Public submissions now open on PWA Critical Infrastructure Bill

The Public Works (Critical Infrastructure) Amendment Bill passed its first reading in Parliament on 15 May 2025.

In March, the Minister for Land Information and the Minister for Infrastructure announced amendments to the PWA to enable critical infrastructure projects.

The proposed legislative changes include:

• introduce new incentive payments for landowners to agree to their land being sold
• streamline the process for objection to land acquisition

The changes will apply to certain major infrastructure projects listed on Schedule 2 of the Fast-track Approvals Act that are public works, and the Roads of National Significance identified in the Government Policy on Land Transport 2024.  

Public submissions to the Transport and Infrastructure Committee are now open until 13 June 2025 on the Parliament website - Public Works (Critical Infrastructure) Amendment Bill. 

The Committee’s report back to the House is due on 16 September 2025.