Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the senator for his question. Senator Back, I am not certain whether you were present throughout the hearing of the estimates committee that dealt with this issue at some considerable length. Let me refresh your memory as to the content of that conversation. Plans with regard to Curtin involve capital expenditure of a total of $137.9 million over two years. Those plans were outlined in the budget papers in May 2010.

The Department of Immigration and Citizenship started letting contracts for the supply and installation of demountable buildings, installation of fencing and security systems and critical infrastructure work required to support 600 people in stage 1, and the assessment of existing facilities started on 27 April 2010 to determine what work was needed. The first contract for stage 1 was entered into in May 2010. The second contract was entered into on 2 September 2010 and was published in AusTender on 22 October 2010. The funding for that project was part of the original funding announced in May 2010. There is no plan for a stage 3, as you have asserted. This was argued out in full at the Senate estimates committee.

In the past, the department has been criticised for not being prepared for eventualities. That, of course, is not the situation in this case. The preparatory works for stage 2 which were carried out included the greater area in case there was a need in the future.