New appointments address ‘capability gaps’ in ARTC after critical report

New appointments to the body tasked with delivering the Inland Rail from Melbourne to Brisbane will help address ‘capability gaps’ in the ARTC, the government says.

Dr Collette Burke

The federal government on Monday announced the appointment of NSW Independent Planning Commissioner Peter Duncan and inaugural Victorian Chief Engineer Dr Collette Burke to the Australian Rail Track Corporation board.

Mr Duncan will chair the ARTC with Dr Burke joining as a non-executive director.

The appointments comes as the government continues to sit on an unreleased independent report that raised serious concerns about the project, which is designed to increase freight rail capacity along the east coast.

“The government recognises the importance of the ARTC Board having strong leadership and the experience and capability to effectively and responsibly manage the company’s operations, including the Interstate Network and government-funded infrastructure projects,” transport and infrastructure minister Catherine King said in a statement.

“The appointments of Mr Duncan and Dr Burke are an important step in addressing the current capability gaps of the board.”

Concerns about governance and delivery

Mr Duncan has over 40 years experience in government. He is also current chair of WaterNSW and a board member of Projects Victoria. He’s a former chief executive of NSW Roads and Maritime Services, former director general  of the NSW Department of Services Technology and Administration and managing director of Forests NSW.

Dr Burke is an engineer with 25 years experience in infrastructure construction and was Victoria’s inaugural chief engineer.

Both terms are for three years.

Mr Duncan takes over from Warren Truss who stepped down as ARTC Chair last November.

Finance minister Katy Gallagher said the appointment of Mr Duncan and Dr Bourke would help guide the future delivery of the Inland Rail.

The independent review of the Inland Rail project by Dr Kerry Schott, which is currently in the hands of the government, revealed “significant concerns about the governance and delivery of Inland Rail,” Ms King said.

“The Government intends to release Dr Schott’s report and the government’s response to its recommendations as soon as it has been fully considered,” she said.

On Monday ARTC CEO Mark Campbell told a senate estimates committee the board had not discussed the report with the minister.

“Management and board have had no briefing yet, and we haven’t seen a copy of the review,” he said.

“Our understanding is our new chair has had a discussion with Kerry Schott but we haven’t discussed any aspect of the review.”

The ARTC manages the national freight rail network and is tasked with delivering government funded infrastructure projects.

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