Australian Institute of Project Management voices concerns around new cabinet titles
Announcement posted by Australian Institute of Project Management (AIPM) 22 Jul 2016
The Australian Institute of Project Management (AIPM) welcomes the re-appointment of Darren Chester as Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, and of Paul Fletcher as the Minister for Urban Infrastructure.
“AIPM congratulates Ministers Chester and Fletcher and we look forward to working with them to drive improvement in the delivery of infrastructure projects across Australia,” said Yvonne Butler, CEO of AIPM. “Both Ministers are experienced in the portfolios and understand the significant economic and social contribution of infrastructure.
“AIPM joins with other professional bodies to highlight the criticality of the Ministers prioritising Infrastructure Australia’s 15-Year Plan, which sets out a long term blueprint to ensure Australia’s infrastructure can deal with future challenges. We are currently working closely with Infrastructure Australia and will be pleased to support the realisation of the plan.
AIPM notes with some concern the title change for Minister Fletcher from Minister for Major Projects Territories and Local Government to his new title. Prime Minister Turnbull has said that the new title was a way of “clarifying” Fletcher’s role in delivering a major raft of infrastructure projects in urban areas across Australia.
Ms Butler said that the explicit focus on delivery of these major projects should not be under-estimated. “Too many projects in Australia still fail to deliver the required value and benefits anticipated in business cases. This is in no small part due to the fact that there is insufficient focus on the governance of the projects and the effective utilisation of project managers who have been certified as competent by the peak body to actually deliver the projects.” AIPM cites the PwC report that found approximately 80% of projects classified as high performing use a certified project manager (PWC: Insights and Trends: Current Programme and Project Management Practices 2012. S)
“AIPM encourages the Federal Government to support the hiring and contracting of independently assessed project managers to help improve the performance of projects, especially major infrastructure projects.” MS Butler went on to say. “We estimate that these projects and the project managers who deliver them contribute in excess of 30% of Australia’s GDP. We must be relentless in safeguarding that policy implementation and social outcomes are delivered as efficiently and effectively as possible and Government leadership in this area is critical.
Ms Butler also noted that approximately 10% of the Australian workforce is involved in project management and that the opportunities for jobs in the public and private sectors over the coming years will be enormous, especially given the government focus on infrastructure.
“Further we would encourage the Government to ensure that the infrastructure projects that sit across the portfolios of Ministers Chester and Fletcher are managed in an integrated manner, as all portfolios should be. The interrelationships and interdependencies must be carefully planned and understood, as should the risks and opportunities inherent in each project and across programs.”
The Australian Institute of Project Management is the peak body for Project Management in Australia. Celebrating its 40th year, its aim is to drive the professionalism of project management and to be regarded as a world authority and advocate on project management practices and competency. Its mission is to foster the application of project management skills and techniques in order to deliver exceptional organisational outcomes. AIPM has been a key driver behind Australia becoming a world leader in professional participation in project management.
AIPM Chief Executive Officer Yvonne Butler will be available for comment at request.
Media Contact: Michael Martin
National Manager Marketing and Communications, AIPM
P: +61 2 8288 8751
E: mmartin@aipm.com.au
Twitter: @the_AIPM
22 July 2016
“AIPM congratulates Ministers Chester and Fletcher and we look forward to working with them to drive improvement in the delivery of infrastructure projects across Australia,” said Yvonne Butler, CEO of AIPM. “Both Ministers are experienced in the portfolios and understand the significant economic and social contribution of infrastructure.
“AIPM joins with other professional bodies to highlight the criticality of the Ministers prioritising Infrastructure Australia’s 15-Year Plan, which sets out a long term blueprint to ensure Australia’s infrastructure can deal with future challenges. We are currently working closely with Infrastructure Australia and will be pleased to support the realisation of the plan.
AIPM notes with some concern the title change for Minister Fletcher from Minister for Major Projects Territories and Local Government to his new title. Prime Minister Turnbull has said that the new title was a way of “clarifying” Fletcher’s role in delivering a major raft of infrastructure projects in urban areas across Australia.
Ms Butler said that the explicit focus on delivery of these major projects should not be under-estimated. “Too many projects in Australia still fail to deliver the required value and benefits anticipated in business cases. This is in no small part due to the fact that there is insufficient focus on the governance of the projects and the effective utilisation of project managers who have been certified as competent by the peak body to actually deliver the projects.” AIPM cites the PwC report that found approximately 80% of projects classified as high performing use a certified project manager (PWC: Insights and Trends: Current Programme and Project Management Practices 2012. S)
“AIPM encourages the Federal Government to support the hiring and contracting of independently assessed project managers to help improve the performance of projects, especially major infrastructure projects.” MS Butler went on to say. “We estimate that these projects and the project managers who deliver them contribute in excess of 30% of Australia’s GDP. We must be relentless in safeguarding that policy implementation and social outcomes are delivered as efficiently and effectively as possible and Government leadership in this area is critical.
Ms Butler also noted that approximately 10% of the Australian workforce is involved in project management and that the opportunities for jobs in the public and private sectors over the coming years will be enormous, especially given the government focus on infrastructure.
“Further we would encourage the Government to ensure that the infrastructure projects that sit across the portfolios of Ministers Chester and Fletcher are managed in an integrated manner, as all portfolios should be. The interrelationships and interdependencies must be carefully planned and understood, as should the risks and opportunities inherent in each project and across programs.”
The Australian Institute of Project Management is the peak body for Project Management in Australia. Celebrating its 40th year, its aim is to drive the professionalism of project management and to be regarded as a world authority and advocate on project management practices and competency. Its mission is to foster the application of project management skills and techniques in order to deliver exceptional organisational outcomes. AIPM has been a key driver behind Australia becoming a world leader in professional participation in project management.
AIPM Chief Executive Officer Yvonne Butler will be available for comment at request.
Media Contact: Michael Martin
National Manager Marketing and Communications, AIPM
P: +61 2 8288 8751
E: mmartin@aipm.com.au
Twitter: @the_AIPM
22 July 2016