Media release issue date: Friday, 5 September 2025

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works will consider six new referrals under the Public Works Committee Act 1969. Referred on 2 September 2025, the proposed works, listed below, are from the Department of Defence, the Australian Taxation Office, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Services Australia, and the Department of Home Affairs. Department of Defence—Blamey Barracks Kapooka Redevelopment project, Kapooka, New South Wales – $889.2 million. The works aim to posture the Australian Army for growth in personnel by upgrading and replacing site-wide infrastructure, living-in accommodation, working accommodation, training facilities, health and wellbeing facilities, logistic facilities, and the demolition of redundant facilities at Blamey Barracks. Australian Taxation Office—Proposed Fit-out of Leased Premises, Levels 5 to 10, 152 Wharf Street, Brisbane – $29.179 million. The works will fit-out levels 5 to 10 of the ATO’s leased premises at 152 Wharf Street, Brisbane to enable the vacating of existing ATO office accommodation at 55 Elizabeth Street, Brisbane. Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation—Black Mountain Greenhouse Redevelopment – $37.9 million. The works aim to replace critical greenhouse infrastructure damaged during the January 2020 hailstorm. The replacement aims to fully meet CSIRO’s research requirements and support the CSIRO Black Mountain Greenhouse Strategy established in February 2021. Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation—Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness—Stage 1 Part Life Refit – $372.216 million. The proposed project aims to protect the supply of vital and unique biosecurity research and diagnostic services provided by ACDP, which play a critical role in protecting Australia’s multi-billion-dollar livestock and aquaculture industries—as well as the broader public—from emerging infectious disease threats through surveillance, essential detection, and research activities. This will be achieved by upgrading the facilities to meet modern standards for regulatory compliance and safety, modernising lab spaces and updating fixed lab equipment that is at or past its serviceable life and needs to be replaced. Services Australia—Proposed Fit-out of Leased Premises at 90 Crown Street, Wollongong, New South Wales – $22.34 million. The proposed works will fit-out office accommodation at 90 Crown Street, Wollongong, providing fit-for-purpose office space and consolidating the Agency’s non-customer facing staff in the Illawarra region into one site by 2027. Department of Home Affairs—Yongah Hill Immigration Detention Centre Hawk Compound Redevelopment project – $34.944 million. The purpose of the proposed project is to redevelop the Hawk Compound within Yongah Hill Immigration Detention Centre to meet the capability needs of the Immigration Detention Network, address safety and security risks associated with the existing facilities and meet modern National Construction Code building compliance. The Committee will conduct public hearings for the inquiries over the coming months. The Committee invites interested individuals and organisations to make submissions by Wednesday, 15 October 2025. More information is available on the Committee’s website. Mr Tony Zappia MP, Chair of the Committee, said that the Committee ‘plays a vital public role ensuring that taxpayer’s money is spent wisely and for maximum value’. ‘The Committee will look carefully into these six new referrals and will hold the proponent entities accountable for the responsible use of Commonwealth funds’, he said. Please 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. Media inquiries Mr Tony Zappia MP, Chair of Standing Committee on Public Works (08) 8265 3100 For background information Committee secretariat 02 6277 4636 pwc@aph.gov.au For more information about this Committee, you can visit its www.aph.gov.au/pwc. On the site, you can make a submission to an inquiry, read other submissions, and get details for upcoming public hearings. You can also track the Committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track Committee’ button in the bottom right hand corner of the page.