Mike Kelly (Eden-Monaro, Australian Labor Party, Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Support) Share this | Link to 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: Villawood Immigration Detention Facility, Sydney.

The Department of Immigration and Citizenship proposes to undertake a major redevelopment of the Villawood Immigration Detention Facility, which is located in Sydney, New South Wales, at an estimated out-turn cost of $205.37 million inclusive of GST. The Department of Finance and Deregulation is to manage the project delivery on behalf of DIAC. The Villawood Immigration Detention Facility needs to be upgraded to replace ageing infrastructure; provide appropriate facilities to meet contemporary community standards; improve the living conditions and amenity for detainees; improve operational efficiency and modernise security; and, importantly, respond to the new directions in detention announced by the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship in his speech of 29 July 2008.

Broadly speaking, the project aims to replace the existing high-security accommodation, provide new essential support facilities and engineering services and refurbish the existing low- and medium-security accommodation. Subject to parliamentary approval and following a detailed design process, construction works are planned to commence in late 2010, with construction to be completed by mid-2014. I commend the motion to the House.

Question agreed to.