Page 966 - Week 03 - Thursday, 14 March 1991
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Mr Speaker, the manipulation of workers and their time and money to fight what are, in some cases, essentially political battles is to be deplored, when issues of this nature, quite frankly, belong on the floor of the house, provided, of course, that they are not continually recycled by an opposition bereft of any ability. I might take this opportunity to educate those across the floor on the basic procedures associated with the building and construction industry.
The types of tenders that we are talking about and that the Government invites are as follows: Firstly, public tender, which is used, by preference, because it gives small contractors an opportunity to participate; secondly, public advertisement, with no restrictions on the number of tenders sought; thirdly, selected tender, when a limited number, usually six or less, are selected because of proven experience or recognisability, and so on; fourthly, negotiated tender; and last, but not least, prequalified tender. All these options are utilised by the Government as circumstances warrant; but, principally, the fairest system, when projects are well defined, is the calling of public tenders. Selected tenders, to provide detailed expression of interest, are used for the selection of project managers.
Mr Speaker, conditions of contracts used by the ACT for public works are identical to those used by the Commonwealth and the States for public works, that is, the national Public Works Committee edition No. 3. This is an effective contract which has been developed over a number of years with the express purpose of having a contract suitable for the use of public authorities. I would like to remind the Opposition that not only has the Government taken immediate action to reduce the risk to Government and subcontractors, but it has established - as my colleague has already indicated - the public works forum which has an ongoing role to examine issues of common concern to the building and construction industry. Maybe, if Ms Follett is as good at fixing things as she claims to be, she could get her colleagues from the Labor movement involved in this particular forum.
This forum is actively participating in the Federal Government's building and construction industry development strategy committee, and it is providing comments relating to issues associated with the local industry to the committee. It is expected that real reform to the industry will follow the outcome of the committee's findings. This is in complete contrast to the Opposition's total disinterest in this matter when it was in government.
Discussion interrupted.
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