Public Works - Functions

The Public Works Committee has no 'Terms of Reference' per se, the functions of the committee are prescribed by section 15 of the Public Works Committee Act (No. 32 of 1914) as follows:-

15. Functions of Committee

(1)  The Committee shall, subject to the provisions of this Act, consider and report upon every public work that is proposed to be undertaken by a general government sector body, except any public work which hereafter may be withdrawn from the operation of this Act by a resolution withdrawing same adopted by each House of Parliament (and whether such work is a continuation, completion, repair, reconstruction, extension, or new work), in all cases where the estimated cost of completing the work exceeds the relevant monetary threshold in relation to the work.

(2) In considering and reporting on any work, the Committee shall have regard to –

(a) the stated purpose thereof;

(b) the necessity or advisability of carrying it out; and where the work purports to be of a reproductive or revenue producing character, the amount of revenue which it may reasonably be expected to produce; and

(c) the present and prospective public value of the work – and generally the Committee shall in all cases take such measures and procure such information as may enable them to inform or satisfy Parliament as to the expedience of carrying out the work

(3) In this section –

general government sector body means –

(a) a Government department within the meaning of the State Service Act 2000

(b) any State authority classified as an entity within the general government sector in the Treasurer's annual report;

State authority means a body or authority, whether incorporated or not, that is established or constituted under a written law or under the royal prerogative, being a body or authority which, or of which the governing authority, wholly or partly comprises a person or persons appointed by the Governor, a Minister or another State authority, but does not include a Government department within the meaning of the State Service Act 2000

Treasurer's annual report means the annual report prepared by the Treasurer under section 40 of the Financial Management Act 2016.

Under Section 2 of the Public Works Committee Act the relevant monetary threshold is $8,000,000 for building and construction works and  $15,000,000 for road and bridges works