Public Works Committee Act 1969

The Committee shall, as expeditiously as is practicable:

consider each public work that is referred to it in accordance with this Act; and

make a report to both Houses of the Parliament concerning the expedience of carrying out the work and concerning any other matters related to the work in respect of which the Committee thinks it desirable that the views of the Committee should be reported to those Houses;

The Committee may, in its report on a public work, recommend any alterations to the proposals for the work that, in its opinion, are necessary or desirable to ensure that the most effective use is made of the moneys to be expended on the work.

In considering and reporting on a public work, the Committee shall have regard to:

the stated purpose of the work and its suitability for that purpose;

the necessity for, or the advisability of, carrying out the work;

the most effective use that can be made, in the carrying out of the work, of the moneys to be expended on the work;

where the work purports to be of a revenue‑producing character, the amount of revenue that it may reasonably be expected to produce; and

the present and prospective public value of the work.

In considering and reporting on a public work proposed to be carried out by an authority of the Commonwealth, the Committee shall have regard to the functions, powers and duties of the authority and to the powers conferred on a Minister in relation to the activities of the authority concerned.