Mr LINDSAY (4:47 PM) —On behalf of the Parliamentary Joint Standing Committee on Public Works, I present the 64th general report of the committee.

Ordered that the report be printed.

Mr LINDSAY —by leave—The 64th General Report has been prepared in accordance with section 16 of the Public Works Committee Act 1969. The report presents an overview of the work undertaken by the Joint Standing Committee on Public Works during the calendar year 2000, to a total value of more than $550 million. While much of the report summarises the 13 inquiries completed by the committee in 2000, the committee has also seen fit to report to the parliament on a number of issues. They include the quality of evidence presented to the committee, independent audits of proposed works, consultation with all stakeholders and heritage matters.

I would like to make three comments about the quality of evidence. Firstly, in terms of submissions presented by proponent agencies, the committee certainly experienced instances where submissions lacked sufficient detail. This led the committee to request additional information, which added to the time taken to consider the proposal. Secondly, in some cases the committee found submissions could be improved simply by using plain English rather than jargon and endless acronyms. Thirdly, of particular concern to the committee was evidence that was contradictory. Inconsistencies in evidence presented to the committee and evidence presented to Senate estimates committees caused frustration, wasted time and delays.

Related to the quality of evidence is the justification for a proposed public work. The committee expects all proponent agencies to provide clear evidence and arguments to justify their respective proposals. Better submissions provide details of cost-benefit analyses, internal rates of return, independent audits and whole-of-life assessments of the proposed work. I make the observation that particularly Defence have begun to provide the committee with independent audits, and the committee has found that process very valuable indeed.

In conclusion, I would like to record the committee's appreciation of the support provided by the secretariat, led by Trevor Rowe. Like most secretariats in the House of Representatives, the staff in the secretariat in fact support two committees. I would also like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the support that other areas in the parliament, such as the Parliamentary Library and the table offices in the Senate and the House of Representatives, give to both the committee and the secretariat. The end result is that the committee fulfils its duties as prescribed by the Public Works Committee Act. I commend the report to honourable members.