Public Works Committee Amendment Act 2006

Administered by Department of Finance

Legislation au C2006A00132 In force Act

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Public Works Committee Amendment Act 2006

 

No. 132, 2006

 

 

 

 

 

An Act to amend the Public Works Committee Act 1969, and for related purposes

 

 

Contents

1 Short title

2 Commencement

3 Schedule(s)

Schedule 1—Amendment of the Public Works Committee Act 1969

Part 1—Amendments relating to public works

Part 2—Technical amendments

 

 

 

Public Works Committee Amendment Act 2006

No. 132, 2006

 

 

 

An Act to amend the Public Works Committee Act 1969, and for related purposes

[Assented to 7 November 2006]

The Parliament of Australia enacts:

1  Short title

  This Act may be cited as the Public Works Committee Amendment Act 2006.

2  Commencement

  This Act commences on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.

3  Schedule(s)

  Each Act that is specified in a Schedule to this Act is amended or repealed as set out in the applicable items in the Schedule concerned, and any other item in a Schedule to this Act has effect according to its terms.


Schedule 1—Amendment of the Public Works Committee Act 1969

Part 1—Amendments relating to public works

1  Section 5 (definition of public work)

Repeal the definition, substitute:

public work has the meaning given by section 5AA.

2  After section 5

Insert:

5AA  Meaning of public work

 (1) A public work means:

 (a) a work to which subsection (2), (3) or (5) applies; or

 (b) a work declared by the regulations to be a public work.

However, a public work does not include:

 (c) a work that is proposed to be carried out within the Parliamentary zone; or

 (d) a work that is proposed to be carried out by or for the Commonwealth by way of assistance to an overseas country; or

 (e) a work declared by the regulations not to be a public work.

 (2) This subsection applies to a work:

 (a) that is proposed to be carried out by or for the Commonwealth, either within or outside Australia; and

 (b) either:

 (i) in respect of the carrying out of which moneys appropriated by the Parliament are proposed to be expended by the Commonwealth; or

 (ii) in relation to which moneys appropriated by the Parliament are proposed to be expended by the Commonwealth.

 (3) This subsection applies to a work:

 (a) that is proposed to be carried out, either within or outside Australia, by or for an authority of the Commonwealth to which this Act applies; and

 (b) either:

 (i) in respect of the carrying out of which moneys appropriated by the Parliament, or moneys of the authority, are proposed to be expended by the authority; or

 (ii) in relation to which moneys appropriated by the Parliament are proposed to be expended by the Commonwealth or the authority.

 (4) For the purposes of subsections (2) and (3), it does not matter whether or not the work concerned is a work of which the Commonwealth, or an authority of the Commonwealth to which this Act applies, is proposed to become the owner.

 (5) This subsection applies to a work:

 (a) that is proposed to be carried out, either within or outside Australia, otherwise than by or for the Commonwealth or an authority of the Commonwealth to which this Act applies; and

 (b) of which the Commonwealth, or an authority of the Commonwealth to which this Act applies, is proposed to become the owner; and

 (c) in relation to which moneys appropriated by the Parliament are proposed to be expended by the Commonwealth or an authority of the Commonwealth.

3  Subsection 18(8)

Omit “$6,000,000”, substitute “the threshold amount”.

4  Subsection 18(9)

Insert:

threshold amount means:

 (a) $15,000,000; or

 (b) if another amount is specified in the regulations for the purposes of this definition—that other amount.

5  Paragraphs 40(2)(a) and (b)

Repeal the paragraphs, substitute:

 (a) paragraph (f) or (k) of the definition of work in subsection 5(1); and

 (b) paragraph 5AA(1)(b) or (e);

6  Application

The Public Works Committee Act 1969 as in force immediately before the day on which this Act receives the Royal Assent continues to apply to a public work:

 (a) referred to the Committee before that day; and

 (b) that has not commenced.


Part 2—Technical amendments

7  Section 5

Insert:

Chair means the Chair of the Committee.

8  Section 5 (definition of the Chairman)

Repeal the definition.

9  Subsections 7(5) and (6)

After “he”, insert “or she”.

10  Paragraphs 7(7)(b), (c) and (d)

After “he” (wherever occurring), insert “or she”.

11  Paragraph 7(7)(d)

After “his”, insert “or her”.

12  Subsections 7(8) and (9)

After “his” (wherever occurring), insert “or her”.

13  Subsection 7(12)

Omit “Chairman”, substitute “Chair”.

14  Section 8

After “his”, insert “or her”.

15  Subsection 9(1)

Omit “Chairman and a ViceChairman”, substitute “Chair and a Deputy Chair”.

Note: The heading to section 9 is replaced by the heading “Chair and Deputy Chair”.

16  Subsection 9(2)

Omit “Chairman and ViceChairman”, substitute “Chair and Deputy Chair”.

17  Subsection 9(3)

Omit “Chairman or ViceChairman”, substitute “Chair or Deputy Chair”.

18  Paragraphs 9(3)(a) and (b)

After “he”, insert “or she”.

19  Paragraph 9(3)(b)

After “his”, insert “or her”.

20  Subsection 9(4)

Omit “The Chairman or ViceChairman may resign his office by writing under his hand”, substitute “The Chair or Deputy Chair may resign that office by writing under his or her hand”.

21  Subsection 9(5)

Omit “Chairman or, in his absence, the ViceChairman”, substitute “Chair or, in his or her absence, the Deputy Chair”.

22  Paragraph 9(6)(a)

Omit “Chairman”, substitute “Chair”.

23  Paragraph 9(6)(a)

After “his”, insert “or her”.

24  Paragraph 9(6)(b)

Omit “ViceChairman”, substitute “Deputy Chair”.

25  Paragraph 9(6)(b)

Omit “Chairman”, substitute “Chair”.

26  Subsection 9(6)

Omit “chairman”, substitute “chair”.

27  Subsection 9(7)

Omit “chairman”, substitute “chair”.

28  Subsection 9(7)

After “he” (wherever occurring), insert “or she”.

29  Subsection 9(8)

Omit “chairman”, substitute “chair”.

30  Paragraph 9(8)(a)

After “he”, insert “or she”.

31  Paragraph 9(8)(a)

After “his”, insert “or her”.

32  Paragraph 9(8)(b)

After “he”, insert “or she”.

33  Paragraph 9(8)(c)

Omit “Chairman or ViceChairman”, substitute “Chair or Deputy Chair”.

34  Subsections 9(9), (10) and (11)

Repeal the subsections, substitute:

 (9) The Deputy Chair and a temporary chair may each exercise any of the powers of the Chair under this Act.

 (10) If the Chair, the Deputy Chair and (if the appointment of a temporary chair is in force), the temporary chair, are absent from a meeting of the Committee, the members present may appoint one of their number to preside at the meeting. The member so appointed may exercise, in relation to that meeting, and in relation to any matter arising out of that meeting, any of the powers of the Chair under this Act.

 (11) For the purpose of the exercise of the powers of the Chair under this Act, a reference in this Act to the Chair includes a reference to the Deputy Chair, to a temporary chair and to a member appointed under subsection (10).

35  Paragraph 10(2)(b)

After “he”, insert “or she”.

36  Paragraph 10(2)(c)

Omit “his office by writing under his hand addressed to the Chairman”, substitute “that office by writing under his or her hand addressed to the Chair”.

37  Subsection 10(3)

Omit “Chairman and a ViceChairman”, substitute “Chair and a Deputy Chair”.

38  Subsection 10(4)

Omit “Chairman or ViceChairman”, substitute “Chair or Deputy Chair”.

39  Paragraph 10(4)(b)

After “he”, insert “or she”.

40  Paragraph 10(4)(c)

After “his” (wherever occurring), insert “or her”.

41  Subsection 10(5)

Omit “Chairman, or, in his absence, the ViceChairman,”, substitute “Chair or, in his or her absence, the Deputy Chair,”.

42  Subsection 10(9)

Omit “Chairman”, substitute “Chair”.

43  Subsection 11(2)

Omit “the Chairman shall be read as a reference to the Chairman, or to the ViceChairman,”, substitute “the Chair is to be read as a reference to the Chair, or to the Deputy Chair,”.

44  Subsection 11(3)

Omit “Chairman, or by the ViceChairman,”, substitute “Chair, or by the Deputy Chair,”.

45  Subsections 12(1), (2) and (3)

Omit “Chairman”, substitute “Chair”.

46  Paragraphs 12(3)(a) and (b)

After “he”, insert “or she”.

47  Subsection 18(3)

Omit “for Housing and Construction”.

48  Subsection 18(8A)

Omit “for Housing and Construction”.

49  Paragraph 18(8A)(a)

After “he”, insert “or she”.

50  Subsection 19(2)

Omit “Chairman notifies the Minister for Housing and Construction”, substitute “Chair notifies the Minister”.

51  Subsections 20(1) and 21(1)

Omit “Chairman”, substitute “Chair”.

52  Subsection 21(3)

After “his”, insert “or her”.

53  Paragraph 22(1)(b)

After “his”, insert “or her”.

54  Paragraph 22(1)(c)

After “he”, insert “or she”.

55  Paragraph 22(1)(c)

Omit “Chairman”, substitute “Chair”.

56  Subsection 22(1)

Omit “Chairman or”, substitute “Chair or”.

57  Subsection 22(1)

After “his” (last occurring), insert “or her”.

58  Paragraph 22(3)(c)

After “he”, insert “or she”.

59  Paragraph 22(3)(c)

Omit “Chairman”, substitute “Chair”.

60  Subsection 22(4)

After “him”, insert “or her”.

61  Subsection 23(6)

Omit “Chairman”, substitute “Chair”.

62  Paragraph 23(7)(c)

After “he”, insert “or she”.

63  Subsection 26(2)

After “he”, insert “or she”.

64  Section 27

After “him”, insert “or her”.

65  Paragraph 30(1)(b)

Omit “him by the Chairman”, substitute “him or her by the Chair”.

66  Paragraph 30(1)(c)

After “he”, insert “or she”.

67  Section 32

After “his”, insert “or her”.

68  Section 32

After “him”, insert “or her”.

69  Subsections 35(1) and (2)

Omit “Chairman”, substitute “Chair”.

 

 

[Minister’s second reading speech made in—

Senate on 21 June 2006

House of Representatives on 19 October 2006]

(91/06)

 

 

 

Overview

The Public Works Committee Amendment Act 2006, enacted by the Parliament of Australia and assented to on 7 November 2006, is a legislative amendment designed to update and refine the Public Works Committee Act 1969. This Act addresses the need to modernise the definition of "public work" and to clarify and enhance the administrative functions and procedural roles within the Public Works Committee. The overarching policy objective is to ensure that the Public Works Committee can effectively manage and oversee significant public works projects while maintaining transparency and accountability in the approval process. The Act introduces several key amendments, including the redefinition of "public work" to encompass a broader range of activities and clarify exclusions. Additionally, it updates terminology to be gender-neutral and adjusts certain thresholds and roles within the Committee to better align with contemporary governance standards. The Act also ensures that existing public works, referred to the Committee before the Act's commencement and not yet commenced, continue to be governed by the previous legislation.

Scope and Application

The Public Works Committee Amendment Act 2006 amends the Public Works Committee Act 1969 to alter the definition and application of public works. This Act applies to any person or entity proposing to undertake works within or outside Australia, provided that the works are intended for or involve the Commonwealth or an authority of the Commonwealth. Notably, the Act excludes works proposed within the Parliamentary zone, those provided as assistance to an overseas country, and those declared by regulation not to be public works. The application of the Act is extended or restricted through subordinate instruments, where regulations can further define what constitutes a public work or specify alternative threshold amounts for determining the applicability of certain provisions. The Act's amendments also include technical changes, such as updating gender-specific terms to be gender-neutral and modifying titles within the Committee to reflect current practices. This legislation is a Commonwealth Act, thus it applies across Australia and impacts any federal entities or projects funded or managed by the Commonwealth. The Act’s provisions are designed to ensure that significant public works are subject to appropriate scrutiny and oversight by the Public Works Committee, subject to the defined exclusions and the regulatory framework established by the Act and its subordinate instruments.

Key Provisions

The Public Works Committee Amendment Act 2006 amends the Public Works Committee Act 1969 by introducing new definitions and modifying existing provisions. Firstly, the Act redefines the term "public work" under section 5, now specified in section 5AA (1), encompassing works that fall under certain criteria, such as being proposed by the Commonwealth or an authority of the Commonwealth, and for which parliamentary appropriations are intended. It also excludes works within the Parliamentary zone, works carried out by or for the Commonwealth as assistance to an overseas country, and any works declared not to be public works by regulations (sections 5AA(1)(c) to (e)). Secondly, the Act modifies the monetary threshold for works requiring approval by the Public Works Committee, previously set at $6 million, now replaced by a "threshold amount" defined in section 18(9) as $15 million or any other amount specified in regulations (sections 3 and 4). Additionally, the Act introduces new exclusions for certain categories of works in paragraphs 40(2)(a) and (b), aligning with specific definitions in subsection 5AA(1). The obligations imposed by the Act primarily pertain to the Public Works Committee and its members, including the Chair and Deputy Chair, who are now empowered to exercise certain committee powers under revised provisions (sections 9(9) to (11), 10(3), and 10(4)). The Act mandates that the Chair must notify the Minister when a work is referred to the Committee or when a decision is made to defer a work (subsection 19(2)). Moreover, the Act requires the Chair to make decisions regarding the exercise of powers and the convening of meetings (subsections 9(6) and (7)). Under the Public Works Committee Amendment Act 2006, there are no specific offences or penalties outlined for breaches of the Act itself. However, breaches of related legislative provisions or regulations may attract penalties depending on the nature and severity of the breach. The Act focuses on redefining terms, modifying thresholds, and updating structural roles within the Public Works Committee, rather than imposing direct criminal or civil sanctions for non-compliance.

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Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.