Gary Nairn (Eden-Monaro, Liberal Party, Special Minister of State) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Works Committee Act 1969, the following proposed work be referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works for consideration and report: Villawood Immigration Detention Centre redevelopment, Sydney, NSW.

The Department of Finance and Administration and the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs jointly propose to undertake a major redevelopment, at an estimated cost of $175.83 million, of the Villawood Immigration Detention Centre, which is located in Sydney, New South Wales.

The Villawood Immigration Detention Centre needs to be upgraded to: replace ageing infrastructure; provide appropriate facilities to meet general community standards; improve the living conditions and amenity for detainees; improve operational efficiency and modernise security; and incorporate relevant recommendations from the Palmer report.

Subject to parliamentary approval, early works are planned to commence in mid 2007 with high-priority facilities to be completed by late 2008. The whole project is programmed for completion in late 2009. I commend the motion to the House.

Question agreed to.