In relation to buses chartered by ACT Government Departments for transport in the ACT:

(1) What bus charters have been arranged by each Government Department since the beginning of 1998;

(2) Which organisations were selected to provide these bus charters;

(3) Were the bus charters arranged as a result of an open tender process;

(4) Was ACTION invited to provide a quote or tender for these charters; and

(5) For those charters that were not provided by ACTION, why was ACTION not selected.

In responding to the Question on Notice it is important to note that the ACT Government has in place guidelines for the purchasing of services. These guidelines provide agencies with the parameters for purchasing goods and services. Attached is the ACT Government Purchasing Policy and Principles Guidelines for information (Attachment A).

The ACT Government purchasing benchmarks have been set to ensure that 'Local' suppliers are provided with the opportunity to quote for ACT Government business.

The information requested in the Question on Notice is firstly summarised by each Department with further information provided in the following tables.

Chief Minister's Department

Department of Treasury and Infrastructure

Department of Justice and Community Safety

Department of Urban Services

Sixteen of the hire services were by open tender and 69 were of a value less than $2,000. These 69 were let by quotation in accordance with the ACT Government Purchasing Policy.