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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1995 Week 7 Hansard (17 October) . . Page.. 1717 ..

MR WHITECROSS: Mr Speaker, my question without notice is to Mr Stefaniak in his capacity as Minister for Children's and Youth Services. Minister, can you outline the process followed to enable the tendering out of the services at Kaleen Youth Shelter? Was this process consistent with government guidelines for tendering?

MR STEFANIAK: In relation to the second point, I am assured that it was. In relation to the first point, I am advised that a request for tender document was prepared by the Contract Board of the Department of Education and Training. Tenders for the operation of Kaleen Youth Shelter were advertised in the Government Gazette on 20 September 1995, the Canberra Times on 16 September 1995, and the Sydney Morning Herald on 18 September 1995. Eleven tender documents were forwarded to interested organisations. Tenders closed at 2.00 pm on Tuesday, 3 October 1995, and were opened by two Department of Education and Training Tender Board staff, in the presence of a third person from the accounts section of the Department of Education and Training. Only one tender was received, which was submitted by the Richmond Fellowship, and no late tenders were lodged.

MR WHITECROSS: I ask a supplementary question, Mr Speaker. Minister, with reference to your information that 11 sets of tender papers were requested but only one tender was received, what inquiries has your department made to ascertain why only one tender was received? How does the existence of only one tender appear in terms of a competitive tender process?

MR STEFANIAK: Perhaps, Mr Whitecross, there was only one group who were really interested, or only one group who really wanted to tender, but there were 11 tender documents sent out. I am also advised that the tender box was checked for some time after the tenders closed. It seems that the department has done all that it reasonably could in the circumstances.

MR KAINE: I have a question for the Chief Minister. Chief Minister, I refer to the labour force figures released last week by the ABS, one of which indicated that there was a youth unemployment rate of 42.6 per cent. The media incorrectly interpreted that, and I was amazed to read that, according to the media, nearly one in two Canberra teenagers are unemployed. My understanding is that in fact about 6 per cent of our teenagers are unemployed. I ask the Chief Minister - - -

Ms Follett: You have changed your mind now you are in government.

Mrs Carnell: You have changed your mind now you are in opposition.

MR SPEAKER: Order!

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