Public Works Committee reports on proposed works and presents its 89th Annual Report

TODAY, Mr Tony Zappia MP, chair of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works presented the Public Works Committee’s first report of 2026 and its 89th Annual Report to the House of Representatives.

In Report 1/2026, referrals made in September and October 2025 considered  six proposed works:

• Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation – Black Mountain Greenhouse Redevelopment, with an estimated total cost of $37.9 million;
• Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation – Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness – Stage 1 Part Life Refit, with an estimated total cost of $372.216 million;
• Australian Taxation Office – Proposed Fit-out of Leased Premises, Levels 5 to 10, 152 Wharf Street, Brisbane, with an estimated total cost of $29.179 million;
• Services Australia – Proposed Fit-out of Leased Premises at 90 Crown Street, Wollongong, New South Wales, with an estimated total cost of $22.34 million;
• Attorney-General’s Department – Proposed Fit-out of Existing Leased Premises at 3-5 National Circuit, Barton, Australian Capital Territory, with an estimated total cost of $39.3 million;
• Department of Home Affairs – Yongah Hill Immigration Detention Centre Redevelopment Project, with an estimated total cost of $34.944 million.

The committee found these projects had merit and represented value for money for the Australian Government. The committee recommended that the House of Representatives approve them.

The committee made some additional recommendations around ensuring that proponent entities thoroughly consult with affected staff and other stakeholders prior to and during project development and that such feedback is considered in project design and implementation, where appropriate.

Mr Zappia said, "While the committee has recommended that these projects be approved, it is vital that proponent entities robustly plan all proposed works to ensure the greatest confidence in estimated budgets and that value for money for the Commonwealth is maximised.

"Proper consultation with staff and other affected partners is essential if works are to be delivered in a state that is most fit for purpose. Proponent entities must ensure that adequate consultation is undertaken to make sure that relevant feedback is included in early design work and construction phases, thereby reducing the need to make potentially costly changes at later stages," he said.

In addition to providing an update on committee activities over the course of 2025, the committee’s 89th Annual Report reiterated the need for reform of the Public Works Committee Act 1969 (the Act) and highlighted the committee’s expectations for entities proposing public works and engaging with the scrutiny process.

Echoing a similar recommendation from the committee’s 87th Annual Report, the committee called for the government to prioritise the consultative review of the Act to ensure that it remained fit-for-purpose and provided a robust legislative framework for the thoroughgoing scrutiny of proposed public works by the Parliament.

On the annual report, Mr Zappia said, "Reform of the Act was agreed in principle by the government in response to the recommendation in the committee’s 87th Annual Report back in March 2024.

"The need for legislative reform has not changed since then and the committee reiterates that recommendation as a matter of urgency.

"Legislative reform is vital to ensure appropriate Parliamentary scrutiny of proposed public works and so that committee operation is aligned to current Parliamentary practice and procedure," he said.

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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