Reference: 20200357 18 December 2020 s9(2)(a) s9(2)(a) Dear Thank you for your Official Information Act request, received on 21 October 2020. You requested the following: “1. Documents relating to Cabinet decisions on the $3 billion ‘shovel ready’ infrastructure fund. Specifically: b. Documents provided to Ministers for these cabinet meetings, including but not limited to, Cabinet papers. c. The Cabinet minutes for these meetings. 2. Documents relating to the wider decision-making process for the shovel ready infrastructure fund. Specifically: a. The names of all Ministers involved in deciding which of the 802 projects on the short list were to be funded. b. All briefing documents concerning the shovel ready infrastructure fund that were provided to Ministers c. Documents related to the full criteria used by Ministers in the ministerial decision-making process for the shovel ready infrastructure fund. d. A list of all the ministries, agencies, non-governmental organisations and consultants involved in providing advice to Ministers on the shovel ready infrastructure fund decisions and information on their role in the decision-making process. e. Any documents relating to consideration given to the Climate Change Response (Zero Carbon) Amendment Act 2019 in the decision-making process for the shovel ready infrastructure fund. f. Any documents relating to the use of the Sustainable Development Goals in the decision-making process by Ministers for the shovel ready infrastructure fund. g. Any documents relating to the Living Standards Framework in the decision- making process by Ministers for the shovel ready infrastructure fund. 3. I also specifically request the Cabinet paper and Treasury report T2020/1275 – the assessment of the top ten shovel-ready projects identified through the Crown Infrastructure Partners.” The Treasury extended your request by 21 working days on 17 November 2020. 1 The Terrace PO Box 3724 Wellington 6140 New Zealand tel. +64-4-472-2733 https://treasury.govt.nz Please find enclosed the following documents: Item Date Document Description Decision 1. 24 April 2020 Cabinet Paper: DEV-20-SUB-0056: Release in part Infrastructure Reference Group (IRG) establishment and work to date 2. 29 April 2020 Cabinet Minute: DEV-20-MIN-0056: Release in part Infrastructure Reference Group: Establishment and Work to Date 3. 21 May 2020 Joint Report T2020/1497: Infrastructure Release in part Reference Group Report - initial assessment and next steps 4. 26 May 2020 Aide Memoire T2020/1656: Further advice Release in full on an assessment framework for IRG 'shovel-ready' projects 5. 24 June 2020 Cabinet Minute: DEV-20-MIN-0114: Release in part Infrastructure Reference Group (IRG): Update on Infrastructure Projects 6. 24 June 2020 Cabinet Paper: DEV-20-SUB-0114: Update Release in part on Infrastructure Reference Group (IRG) Infrastructure Projects 7. 26 June 2020 Aide Memoire T2020/2168: Meeting with Release in part Crown Infrastructure Partners (CIP) 8. 17 July 2020 Aide Memoire T2020/2503: Cabinet Item - Release in part Talking Points: 'Delivering the 'Shovel Ready' Infrastructure Projects' 9. 17 July 2020 Joint Report T2020/2488: Appropriations for Release in part Infrastructure Reference Group Projects 10. 20 July 2020 Cabinet Minute: CAB-20-MIN-0341: Release in part Delivering the 'Shovel Ready' Infrastructure Projects 11. 20 July 2020 Cabinet Paper: CAB-20-SUB-0341: Release in part Delivering the ‘Shovel Ready’ Infrastructure Projects 12. 30 July 2020 T2020/2653: IRG Projects - final project Release in full approval process 13. 31 July 2020 T2020/2690: Changes to the Shortlist of Release in part 'Shovel Ready' Infrastructure Projects 14. 15 September T2020/3018: Further Appropriation Changes Release in part 2020 Relating to the Infrastructure Reference Group (IRG) Shovel Ready Projects 2 I have decided to release the relevant parts of the documents listed above, subject to information being withheld under one or more of the following sections of the Official Information Act, as applicable: • section 9(2)(g)(ii) – to maintain the effective conduct of public affairs through protecting ministers, members of government organisations, officers and employees from improper pressure or harassment, • section 9(2)(f)(iv) – to maintain the current constitutional conventions protecting the confidentiality of advice tendered by Ministers and officials, • section 9(2)(g)(i) – to maintain the effective conduct of public affairs through the free and frank expression of opinions, • section 9(2)(b)(ii) – to protect the commercial position of the person who supplied the information, or who is the subject of the information, • section 9(2)(i) – to enable the Crown to carry out commercial activities without prejudice or disadvantage, • section 9(2)(j) – to enable the Crown to negotiate without disadvantage or prejudice, • section 9(2)(k) – to prevent the disclosure of information for improper gain or improper advantage. Direct dial phone numbers of officials have been redacted under section 9(2)(k) in order to reduce the possibility of staff being exposed to phishing and other scams. This is because information released under the OIA may end up in the public domain, for example, on websites including Treasury’s website. Information publicly available The information listed in the table below is also covered by the request and available on the Treasury website. Accordingly, we recommend you refuse the request for this information under section 18(d) of the Official Information Act. Item Date Document Description Website Address 1. 1 March 2020 Treasury Report T2020/1275: https://www.treasury.govt.nz/publi ‘Shovel-ready’ Infrastructure cations/information- Projects – possible early release/shovel-ready- announcements infrastructure-projects 2. 9 October 2020 Supporting the economy https://covid19.govt.nz/updates- and-resources/legislation-and- key-documents/proactive- release/supporting-the-economy/ In making my decision, I have considered the public interest considerations in section 9(1) of the Official Information Act. 3 Please note that this letter (with your personal details removed) and enclosed documents may be published on the Treasury website. This reply addresses the information you requested. You have the right to ask the Ombudsman to investigate and review my decision. Yours sincerely David Taylor Manager, National Infrastructure Unit 4 20200357 Table of Contents 1. Cabinet Minute: DEV-20-MIN-0056: Infrastructure Reference Group (IRG) 1 establishment and work to date 2. Cabinet Paper: DEV-20-SUB-0056: Infrastructure Reference Group: Establishment 14 and Work to Date 3. Joint Report T2020/1497: Infrastructure Reference Group report - initial 16 assessment and next steps 4. Aide Memoire T2020/1656: An assessment framework to consider projects put 36 forward by the Infrastructure Reference Group: Aide Memoire 2020 5. Cabinet Minute: DEV-20-MIN-0114: Infrastructure Reference Group (IRG): Update 39 on Infrastructure Projects 6. Cabinet Paper: DEV-20-SUB-0114: Update on Infrastructure Reference Group (IRG) 43 Infrastructure Projects 7. Aide Memoire T2020/2168: Meeting with Crown Infrastructure Partners 216 8. Aide Memoire T2020/2503: Cabinet Item - Talking Points: 'Delivering the 'Shovel 220 Ready' Infrastructure Projects' 9. Joint Report T2020/2470: Appropriations for 'Infrastructure Reference Group' 223 Projects 10. Cabinet Minute: CAB-20-MIN-0341: Delivering the 'Shovel Ready' Infrastructure 228 Projects 11. Cabinet Paper: CAB-20-SUB-0341: Delivering the 'shovel ready' infrastructure 235 projects 12. T2020/2653: IRG Projects - Final project approval process 254 13. T2020/2690: Changes to the Shortlist of 'Shovel Ready' Infrastructure Projects 261 14. T2020/3018: Further Appropriation Changes Relating to the Infrastructure 268 Reference Group (IRG) Shovel Ready Projects 20200347 Doc 2 Page 1 of 287 Office of the Minister for Infrastructure Office of the Minister for Economic Development Office of the Minister for Infrastructure Chair, Cabinet Infrastructure Reference Group (IRG) establishment and work to date Proposal 1. This paper outlines the Terms of Reference and proposed approach for the newly established Infrastructure Reference Group (IRG) in response to the COVID-19 crisis. The IRG has been tasked with developing a report of possible infrastructure and construction projects and programmes that are ready, or close to ready, to get under way. The IRG has been told to seek projects that have high labour intensity, create economic and/or public benefit nationally or regionally and could be deployed as part of a stimulatory package, should Cabinet desire. Executive summary 2. The ability to execute any Government supported pipeline that is developed in an efficient and effective manner will require central Government to pull several levers, including legislative changes and funding. 3. The IRG was established due to concerns of a large downturn in the infrastructure and construction sector as a result of COVID-19. The overall sector is approximately 13 per cent of GDP, employs well over 500,000 people and many more indirectly, plays a crucial role in respect of a number of nationally important projects, and has the potential to stimulate the economy if managed well. 4. The IRG is providing advice to the Government on issues affecting the infrastructure and construction sector as a result of the COVID-19 situation. Its initial task is to identify ‘shovel ready/near ready’ infrastructure projects from local government, the public