1485. Hon Alison Xamon to the minister representing the Minister for Finance:
I refer to the Recommendation 3 of the Coroner’s report 19/13, which recommended that the Government act to ensure that copies of all architectural drawings commissioned by a government body be archived with one government organisation, and I ask:
(a) has a government body been identified to be the custodian of these types of documents:
(i) if yes to (a), which body; and
(ii) if no to (a), why not;
(b) has any funding been allocated to create such an archive;
(c) has any such archive of documents been created; and
(d) if work has not commenced on this recommendation, can the Attorney General please advise whether this will be progressed during this term of Parliament?
Hon Stephen Dawson replied:
(a)–(d) For non-residential building projects, the Department of Finance retains a copy of the architectural drawings for the projects it manages on behalf of other government agencies.
I am advised the Department does not consider it feasible or pragmatic for one agency to consolidate the documentation for the significant volume of building and construction projects undertaken across government every year.
This responsibility more appropriately sits with line agencies as the asset owner, responsible for asset maintenance and funding decisions, as well as ensuring that any relevant drawings remain relevant and accessible.