What is the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works (PWC) holds enquiries into Commonwealth funded public works that the Australian Parliament refers to the PWC. The PWC’s investigation and subsequent report provides the basis for Parliament deciding whether a project may continue (that it is ‘expedient to proceed’).

The PWC scrutinises Defences Projects as they are funded by the Commonwealth. The PWC process is a key way for Parliament and the public (through their elected representatives) to ask departments and agencies questions about projects.

Read more about the PWC at the Department of Finance and Deregulation’s website: PWC overview and PWC FAQ.

Does your project need to be referred to the PWC

As part of Defence’s project development and approval process, major capital facilities projects expected to cost over $15 million must be referred to the PWC. Use the PWC Decision Table to find out if your project should be referred to the PWC.

Things to consider when planning your project

Begin pre-planning for the PWC when the project’s CSIR 2 is complete. As completing the PWC process usually takes about six months you should ensure that there is sufficient time in your project schedule for the PWC process to be completed.  When your project funding is nearing approval, go to the PWC referral page for detailed information about the PWC process.

PWC process stages

The PWC’s Manual of Procedures for Departments and Agencies identifies eight steps in the PWC process:

• identification of the need to refer a proposed public work to the PWC
• the preparation of a submission to the PWC (the Statement of Evidence)
• the referral of a proposed project to the PWC
• pre-public hearing activities
• site inspection
• public hearing and follow-up
• the tabling of the PWC’s report in the House of Representatives and the Senate
• Parliamentary approval by the House of Representatives for work to commence.

In practice, Defence groups these steps into four distinct phases: referral, hearing, expediency and reporting.

Director General Infrastructure Asset Development’s role

DGCFI is Defence’s principal point of contact for all PWC matters. DGCFI is the Defence representative at PWC enquiries responsible for coordinating project referrals. Contact EDCFI for more information.