On Tuesday, 7 March 2023 the Assistant Minister for Education, Assistant Minister for Regional Development and Deputy Manager of Government Business in the Senate the Hon Anthony Chisholm, asked the Committee to inquire into and report on the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts — Cocos (Keeling) Island — West Island, Seawater Reverse Osmosis Plant project. 

More information on the public works proposal can be found in the submission made by the proponent entity. The Committee's terms of reference are contained in subsection 17(3) of the Public Works Committee Act 1969.

Essentially, the Committee is required to report as expeditiously as practicable on:

• the stated purpose of the proposed work and its suitability for that purpose
• the need for the work
• the cost-effectiveness of the proposal
• the amount of revenue it will produce if the work is revenue producing the current and prospective value of the work. 

The Committee invites interested persons and organisations to make submissions in relation to the proposal, which must be lodged by 14 April 2023. Online submissions can be made on this page.

For information on how to make a submission, go to our Making a submission to a Parliamentary Inquiry page.