House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2013-03-20 Daily Xml

Contents

PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE: LEGAL SERVICES COMMISSION HEAD OFFICE RELOCATION

Mr SIBBONS (Mitchell) (16:27): I move:

That the 469th report of the committee, on the Legal Services Commission head office relocation, be noted.

The committee received a proposal to provide a new office fit-out of 4,367.8 square metres in the building at 30 Flinders Street, Adelaide, to relocate the Legal Services Commission head office and its 170 staff from its current location at 82-98 Wakefield Street, Adelaide. The proposed fit-out will comprise part of the ground floor and the totality of the first, second and third floors at 30 Flinders Street.

The estimated capital cost for the fit-out is $6.23 million, which will be funded by the commission. The relocation of the commission's head office will include the following outcomes: a modern, flexible and safe work environment that will significantly improve occupational health safety and welfare conditions for staff; improved safety and amenities for clients, with a central location close to transport; appropriate levels of security to maintain a safe working environment, including secured mediation and client interviewing rooms; improved records management regimes to reduce unnecessary paper production and storage at work points; and re-use of existing furniture and utilisation of fit-out materials based on their potential for re-use and recycling.

There will be no impact on the general government net operating result and net lending position, as the allocation of costs across the forward estimates will be met from existing cash reserves held by the commission. Based on current projections, it is expected the commission will meet the additional operating costs associated with the change in accommodation until 2017-18. Remaining in the current accommodation will still lead to additional costs for the commission. The project will be complete in August 2013. Given this and pursuant to section 12C of the Parliamentary Committees Act 1991, the Public Works Committee reports to parliament that it recommends the proposed public works.

Mr GARDNER (Morialta) (16:30): The members of the Public Works Committee who represent the Liberal Party are the members for Waite and Finniss. They are both fine, hard-working members. In the interest of assisting them in their daily business and so that they may rest their voices at this moment I will briefly comment on their behalf. The member for Mitchell has provided a summary of the report, which the casual reader of Hansard may be interested in having a look at if they want the quick summary. For those who are more interested in the matter at hand—the Legal Services Commission head office relocation—I would commend to them the report in its entirety. With that, I confirm that the opposition supports the motion that the report be noted.

Motion carried.