Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:C2017C00098:section:18:p1
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:C2017C00098
Segment Type: section
Provision Reference: s 18 (pt 1/2)
Character Range: 23508–26129

18  Reference of public works to the Committee
 (1) A motion may be moved in either House of the Parliament that a public work be referred to the Committee for consideration and report.
 (2) A motion under the last preceding subsection may relate to a public work that has been referred to the Committee as constituted during a previous Parliament.
 (3) Upon the moving of the motion, the Minister shall furnish to the House in which the motion is moved:
 (a) a statement in relation to the public work (including the purpose of the work); and
 (b) such plans, specifications and other particulars as the Minister thinks necessary.
 (4) The Governor‑General may, at any time when the Parliament is not in session or the House of Representatives is adjourned for a period exceeding one month or for an indefinite period, being a time when the Committee is in existence, refer a public work to the Committee for consideration and report.
 (5) A public work that has been referred to the Committee in accordance with this section shall not be commenced before a report of the Committee concerning the work has been presented to both Houses of the Parliament.
 (6) If, after a report of the Committee concerning a public work has been presented to both Houses of the Parliament and before the work has been commenced, each House resolves that, for reasons or purposes stated in the resolution, the work be again referred to the Committee for consideration and report, the Committee shall further consider the work and the work shall not be commenced before a further report of the Committee concerning the work has been presented to both Houses.
 (7) A public work that has been referred to the Committee shall not be commenced unless, after the report of the Committee (or, if there has been a further reference of the work under the last preceding subsection, the report of the Committee on the further reference) has been presented to both Houses of the Parliament, the House of Representatives has resolved that it is expedient to carry out the work.
 (8) A public work the estimated cost of which exceeds the threshold amount shall not be commenced unless:
 (a) the work has been referred to the Committee in accordance with this section;
 (b) the House of Representatives has resolved that, by reason of the urgent nature of the work, it is expedient that it be carried out without having been referred to the Committee;
 (c) the Governor‑General has, by order, declared that the work is for defence purposes and that the reference of the work to the Committee would be contrary to the public interest; or
 (d) the work