The Fast-track team confirmed on 4 November that agencies and expert panels will continue processing applications, appointing panels, and issuing decisions during the caretaker period.
The main qualification concerns ministerial decisions to accept or decline referral applications under section 21:
depending on the election outcome, these may require cross-party consultation or action on the incoming government’s advice.
From election day
In terms of the exercise of the Minister for Infrastructure's decision-making for referral applications during the caretaker period (before a new government is formed):
Decisions to invite comments on an application under section 17 of the Act and decisions to seek further information under section 20 of the Act will continue to be made.
If decisions under section 21 (to accept or decline a project referral application) are made:
where the outcome of the election is unclear, decisions may be made only after consultation with other political parties, to establish whether the proposed action has the support of a majority of the House
where it is clear who will form the new government, but they have not yet taken office, the outgoing government should act on the advice of the incoming government.