Order to Establish the National Faster Rail Agency as an Executive Agency

Public Service Act 1999

Order to Establish the National Faster Rail Agency as an Executive Agency

I, General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove AK MC (Ret’d), Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council and under section 65 of the Public Service Act 1999:

(a)        establish the National Faster Rail Agency as an Executive Agency;

(b)       allocate the name National Faster Rail Agency to the Executive Agency;

(c)        allocate the name Chief Executive Officer to the Head of the Executive Agency;

(d)       identify the Minister for Population, Cities and Urban Infrastructure as the Minister responsible for the Executive Agency;

(e)        specify the functions of the National Faster Rail Agency be as follows:

1. lead the development and implementation of the Commonwealth Government’s 20‑year Fast Rail Plan;
2. oversee the development of business cases with state and territory governments, ensuring that population and transport policy objectives are met;
3. identify additional rail corridors that would benefit from faster rail services over the long term, in consultation with state and territory governments, industry and stakeholders;
4. work with relevant state and territory governments in the delivery of faster rail construction projects;
5. develop an investment strategy recommending how faster rail projects can be staged to link future expenditure to investment need, and increase community and industry confidence to reduce market pressures;
6. work in partnership with the Infrastructure and Project Financing Agency to explore alternative funding and financing options for faster rail, such as private sector contributions and value capture opportunities; and
7. provide advice on options to future proof corridors for high-speed rail, including the need for technical guidelines, corridor planning and protection.

This Order will commence on 1 July 2019.

Dated    29th May 2019                   

(signed Peter Cosgrove)

Peter Cosgrove

Governor-General

By His Excellency’s Command

(signed Scott Morrison)

Scott Morrison

Prime Minister