Michael Sukkar (Deakin, Liberal Party, Assistant Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Works Committee Act 1969, it is expedient to carry out the following proposed work which was referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works and on which the committee has duly reported to Parliament: HMAS Watson redevelopment, Sydney, New South Wales.

The Department of Defence proposes to undertake capital and related infrastructure works at the HMAS Watson naval base located on South Head, Sydney. The capital and associated works form part of the Defence Integrated Investment Program. The project is also required to prevent a reduction in readiness across the Navy and to support current and future Navy capability. Both the 2016 Defence white paper and the 2016 Defence Integrated Investment Program foreshadowed further investment in and upgrading of a number of defence establishments, including HMAS Watson.

The HMAS Watson redevelopment project will improve the strategic layout of HMAS Watson and address facilities and base infrastructure deficiencies, including the high-risk base engineering services. The project will redevelop key facilities on the base that directly support Navy capability which have not seen significant investment for 30 years. The estimated cost of the works to be undertaken over seven years from 2019-20 is $430.5 million, not including GST.

The committee has conducted an inquiry and recommended that the House of Representatives resolve, pursuant to section 18(7) of the Public Works Committee Act, that it is expedient to carry out the project and that Defence ensure that the proposed works at HMAS Watson do not preclude the building of a clifftop track along the eastern perimeter of the base as part of the Bondi-to-Sydney walk. Subject to parliamentary approval, the works are expected to commence by mid-2020 and be completed by mid-2026. On behalf of the government, I'd like to thank the committee for undertaking a timely inquiry. I commend the motion to the House.

Question agreed to.

I move:

That, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Works Committee Act 1969, it is expedient to carry out the following proposed work which was referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works and on which the committee has duly reported to Parliament: DFAT—Australian High Commission Property Replacement Project in Tarawa, Kiribati.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade proposes to construct fit-for-purpose office accommodation and residential housing for the Australian High Commission mission located in Tarawa, Kiribati, Pacific Islands. The project will replace the existing chancery annexe, currently one of the staff residences, and three other staff residences and replace them with purpose-built, prefabricated, low-maintenance, sustainable facilities.

The 2017 Foreign policy white paper listed Australia's engagement with the Pacific as being one of the highest priorities. Through this project, DFAT's overseas property office is aiming to develop a best practice design and construction model to enable it to undertake similar upgrade and replacement works throughout the Asia-Pacific region.

The local community impact of this project is expected to be low as construction will be on land already leased by the Commonwealth. The project will obtain all necessary land development, building and environmental approvals as required. The estimated capital cost of the project is $19.7 million, excluding GST. Costs include the construction of fit-for-purpose office accommodation and residential housing.

The project was referred to the Public Works Committee on 18 September 2009, and the committee has recommended that the House of Representatives resolve, pursuant to section 18(7) of the Public Works Committee Act 1969, that it is expedient to carry out the project. Subject to parliamentary approval, the project is planned to commence in early 2020 and be completed by mid-2021.

On behalf of the government, I would like to thank the committee for undertaking a timely inquiry. I commend the motion to the House.

Question agreed to.

I move:

That, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Works Committee Act 1969, it is expedient to carry out the following proposed work which was referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works and on which the committee has duly reported to Parliament: Shoalwater Bay Training Area Remediation Project.

The Department of Defence is proposing a remediation project for selected elements of the facilities and engineering infrastructure within the Department of Defence's Shoalwater Bay training area in Queensland. Both the 2016 Defence white paper and 2016 Defence Integrated Investment Program foreshadowed further investments in and upgrading of a number of defence training areas, including Shoalwater Bay.

The project will deliver critical infrastructure upgrades to the Shoalwater Bay training area that will improve environmental sustainability and support current and expected increase joint and multinational training activities and continuous amphibious training capacity. The estimated cost of the works to be undertaken over four years from the 2019-20 financial year is $135.4 million, excluding GST.

The project was referred to the Public Works Committee on 18 September 2009, and the committee has duly recommended that the House of Representatives resolve, pursuant to section 18(7) of the Public Works Committee Act 1969, that it is expedient to carry out the project. Subject to parliamentary approval, the works are expected to commence in early 2020 and be completed by mid-2022.

On behalf the government, I'd like to thank the committee for undertaking a timely inquiry. I commend the motion to the House.

Question agreed to.

I move:

That, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Works Committee Act 1969, it is expedient to carry out the following proposed work which was referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works and on which the committee has duly reported to Parliament: Navy Capability Infrastructure Sub-program: Facilities and Infrastructure to Support New Navy Capabilities.

The Department of Defence is proposing to provide fit-for-purpose facilities and infrastructure required to support the introduction into service of new government approved naval capabilities: nine Hunter class frigates that will replace the existing Anzac class frigates; and 12 Arafura class offshore patrol vessels that will replace the existing Armidale class patrol boats.

The project proposes to deliver public works at HMAS Stirling and Henderson in WA; HMAS Cairns, a yet to be determined location in Cairns, Queensland; HMAS Coonawarra and RAAF Darwin in Northern Territory; and St Kilda Transmitting Station at Osborne in South Australia.

The 2016 Defence white paper articulates the government's plan for recapitalisation of the Royal Australian Navy. In support of this, the government launched the 2017 Naval Shipbuilding Plan to establish a sustainable long-term Australian naval shipbuilding enterprise of which the Australian Defence Force is a key partner. The project will deliver facilities to support new capabilities to be developed through this Australian naval shipbuilding enterprise.

The estimated total cost of the project is $1.8 billion, including contingency. The proposed facilities and infrastructure involve new works and refurbishment or upgrading of existing facilities and infrastructure at each of the proposed locations. Again, the committee has recommended that the House of Representatives resolve, pursuant to section 18(7) of the Public Works Committee Act, that it is expedient to carry out the project. Subject to parliamentary approval, construction is expected to commence in early 2020 and be completed by early 2027.

Again, on behalf of the government, I'd like to thank the committee for undertaking a timely inquiry and I again commend the motion to the House.

Question agreed to.