No appraisal of road projects by IA

An agency that advises the government on the merits of roads and rail projects never completed its appraisal of two major new roads before money was allocated to them.

Officials from Infrastructure Australia were asked on Tuesday whether the body had finished assessing the first stages of Melbourne's East West Link and Sydney's WestConnex projects before funding was allotted.

After much pressing from Labor senator Glen Sterle at the Senate estimates hearing, executive director Stephen Alchin admitted it had not.

"The answer would be no," he said.

Mr Alchin later clarified the body had completed its assessment based on the material available at the time.

It had not been possible to finish by then and there was "no clear answer" to whether it had really finished, since it was ongoing.

"This is bulldust," Senator Sterle said.