Amendments to Public Works Act

11/8/94

A Bill making amendments to the Public Works Act to tidy up legislative loose ends left when the previous Government disbanded the Public Works Department (PWD) has been introduced into State Parliament.

Works Minister Graham Kierath told Parliament that the PWD was abolished in some haste in 1985 and as a consequence the Act Amendment (Land Administration) Act was introduced in 1987 to fix these anomalies.

"However, it did not identify all of them, including the authority to the Minister for Works to delegate his authority to the Minister for Transport, who is responsible for Marine and Harbours," Mr Kierath said.

"Because the former Department of Marine and Harbours carried on in good faith works previously done by the Public Works Department, it is necessary to validate the actions which technically went outside the powers of the Act."

Mr Kierath said there was a clause in the Bill to cover this issue, similar to a clause which appeared in the 1987 Act.

The Minister said the other amendments in the Bill would allow the Building Management Authority to operate through the Western Australian Building Authority, simplifying the complex funding arrangements for the BMA and making it far more accountable.

The Bill would make theWA Building Authority an Agent of the Crown and would also add the word 'Management' to its title.

Media contact:    Brian Coulter  222 9595   481 2133