Robert McClelland (Barton, Australian Labor Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

At the request of the Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Support, Dr Kelly, 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: RAAF Base Edinburgh redevelopment stage 2, South Australia.

For the information of members, the Department of Defence proposes to undertake redevelopment stage 2 at RAAF Base Edinburgh, in South Australia, at an estimated out-turn cost of $99.56 million, plus the goods and services tax component. The main role of RAAF Base Edinburgh is to provide maritime surveillance operations throughout Australia’s airspace and operations related to information warfare. The project will provide improved infrastructure services, upgrade existing security for the base and provide new air-side and domestic facilities to improve the overall capability of the base. The object of the referral and the proposal is to enhance those capabilities. Subject to parliamentary approval, construction will commence in late 2009 and be completed by 2012. I commend the motion to the House.

Peter Lindsay (Herbert, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise to support this motion. As I move about Australia’s defence bases, it is obvious that there are at a lot of ageing components at the bases. It is important that we give the men and women of the Australian Defence Force the best working accommodation that we can. I was part of the Public Works Committee inquiry into the redevelopment of RAAF Base Edinburgh stage 1. That redevelopment has been completed and has made a major difference to the base. As RAAF Base Edinburgh gets folded into the Edinburgh defence precinct, that super base continues to grow. I am hopeful that the defence white paper will pay significant attention to the state of our bases and the infrastructure on our bases and will recommend a way forward to make sure that all of our bases are brought up to speed.

The Public Works Committee, of which I am a member, has resolved hearing dates for this particular program and we will do it as expeditiously as possible. I support the consideration of RAAF Base Edinburgh stage 2 redevelopment at a cost of $99.56 million.

Question agreed to.