Assurance Framework.

Dr Faruqi said:

“The Auditor General’s report into the WestConnex toll road provides a real insight into this Government’s failure to go through best practice independent reviews of the business case that have resulted in the preliminary business case being ‘deficient and fell well short of the standard required for such a document.

“The one and only external review of the preliminary Westconnex business case was done in June 2013 and there was so little information that the reviewers could not form a view as to whether it represented value for money. This is totally unacceptable for a $15 billion dollar project – the largest toll road in Australia.

“It is baffling that both the Liberal Government and the Labor Opposition continue to push for the WestConnex toll road to be built when the project and the process have so many flaws.

“Shockingly, the final business case was never put through a formal external ‘gateway’ review process even after red flags were raised about funding and value for money.

“It seems as if in their rush to get shovels on the ground for this wasteful Westconnex toll road, this government has cast aside even basic principles of risk management, independent review and assurance.

“The Auditor General’s report also cast doubt on the published cost benefit ratio that the Government is claiming, which only further adds to the calls for transparency on this matter.

“This report confirms what the community, transport experts and the Greens have been highlighting - that there are major issues with the business case. It is now clear why the Government is fighting tooth and nail to keep this sub-standard business case secret from the public.

“With so many unanswered questions and deficiencies around cost benefit, traffic projections and financial analysis, the Government must make the business case public before the March 2015 election.

“This report raises more than enough questions to warrant a parliamentary inquiry, something I gave notice of in May 2014 and will be moving in the new parliament.

“There is also deep concerns expressed in the report about conflicts of interest as those responsible for providing independent advice to the Government are the same implementing the Westconnex project.

“These conflicts of interest and lack of independent reviews certainly explain the chaos and confusion that is the WestConnex project’, she concluded.

The Auditor’s Report: https://www.audit.nsw.gov.au/ArticleDocuments/351/01_Westconnex_Full_Report.pdf.aspx?Embed=Y

Media contact: Matt Hilton for Dr Mehreen Faruqi 9230 2625| 0423 106 247