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

On behalf of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works, I present the following reports: report No. 1 of 2025: Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water—Davis Station critical infrastructure works and other works and report No. 2 of 2025: Department of Defence—facilities to support LAND 8113 phase 1 long range fires and other works.

Reports made parliamentary papers in accordance with standing order 39(e).

by leave—On behalf of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works, I present the committee's first and second reports for 2025. Together these reports consider seven proposals referred to the committee by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water; Services Australia; the Department of Defence; the Australian Sports Commission; and the Australian Electoral Commission. In total, these works have a combined value of just over $1,123,000,000. The two proposals from the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water together sought to spend $293 million to update infrastructure at the Antarctic research facility, Davis station, and deliver a cold-water marine research aquarium on the Derwent estuary in Hobart, Tasmania.

Davis station is one of three permanent Australian research stations in Antarctica. It is used to conduct research on upper atmosphere physics, geosciences, medicine, meteorology, environmental remediation, climate change, biological sciences and seabirds. Scientists, operation staff, tradespeople and support staff reside at the station year round to maintain the facilities and support ongoing scientific activities. The current buildings and infrastructure are aged or at end of life and this is limiting the number or researchers able to be accommodated at the station.

The works will update old water, power and mechanical systems, allowing an increase in accommodation capacity from 69 people in summer to 91 and from 30 people in winter to 35. Critical to the work is the diversification of the station's water supply. The current water supply produces water only in summer. A new reverse osmosis plant will make it possible to produce potable water all year round.

The works will be delivered in a program alliance model, a form of contracting which allows the Commonwealth to collaborate with non-owner designers and constructors. The alliance will deliver a program of works in Antarctica, of which this is the first. The committee was satisfied that the alliance will successfully address program outcomes in the extreme construction environment of Antarctica and did not have any concerns with the proposal.

The other project being delivered by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water will deliver a cold water research aquarium, furthering scientific understanding of the biology of Antarctic krill and related species, as well as answer critical research questions on the effects of climate change and ocean acidification on the Southern Ocean ecosystem. Antarctic krill are a critical keystone species in the Southern Ocean, and Australia is a world leader in this research. The works will deliver the fit-out of a cold shell currently being constructed on the University of Tasmania campus. The fit-out will include a sea water intake pump station, a water treatment system, a water cooling and heating system as well as office and research spaces. The new facility will be able to connect to the mobile aquarium on board the icebreaker RSV Nuyina, providing for safer and more efficient specimen transfer. The committee visited the site earlier in the parliament and commends the department on their international leadership in krill research. The committee was satisfied with the proposal.

The two proposals from Services Australia sought approval for new office fit-outs for their offices in Canberra and in Townsville. The combined spend for the fit-outs comes to just over $143 billion. The Canberra office fit-out is taking place at the Caroline Chisholm Centre at 57 Athlon Drive, Greenway, and the Townsville fit-out on 186 Walker Street, Townsville.

The purpose of the Canberra fit-out is to consolidate four office sites into two by the year 2027. The leases at two of the existing office sites are due to expire, and the fit-outs are old and at the end of their useful life. The consolidation of the offices will also allow Services Australia to meet the government's desired targets for occupancy density of office space as well as increase efficiencies and reduce security risks as staff are brought into closer physical proximity. The scope of the works will see the number of workstations reduced from one staff member per workstation to a ratio of 10 staff to eight workstations. This ratio reflects the changing nature of office utilisation, with hot desking having become the norm and many staff utilising flexible working arrangements, as most politicians would understand. The fit-out will also include meeting and conference rooms, utility and store rooms, secure rooms, training rooms, breakout spaces, staff amenities and communication equipment rooms. The committee did not have any concerns with the proposal and was pleased that learnings from previous Services Australia fit-outs are being incorporated into the design and scope of the proposed works.

The Townsville office fit-out will similarly consolidate office space from two sites into one. Services Australia has a large presence in Townsville, with the officers there supporting the needs of Services Australia around the country at its face-to-face sites, smart centres, processing sites and occasional pop-up facilities, particularly noteworthy during disasters such as Cyclone Alfred. Services Australia considered extending their lease at their current premises, instead of pursuing the proposed works, but an approach to market showed that the new lease arrangement would provide better value for money. The committee was satisfied with this proposal.

The Department of Defence put forward a $376.7 million project to support the land-based long-range missile capability of the Australian Defence Force. The works will be delivered at both Puckapunyal Military Area, in Victoria, and the Edinburgh Defence Precinct, in South Australia. The scope of the works includes the refurbishment of the schools of artillery at Puckapunyal and at Edinburgh, the construction of a new headquarters, a combat services support battery, workshop facilities, and living and accommodation. The committee was satisfied with the proposal, noting that Defence's community engagement may prove more accessible with the inclusion of a social media strategy.

The Australian Electoral Commission sought to spend just over $35 million for a fit-out of a new leased office premises, something that all MPs and senators have an interest in. The works will see agency staff moved into a single purpose-built office space in the Canberra CBD. The agency notes that the consolidation will reduce the total net lettable area of office space; improve communication and collaboration between decision-makers, support teams and the command centre; as well as deliver an agile working model office set-up. The works will fit-out levels 2 to 7 at 26 Narellan Street, Canberra. The office will have an open plan layout for all staff and include workstation settings, bookable offices, breakout spaces and meeting rooms. The works will provide flexibility around possible future ways of working, as well as surge capacity during democratic events. The committee was satisfied with the proposed works and that the reduced net lettable area and agile office set-up would not negatively impact the Australian Electoral Commission's ability to successfully manage democratic events during the transition, which I think it's a Public Service speak for elections

Lastly, the Australian Sports Commission sought approval for a $250 million revitalisation of the Australian Institute of Sport, the AIS. The committee was shown around the site on Monday by the CEO, a gentleman by the name of Kieran Perkins, who well knows the benefits of training at the AIS. I seem to recall that he could swim a little bit. In fact, I think he set a couple of world records at the AIS, he mentioned. The works will enhance the AIS Canberra campus in the lead-up to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The AIS is the central hub for high-performance sports, providing accommodation, training facilities, recovery centres and sports science services, but it also caters for locals and internationals as well as that core group.

The works will deliver a new athlete village, a multisport dome and a high-performance training and testing centre. The new facilities will be useful far beyond the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, as they will continue to support Australia's elite athletes. The works will be carried out in a way that ensures the training programs of elite athletes are not disrupted during the building phase. Instead of demolishing and rebuilding existing facilities, the proposed works will be built greenfield. The works will deliver an additional 200 beds to accommodate elite para-athletes and able-bodied athletes, a synthetic pitch suitable for a large variety of team sports and a multisport gymnastic area suitable for sports like gymnastics, basketball, netball, tennis, badminton, volleyball, cricket, skateboarding, sport climbing and BMX.

The committee was satisfied with the project and welcomes the inclusion of facilities for non-traditional sports in the design. The committee thanks the AIS for accommodating it on a site inspection of the proposed worksites. Seeing the AIS campus in person impressed upon us the need for accommodation which further supports both our Olympian and Paralympian athletes, including having extra-long beds.

On a different note, the honourable Keith Pitt, the former member for Hinkler, resigned as Deputy Chair of the Public Works Committee on 19 January this year to take up a new role representing our nation at the Holy See. I wish Keith and Allison all the best there, and I hope to catch up with them sometime soon. On behalf of the committee, I'd like to thank Keith for his dedicated service as the Deputy Chair of the Public Works Committee throughout the 47th Parliament. He remained committed to public works oversight ever since joining the committee back in 2022. His technical expertise and experience both in government and elsewhere in business and his excellent common sense provided valuable perspective for the committee's discussions and decisions. On behalf of the committee, I wish him all the best in his future endeavours, and I welcome Mr Andrew Willcox, the member for Dawson, as the incoming deputy chair.

I've decided not to stand for re-election for the next parliament, meaning these are the last public works inquiries to be tabled by me. I've enjoyed serving as the chair and deputy chair of the committee over the last decade or so. I've travelled to many interesting locations, including Norfolk Island in the member for Bean's electorate and also the Cocos (Keeling) Islands and Christmas Island—all over Australia! I've met any number of clever and hardworking public servants, particularly on Defence bases—all people who ensure the success of the government of the day's operations. And I've learnt more Defence acronyms than I ever expected to learn.

Back to the projects. The committee would like to extend its thanks to all those who provided written and oral evidence in support of the inquiries being tabled today. Thank you also to the staff from the various departments and agencies for accommodating the committee on a number of site inspections across Australia. It's always valuable for the Public Works Committee to see the location of proposed works and to get a feel for the conditions of current facilities when considering multimillion-dollar proposals. For all projects, the committee recommends that it is expedient that the proposed works be carried out. I commend the reports to the House.