Graham Perrett (Moreton, Australian Labor Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

On behalf of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works, I present the committee's report No. 5 of 2024, Department of Defence—Canberra Defence precinct tranche 1 Australian Defence Force academy living-in accommodation project and other works.

Report made a parliamentary paper in accordance with standing order 39(e).

by leave—This report considers six proposals referred to the committee with a combined value of just over $2.1 billion. The first proposal, from the Department of Defence, with a costing of just over $1 billion, is for the demolition and replacement of living-in accommodation for trainee officers at the Australian Defence Force Academy. The second proposal, from Parks Australia, is for essential services for the Mutitjulu community at Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. The third proposal is from the Department of Veterans' Affairs for the fit-out of newly leased office premises. The fourth proposal is another fit-out, this time from the Department of Finance, for Commonwealth parliament offices in Perth, Western Australia. And the fifth and sixth proposals are from the Department of Defence for the redevelopments of the Albury Wodonga Military Area and RAAF Base Wagga respectively.

The Canberra Defence precinct tranche 1 Australian Defence Force academy living-in accommodation project will replace existing living-in accommodation facilities and associated infrastructure at the Australian Defence Force Academy, ADFA, in Canberra. The current facilities are approaching their end of life and do not have sufficient capacity to accommodate the current or forecast numbers of trainee officers. Defence hopes that the replacement of the current ADFA living-in accommodation facilities with contemporary, safe and suitable accommodation will support defence recruitment and retention.

Additionally, the existing ADFA accommodation has been the subject of scrutiny over past decades, with trainee officers reporting they are experiencing bullying and sexual violence. The new build will address these concerns, as the structures will offer clear lines of sight throughout the facilities and, therefore, passive surveillance from staff and other cadets. Private ensuite bathrooms will replace shared facilities. The committee appreciates the new design may decrease instances of bullying and sexual violence but also urges Defence to focus on the improvement of workplace culture in order to address any poor behaviour by trainee officers.

In this report the committee notes that this project was referred to the committee at an earlier stage than normal. The proposal has not yet received National Capital Authority approval and is subject to change as a result of that approval process. The committee recommends the Department of Defence refer future projects for public works scrutiny at a design level of 50 per cent or greater to enable fair and transparent community consultation. The committee also recommends that Defence work with the National Capital Authority to adjust the design to include six-storey accommodation buildings, rather than four, as well as the installation of electric vehicle charging stations—appropriate ones. The committee believes both modifications will help futureproof the ADFA campus.

On a similar note, the committee is concerned by the forecast significant increase to ongoing operating costs, despite the inclusion of a number of energy efficient and sustainable principles incorporated into the design. The committee recommends that Defence consider further design options which reduce the ongoing operation costs. Finally, the committee recommends that Defence advises the committee of the estimated cost of the required power supply upgrades, since this is agreed with Evoenergy.

The second proposal is the Parks Australia upgrade and replacement of essential services for the Mutitjulu Indigenous community, the recognised traditional owners of Uluru. The project will improve habitability and safety within the community as well as increased capacity for anticipated growth in the population and infrastructure. The total cost of the proposed project is $91.87 million. The committee recognises the necessity of these works to ensure access to basic living conditions for the Mutitjulu committee and is pleased that the updated services infrastructure will support other facilities desired by the community such as a health clinic and a new supermarket.

The third project in this report is the Department of Veterans' Affairs' proposed fit-out of newly leased office premises at 18 Marcus Clarke Street, Canberra. The project will provide modern office accommodation with enhanced technology that meets Commonwealth density targets, supports organisation agility and flexibility, promotes staff wellbeing and services the veteran community. The total cost of the public works is $29.6 million. The committee supports this public works, noting that the department conducted a thorough consultation process in order to absorb learnings from previous Commonwealth department fit-outs in the same building.

The fourth proposal is the Department of Finance's fit-out of new Commonwealth parliament offices in Perth, Western Australia. These works will provide fit-for-purpose, safe and secure accommodation for ministers, parliamentarians and their staff, as well as accommodating facility and admin support staff who operate and manage the offices. The total cost of the public works is $38.2 million. The committee supports the project and appreciates that the design of the fit-out is flexible and able to accommodate new suites and accompanying workspaces as necessary in the future.

The fifth and sixth proposals are redevelopments by the Department of Defence at the Albury Wodonga Military Area and RAAF Base Wagga. The aim of both projects is to sustain existing personnel throughout and increase the trained permanent workforce of officers and aviators in technical and logistics disciplines and trades. Defence believes site upgrades and the replacement of infrastructure as well as the construction of new living and accommodation, messing and training facilities will deliver this objective. The total costs of the public works are $395.7 million and $590 million respectively.

The committee would like to extend its thanks to all those who provided written and oral evidence in support of these inquiries, as well as the personnel who facilitated inspections of the various proposed sites right around the country. For each project the committee recommends that it is expedient that the proposed works be carried out.

I commend the report to the House.

Keith Pitt (Hinkler, National Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

by leave—Whilst I won't repeat what the chair has covered, I will say it is a significant investment of over $2 billion that is covered in these projects and over $1 billion for the Australian Defence Force Academy here in Canberra. I'll be generous. We did see as a committee and hear from witnesses, with that generosity, some confusion between the National Capital Authority and Defence around the ability, or lack of, to build accommodation of different levels, as in four storeys to six storeys. That would make a significant difference in an area like ADFA, here in Canberra where the footprint and the land are so valuable. We think that we've addressed those issues between those organisations, and I would hope that, before any further construction is planned or attempted, those organisations will get together and determine what an appropriate height is to get the maximum benefit not only for the participants but of course for the taxpayers, who are paying for these facilities.

In RAAF Base Wagga there were some elements that I saw that were of concern to me, as the deputy chair. One of which was what appears to be an all-electric policy for Defence. Wagga has a gas reticulation system, which is apparently to be either removed or disconnected as part of a significant upgrade at Wagga. To me, that is foolish in the extreme. It is a very, very cold location. We were there a few weeks ago with the chair. Just as a brief aside, the chair and I did find ourselves at the International Hotel Wagga Wagga, which was also the home for the New South Wales state Nationals' conference, which was a bit uncomfortable, I think, for the chair on occasions! However, he did take it in good spirit, and I have to say that I was unaware that that was the case, but that's where we were.

Given the weather conditions and given the thousands of people that will utilise the mess and the renewed accommodation, for example, I think the concept that it can be all electric and avoid gas is one that is actually quite foolish. You should use the resources that are there that work and that are functional, whether they are gas or electric. This is actually about providing services for people. We want them in our armed forces, and we need to provide the best opportunity for them to do what they do, particularly in training.

Mutitjulu was quite an incredible experience, I have to say, and I thank all of those involved, from the secretariat right through to the participants and those individuals who provided evidence. Clearly, it is a community which has been built in an ad hoc manner over a number of decades. When it comes to infrastructure, it does need a significant upgrade, for both sewerage and electrical distribution. Of course, the local workforce has to be provided that work in a way which is not overwhelming. It is very, very remote work and it is quite challenging, particularly given the weather conditions and the availability of pretty much anything. Everything has to be brought in; you can't duck down to the local Bunnings. It is a very, very long way from the source of supply. So, for those who will be doing that work, I think it's being well managed and well handled by Parks Australia and others to ensure there is as much participation from local providers as possible. That, of course, continues to develop local skills and opportunities. I think that's one of the things that we are all in this parliament to help achieve right across the country.

With that, I thank all participants. I thank Defence. It's a big country, and it's a very significant spend. Of course we support those projects going forward in what is a very important period of time for our nation.