Governments too secretive on new projects

The head of the Productivity Commission believes governments are too secretive about analysis of taxpayer funded projects by hiding behind the protection of "commercial in-confidence".

Peter Harris told the Committee for Economic Development in Australia conference in Canberra on Thursday that governments were way too defensive about publishing information.

"The bottom line is, make the case, treat the punters who are paying for this like their customers and give them the information ... publish the analysis," he said.