Tony Zappia (Makin, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

On behalf of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works, I present the committee's report, Report 7/2021: Referral made June 2021.

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

by leave—On behalf of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works, and also on behalf of the chair of the committee, the member for O'Connor, I present the committee's seventh report for 2021. Report No. 7 of 2021 considers one proposal referred to the committee in June 2021. The proposal is the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation's construction of a national collections building, with approval sought from the committee to develop new facilities at the Black Mountain Science and Innovation Park in Canberra. The estimated cost of this project is $70 million excluding GST.

The project aims to consolidate all Canberra based national collections in one location through the development of a new national collections building and refurbishment of some existing buildings. The establishment of a national collections building will ensure Australia remains a global leader in biological research and innovation. The project will deliver state-of-the-art biodiversity research facilities and will guarantee the preservation, access and use of over 13 million specimens from Australia's national insect, wildlife and plant collections. I thank the CSIRO for their highly detailed presentation and briefing.

Although the committee was unable to travel to the Black Mountain site to inspect the proposed works, CSIRO provided sufficient detail in their presentation and briefing to ensure the committee was able to appreciate the importance and the nature of the work. I also thank my committee members and the secretariat for assisting with the process. The committee recommends that the House find it expedient that the construction of a national collections building for CSIRO proceed. I commend the report to the House.

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