Rick Wilson (O'Connor, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On behalf of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works I present the committee's report No. 4 of 2021, Referral made May 2021.

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

by leave—Report 4 of 2021 considers one proposal referred to the committee in May 2021. The proposal is for the Department of Defence's United States Force Posture Initiatives Northern Territory training areas and ranges upgrades, with approval sought from the committee to carry out works at Robertson Barracks, Kangaroo Flats, Mount Bundey and Bradshaw field training areas. The estimated cost of this project is $747 million excluding GST.

The United States Force Posture program aims to provide essential upgrades to the facilities and infrastructure at these four sites, supporting a range of emerging capabilities and improve work, health and safety conditions for current members of the Australian Defence Force. In addition, the program will enhance the level of interoperability between the Australian Defence Force and partners, including the United States, by increasing opportunities for combined training exercises.

The committee was pleased to hear from Defence that a focus of the program had been dedicated to ensuring that the upgraded sites are able to be easily adapted, enabling new and emerging capabilities to be supported as they are rolled out across the Australian Defence Force with little or no future disruption. The committee recommends that the House find it expedient that the Departments of Defence United States Force Posture program proceed. I commend the report to the House.