Page 1137 - Week 07 - Tuesday, 22 August 1989
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briefing on the Eastern Parkway and that, if such a request had been made, it assures us that that briefing would have been provided. In addition to that, officers of my department have contacted us to say that they also were not aware of any request for such a briefing and thus it was impossible for them to intervene in any way whatsoever. It is yet another example of misrepresentation by the Katharine West party.
Tender for Badges
MR BERRY: Mr Collaery asked a question in relation to the provision of badges for the ACT Ambulance Service. That was on 26 July 1989. I seek leave, if the Assembly does not wish to hear my verbal response to it, to table that answer.
MR SPEAKER: Yes, proceed.
MR BERRY: I seek leave to table that answer, but I can respond, Mr Speaker, if you hand the answer back. The question raised by Mr Collaery was:
...can the Minister tell the Assembly why a tender for the supply of badges to the ACT Ambulance Service was not awarded to a local ACT manufacturer when his price was lower and the quality equivalent? Is the Minister aware that the same supplier tendered for a contract in Western Australia for badges and was informed by the Western Australian Government that it was a matter of government policy to buy only Western Australian made products?
My response, Mr Speaker, is that the manufacturer that has been identified wrote to me on 24 July 1989, and I have subsequently replied to his letter. In relation to the manufacturer's unsuccessful quotation for the embroidery of badges, the decision was made on the basis of the ACT Department of Community Services and Health tender policy. That policy states that the "lowest suitable quotation or tender is to be accepted".
All prospective suppliers' samples underwent a thorough assessment, including both the price and the quality of the badges. The badges are to be worn on shirts, which require frequent washing, as well as on jumpers and jackets. An important consideration for my department was the badges withstanding the wear and tear of daily washing. My department, as an additional comparison, also contacted other users of the suppliers' badges.
I was informed by the manufacturer that a Western Australian Government agency, as a matter of policy, bought only Western Australian made products. However, this appears contrary to the national preference agreement which was ratified by all State governments in 1986, and my officers
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