Public Works Committee to question the CSIRO, Australian Taxation Office, and Services Australia

THE Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works (the committee) will be holding a site inspection and a series of public hearings on Friday (November 7) for three of its current inquiries.

The inquiries are:

• Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation Black Mountain Greenhouse Redevelopment
• Australian Taxation Office—Proposed Fit-out of Leased Premises, Levels 5 to 10, 152 Wharf Street, Brisbane
• Services Australia—Proposed Fit-out of Leased Premises at 90 Crown Street, Wollongong, New South Wales.

The committee will conduct a site inspection at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisations (CSIRO) Black Mountain site in Canberra, with a public hearing at Australian Parliament House to follow.

The proposed works seek to replace critical infrastructure, including greenhouses, on Black Mountain which were damaged during the January 2020 hailstorm. The proposed works have a total estimated cost of $37.9 million.

The committee will conduct a public hearing into the Australian Taxation Office’s (ATO) proposed works which seek to fit-out levels 5 to 10 of its office at 152 Wharf St, Brisbane, Queensland. The proposed works have a total estimated cost of $29.17 million.

The committee will also conduct a public hearing into Services Australia’s proposed works which seek to fit-out its office at 90 Crown St, Wollongong, NSW. The proposed works have a total estimated cost of $22.34 million.

Mr Zappia MP said, "These public hearings will provide the committee with greater clarity about how the government continues to pursue the best value for taxpayer money in an evolving construction market."

The committee will hear from relevant officers from CSIRO, the ATO, and Services Australia at the hearings. Interested members of the public are encouraged to listen in to the public hearing via the APH website or attend the hearing in person at the location listed below.

Public hearing details

Date: Friday, 7 November 2025
Time: 10:15am–10:55am – CSIRO (AEDT)
Time: 12:05pm–12:45pm – ATO (AEDT)
Time: 2:20pm–3pm – Services Australia (AEDT)
Location: Committee Room 1R4, Australian Parliament House

The hearing will be broadcast live at aph.gov.au/live

Note: The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works is not involved in the tendering process, awarding of contracts or details of the proposed works. Enquiries on these matters should be directed to the relevant Commonwealth entities.

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