The Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit has commenced an inquiry into Snowy Hydro Limited’s management of the Snowy 2.0 project following a major project reset in August 2023. Snowy 2.0 is the largest committed renewable energy project in Australia. The project reset doubled the estimated project cost from $6 billion to $12 billion and extended the expected completion dates. A further cost reassessment was announced in October 2025 but is yet to be released.
Committee Chair Josh Burns MP commented that ‘Snowy 2.0 is vital for Australia’s energy future but the project has seen delays, growing costs and performance issues. The Committee wants to understand Snowy Hydro Limited’s management of these issues and the lessons for other major public infrastructure projects’.
Mr Burns stated, ‘The financial risks of massive public projects like Snowy 2.0 rest with Australian taxpayers. The Parliament needs to ensure there are strong governance, risk management, forecasting and oversight arrangements in place to see this project completed’.
The inquiry’s terms of reference include examining Snowy Hydro Limited’s management of Snowy 2.0, particularly the project reset and cost forecasting, schedule and risk management, and contractor oversight. The inquiry will further consider the findings in Auditor-General Report No. 39 2025–26, Delivery of Snowy 2.0.
Submissions to the inquiry addressing the terms of reference are invited by Friday, 9 October 2026.
Further details of this inquiry – including its terms of reference, submissions received and public hearing schedules – can be accessed on the inquiry website.
Media enquiries
Kitty Middleton, Office of Josh Burns MP
0429 044 218
For background information
Committee Secretariat
02 6277 4615
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For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website. On the site, you can make a submission to an inquiry, read other submissions, and get details for upcoming public hearings. You can also track the Committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track Committee’ button in the right hand column of the page.
