Guy Barnett (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I seek leave to speak for 20 minutes.

Leave granted.

Initially tonight I wish to make a call for the government to commit wholeheartedly and immediately to the redevelopment of the Defence Science and Technology Organisation facility in Scottsdale, in north-east Tasmania. In making that call, I recognise that the government has only very recently cancelled the redevelopment of this facility. That is a great shame and a body blow to north-east Tasmania.

Just last week, as a result of a recent visit to the facility in Scottsdale, I was advised that the $12.6 million upgrade development had been cancelled. This had been approved and the go-ahead was given in May this year. The cancellation is, as I say, a body blow to the north east. The project, if it is to proceed, is now clearly set for significant delays. I call on the Minister for Defence Science and Personnel, Warren Snowdon, and his government—and Senator Feeney, if he has an involvement in this decision making—to exercise his power as a matter of urgency to ensure that this development proceeds.

I would like to know the reason for the cancellation of this tender process—as would members of the public, particularly the people in north-east Tasmania. What are the accuracies of these reports? What is the length of the expected delays? I wrote last week, on 18 November, to Minister Snowdon seeking a response, and to date I have not received one. I am advised that three tenders received were substantially above the $12.6 million allocated to the development and substantially above the $15 million threshold whereby the Joint Parliamentary Committee on Public Works needs to approve the development. If this is the case and is now cited as a reason for this tender process being cancelled, how was such poor planning allowed to occur in the first place?

I have been in touch with the Deputy Chair of the Joint Parliamentary Committee on Public Works, Senator Judith Troeth, and I thank her for her feedback that she will use whatever endeavours and efforts are possible to expedite this matter if it does come before the committee. I will ensure on behalf of the people of the north-east that every effort will be made to fast-track this development. I would like to know: will this require ministerial approval? I assume the answer is yes. When will that approval be sought? And is the minister on behalf of the government proceeding with obtaining that approval?

The facility in Scottsdale was established in 1954 and has long played an important role in providing appropriate rations for our front-line troops. It also provides excellent research outcomes and solutions for our Australian defence forces, wherever they are in Australia or overseas. It is a significant facility in the economy and community of north-east Tasmania, with some 15-odd jobs based in Scottsdale.