Defence engagement with parliamentary committees
In 2019–20, Defence provided evidence at seven public hearings, two Senate estimates hearings and three private briefings.
Defence provided 10 submissions and one government response to parliamentary committee inquiries, including input to six government responses led by other departments.
Defence took 699 questions on notice. Of these, 412 were from estimates hearings; 152 were from parliamentary committee hearings and briefings; 134 were submitted in writing from senators and members; and one was asked through the Parliamentary Library.
Defence’s submissions, responses to questions on notice and transcripts of committee hearings are available on the Parliament of Australia website.
Table 5.4 lists Defence’s involvement in inquiries and reviews by parliamentary committees between 1 July 2019 and 30 June 2020.
SENATE STANDING COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS, DEFENCE AND TRADE |
Opportunities to strengthen Australia’s relationship with the Republic of France Defence provided a submission and participated in a public hearing. |
JOINT STANDING COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS, DEFENCE AND TRADE |
Inquiry into Australia’s Defence relationships with Pacific Island nations Defence provided a submission and participated in a public hearing and a private briefing. |
Remediation of PFAS-related impacts and ongoing scrutiny and review Defence participated in a public hearing. |
PARLIAMENTARY JOINT COMMITTEE ON INTELLIGENCE AND SECURITY |
Inquiry into the impact of the exercise of law enforcement and intelligence powers on the freedom of the press Defence participated in a public hearing. |
Review of Administration and Expenditure No. 18 (2018–2019) Defence provided a submission. |
Review of Administration and Expenditure No. 17 (2017–2018) Defence participated in a classified hearing. |
SENATE SELECT COMMITTEE ON THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT’S NORTHERN AUSTRALIA AGENDA |
Inquiry into the effectiveness of the Australian Government’s Northern Australia agenda Defence provided a submission and participated in a public hearing. |
SENATE SELECT COMMITTEE ON COVID-19 |
Inquiry into the Australian Government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic Defence provided a submission and participated in a private briefing. |
SENATE STANDING COMMITTEE ON FINANCE AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION |
Lessons to be learned in relation to the Australian bushfire season 2019–20 Defence provided a submission. |
JOINT COMMITTEE OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS AND AUDIT |
Report 475: Defence First Principles Review, Naval Construction and Mental Health in the AFP Defence provided a Government response. |
Inquiry into the 2018–19 Defence Major Projects Report and the Future Submarine Project—Transition to Design (Auditor- General’s Reports 19 and 22 (2019–20)) Defence provided a submission and participated in a public hearing. |
SENATE STANDING COMMITTEE ON LEGAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS |
Impact of changes to service delivery models on the administration and running of Government programs Defence provided a submission. |
SENATE STANDING COMMITTEE ON LEGAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS |
Australia’s sovereign naval shipbuilding capability Defence provided a submission and participated in a public hearing. |
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SELECT COMMITTEE ON REGIONAL AUSTRALIA |
Inquiry into Regional Australia Defence provided a submission. |
Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works
In 2019–20, Defence witnesses appeared at six hearings of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works. Defence referred eight major projects and notified nine medium works projects to the committee. Parliamentary approval was achieved for seven major projects and nine medium works projects.
The Point Wilson Waterside Infrastructure Remediation project, originally referred in June 2018 and the subject of a hearing in 2018–19, was required to be referred again in 2019–20 as a result of the 2019 federal election dissolving the 45th Parliament before the committee’s report was tabled and approved. Point Wilson did not require a second hearing, as the existing report was adopted by the incoming committee and approved by Parliament in 2019–20.
Project | Location | Value ($m) |
Point Wilson Waterside Infrastructure Remediation | Point Wilson (VIC) | 218.9 |
HMAS Watson Redevelopment | HMAS Watson (NSW) | 430.5 |
Navy Capability Infrastructure Sub-program (combining facilities for SEA 5000 Phase 1 Future Frigates and SEA 1180 Phase 1 Offshore Patrol Vessels Project) | Multiple | 1,800 |
Shoalwater Bay Training Area Remediation | Shoalwater Bay Training Area (QLD) | 135.4 |
RAAF Base Redevelopment Stage 6 and United States Force Posture Initiative RAAF Airfield Tindal Works and Associated Infrastructure Project | RAAF Base Tindal (NT) | 1,174 |
Armoured Fighting Vehicle Facilities Program: Stage One | Multiple | 235.1 |
LAND 121 Stage 5B Unit Sustainment Facilities | Multiple | 183.3 |
Total | 4,177.2 |
Project | Location | Value ($m) |
Singleton Mid-Term Refresh | Singleton Military Area (NSW) | 42.2 |
Facilities to Support SEA 1442 Phase 6 Protected Satellite Communications | HMAS Harman (ACT) HMAS Stirling (WA) | 24.4 |
Defence Technology Acceleration Collab Fit-out Project | Fairbairn (ACT) | 7.03 |
Facilities to Support the LAND 154 Phase 2 Weapons Technical Intelligence Capability | Gallipoli Barracks (QLD) DSTG Edinburgh (SA) | 5.9 |
Facilities to Support LAND 555 Phase 6 Force Level Electronic Warfare, Signals Intelligence and Vehicles Project | Borneo Barracks (QLD) | 29.6 |
Phase One Mulwala Decontamination and Demolition Project | Mulwala (NSW) | 47.3 |
Holsworthy Mid-Term Refresh | Holsworthy Barracks (NSW) | 29.49 |
Puckapunyal Health and Well Being Centre | Puckapunyal Military Area (VIC) | 39.8 |
Oakey Mid-Term Refresh | Swartz Barracks (QLD) | 31.3 |
Total | 257.02 |
Visit
https://www.transparency.gov.au/annual-reports/department-defence/reporting-year/2019-20-47