6. Question No. 6—InfrastructureCHRIS BISHOP (National—Hutt South) to the Minister for InfrastructureQuestion No. 6—Infrastructure6. CHRIS BISHOP (National—Hutt South) to the Minister for Infrastructure: What criteria if any did the Government use to allocate the $239 million announced yesterday from the $3 billion allocated to infrastructure in the COVID-19 Recovery and Response Fund and what explains the length of time between his announcement that the Government had had 1924 submissions to the Infrastructure Industry Reference Group and the announcement yesterday?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON (Minister of Finance) on behalf of the Minister for Infrastructure: The $239 million represents a sample of the types of projects we will be supporting. The overall investment package we announced yesterday includes around $210 million for climate resilience and flood protection projects $155 million for transformative energy projects about $180 million for large-scale construction projects and $50 million for enhanced regional digital connectivity. As for criteria the group was asked to develop a pipeline of projects that were shovel-ready meaning they could get under way within 12 months; preserved and created jobs; and had a national or regional benefit. As the member quite rightly points out more than 1900 submissions were received. Ministers received the initial Infrastructure Industry Reference Group report in mid-May. I believe the six weeks between then and yesterday is easily explained by the need to assess and prioritise the projects and move with alacrity and velocity.Chris Bishop: Why did the Infrastructure Commission not provide him with advice regarding the guidelines employed by the infrastructure reference group to assess the submissions it received when surely doing jobs like that is exactly why the Infrastructure Commission was established in the first place?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: As I covered yesterday in the House the Infrastructure Commission chair Alan Bollard was a member of the group alongside Mark Binns Brian Roche Greg Miller Rosie Mercer and Andrew Crisp. They all represented different parts of both the private and public sector and they were all involved in the process.Chris Bishop: Why has Auckland Council written three times to the Government without reply urging them to announce what of the 73 projects they put forward will be funded so they can finalise their budget?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: The question of why Auckland Council writes something is up to Auckland Council.SPEAKER: Yeah it is out of order clearly.Chris Bishop: Sorry do you want me to reword it Mr Speaker?SPEAKER: You can have another supplementary if you want to.Chris Bishop: Has he seen the comments from Peter Silcock from the civil contractors association namely: We need details in the form of specific projects and tenders coming to market ASAP or we may see extensive job losses" and why has it taken the Government so long to announce this alleged pipeline?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: I have seen those comments. I've also seen the comments this morning from Gisborne about a massive win for the region with the funding there; also from Rotorua this morning about the shot in the arm for this region with 1000 new homes and 300 jobs. I've seen the reports from the West Coast of $90 million being put in; $260 million in the Otago region—and it goes on. There will always be a wide variety of views but the regions are welcoming these announcements.Chris Bishop: How can the public have confidence in the figure of 20000 jobs to be created when the Government's own Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) data shows that the $3 billion PGF has created just 1200 jobs in nearly three years?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: I'll pass on to Mark Binns Alan Bollard Andrew Crisp Rosie Mercer and all of those people who were responsible for those estimates the member's cynicism.Chris Bishop: Can he assure the House that the full list of infrastructure projects will be known within the next two weeks or does he intend to drip-feed them out over the next 79 days?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: That is the plan—that they will be released as soon as we've done all of the final due diligence on them. And I'm sure the member will look forward to all of the announcements in the continuing headlines that we have seen today."