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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1995 Week 8 Hansard (26 October) . . Page.. 2072 ..

MR DE DOMENICO (continuing):

Mr Abbey was advised that the department did not share that assessment and considered that the fee structure proposed by Hymans would significantly reduce the price that a prudent purchaser would bid. I am advised, Mr Speaker, that Mr Abbey was aggressive in his discussions with the officer concerned.

Concerns were raised in the Assembly concerning the appropriateness or probity of a company bidding for government business where an MLA or close family member has an interest in the company. As we all know, the Chief Minister has written to the Auditor-General seeking advice on that. The Chief Minister will stand up in this place and talk about the letter that she wrote to the Auditor-General, and I will leave it for her to do that.

Mr Speaker, what has Ms Follett said this morning? What is new in what she brought up? The answer is nothing. She brought up all sorts of things to try to muddy the whole thing and besmirch not just my reputation but Mr Hird, Mr Humphries and everybody else on this side. What did she bring up? Absolutely nothing at all. She mentioned various things. Did I or any member of my staff speak with any person regarding this issue? I am advised once again - and I came back into this Assembly and said so - that a departmental liaison officer from the Department of Urban Services had a discussion with an officer of the department. I am also advised that her recollection is that that discussion took place after the bid was decided. Why is that, Mr Speaker? The first that the Minister knew of the bid was on 9 October, after the bid had been decided. In fact, the memo from the Department of Urban Services, which is with the Auditor-General, says, "Minister, this is to advise you that we have selected ...".

Mr Connolly: And you will be tabling that document today, I presume. You will be tabling that document?

MR DE DOMENICO: The documents, Mr Connolly, are all with the Auditor-General.

Mr Connolly: You will be tabling a copy?

MR DE DOMENICO: Every scrap of paper to do with that is with the Auditor-General, Mr Connolly.

Mr Connolly: But is it on the table here, or will it be?

MR DE DOMENICO: No, it is not on the table here. I have my notes on the table here, Mr Connolly. If you want to see that document, Mr Connolly, go and ask the Auditor-General. I am sure he will show it to you - and properly so, Mr Connolly. Every scrap of paper to do with this bid is with the Auditor-General right this minute.

The departmental liaison officer had been informed that the successful tenderer was Harold Hird and Associates. I am advised that after she was informed of that the substance of the discussion was to the effect that all appropriate purchasing procedures had been followed and that the process was transparent. The departmental liaison officer, after being told that Harold Hird and Associates had been selected, then said, "Have all the proper processes been adhered to? Is the process transparent?".

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