15. Defence provided the following response to the audit:
The audit has confirmed that Defence complies with the requirements of the Public Works Act. To that end Defence notes that its two pass project development and approval processes, implemented in 2004, provide transparency, accountability and cost certainty for major capital facilities submissions to Government. This process also enables Defence to provide high quality information to the Public Works Committee during its enquiries.
16. Finance advised that the department supported the one recommendation made in the audit report.
Table 1
Project legislative and guidelines adherence
Year | Project Name | Reported value ex GST (million) | Legislative adherence | Guidelines adherence |
2005 | Special Operations Working Accommodation and Base Redevelopment | $207.70 | ✓ | ✓ |
2005 | RAAF Base Amberley Stage 2 | $285.60 | ✓ | ✓ |
2005 | Relocation of RAAF College | $133.40 | ✓ | ✓ |
2006 | Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Facilities Project | $17.45 | ✓ | ✓ |
2006 | Facilities to Upgrade Shoalwater Bay training area | $11.16 | ✓ | ✓ |
2007 | Defence Force School of Signals Redevelopment | $101.30 | ✓ | ✓ |
2007 | Lavarack Barracks Stage 4 | $207.20 | ✓ | ✓ |
2007 | Australian Defence Force Facilities Redevelopment, Malaysia | $23.60 | ✓ | ✓ |
2007 | RAAF Base Pearce Stage 1 | $142.20 | ✓ | ✓ |
2007 | RAAF Base Amberley Stage 3 | $331.50 | ✓ | ✓ |
Public Private Partnership | ||||
2004 | Headquarters Joint Operations Command (HQJOC) Project | $318.08(a) | ✓ | x(b) |
2006 | Provision of Facilities for Project Single LEAP Phase 1 | $406.00 | ✓ | x(b) |
2007 | Provision of Facilities for Project Single LEAP Phase 2 | $1 200.00 | ✓ | ✓ |
Source: ANAO analysis of Defence documents
Notes: | (a) March 2004 Statement of Evidence and is noted in the Statement as including provided to the Committee buildings and infrastructure. (b) The non adherence to the guidelines relates to the requirement to advise the Committee of any significant changes to design, scope and related matters. |