Mrs MOYLAN (8:16 PM) —On behalf of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works, I present the 65th annual report of the committee.

Ordered that the report be printed.

Mrs MOYLAN —by leave—In accordance with section 16 of the Public Works Committee Act 1969, I present the 65th annual report of the Joint Statutory Committee on Public Works. This report gives an overview of the work undertaken by the committee during 2001.

The reporting year was a very busy one for the committee. Fourteen reports were tabled, one more than last year, even though the committee ceased to exist on 8 October 2001, when the House of Representatives was dissolved for the general election. The committee had also commenced preliminary work on the proposed Christmas Island common-use infrastructure items. However, this reference lapsed with the dissolution of the House. The value of the works inquired into by the committee amounted to over half a billion dollars.

During the year, the committee hosted the Annual Conference of Australian Parliamentary Public Works Committees. The conference brought together parliamentarians and key staff from public works committees throughout Australia. This annual event provides a unique opportunity for members of Australian legislatures and staff involved in public works to explore issues of mutual interest.

The annual report I am tabling today canvassed a number of issues of continuing committee focus. These relate to energy conservation, heritage and environmental issues and the Public Works Committee Act. Heritage and environmental issues remain a specific interest. The committee is keen to ensure that items of significant heritage value are preserved for future generations and expects agencies to consult with the Australian Heritage Commission before bringing their reference before the committee. The same situation applies to environmental matters. Agencies are reminded that the current Environment Act leaves the onus on them to raise issues of environmental concern with Environment Australia.

In relation to energy management, the committee is aware that the Commonwealth is committed to best practice to assure ecologically sustainable development and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. The committee received evidence from the Australian Greenhouse Office on a number of projects that detailed the extent of compliance with the Commonwealth's energy policy. The committee believes that energy conservation issues will become increasingly important and intends to pursue them in future inquiries.

The committee confirmed the importance of greenhouse issues by inviting Ms Cathy Zoi, Executive Director, New Energy, to address the conference of public works committees. The focus of her speech was `Sustainability in buildings'. Ms Zoi made the point that, through the parliamentary committee processes, committees are unique-ly placed to assist in ensuring increased application of sustainability in buildings.

In this regard, the committee considered an extension of its role in oversighting energy conservation in relation to Commonwealth public works projects and general energy usage by the Commonwealth. Representatives of the Australian Greenhouse Office raised the possibility of the committee conducting an annual review of energy use based on the annual report of the Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources titled Energy use in Commonwealth operations. However, under the current Public Works Committee Act, the committee is unable to review this report.

The Public Works Act, as it stands, is providing increasing challenges for the committee in this current environment of highly devolved public works and property functions. The committee has been conscious for some time of the need to review the act, as it was more applicable in a time when the Commonwealth operated a large and highly centralised property and public works system, with in-house delivery of works programming, building design and project management.

I should stress the point that the committee strongly believes in the importance of public scrutiny of works projects that involve large public expenditures. It is because of this strong view that the committee considers the current act should be reviewed. This would ensure that the process of parliamentary scrutiny is not marginalised. The Public Works Committee Act 1969 was last reviewed and amended in 1989.

Last year saw the departure from the Public Works Committee and the parliament of Mr Colin Hollis, a former member for Throsby. Mr Hollis was a long-serving member of the committee, having served continuously from February 1985 until October 2001. I echo the sentiments of past and current Public Works Committee members by paying tribute to the substantial contribution made by Mr Hollis to the work of the committee, both as chair and as an active member. Mr Hollis always worked in a bipartisan manner, with the aim of ensuring that the expenditure on public works was necessary and that the Commonwealth was obtaining value for money. We wish Mr Hollis well in his retirement, and we will miss his good humour and camaraderie.

I wish to take this opportunity to thank all of the members of the committee for their support during a very busy period last year. They worked in a spirit of cooperation to ensure that the references that came before the committee were reported upon before the House was dissolved. I would also like to record the committee's appreciation for the support provided by the staff of the secretariat during a very busy period.

I commend the report to the House.