Alex Hawke (Mitchell, Liberal Party, Special Minister of State) Share 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: Defence High Performance Computing Centre project.

The Department of Defence is proposing to construct a new fit-for-purpose high-performance computing centre in the Defence Science and Technology Group precinct at RAAF Base Edinburgh in South Australia. The 2016 Defence white paper noted that the government recognises that Australian defence industry and scientific and technological research and development institutions have a critical role in providing the national support base upon which Defence relies to manage strategic risk.

To ensure Australia maintains an Australian Defence Force with the highest level of military capability, the government is making significant long-term investment in Defence's war-fighting equipment and supporting systems, research and development and the skills and training for our Defence people. The total estimated cost of the infrastructure project is $68.8 million, excluding GST. This includes management and design fees, construction costs and costs of furniture, fittings, equipment, information and communications technology, contingencies and risk and escalation provisions. Subject to parliamentary approval of the project, construction is expected to commence in early 2019 and be completed by mid-2020. I commend the motion to the House.

Question agreed to.

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