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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2001 Week 7 Hansard (19 June) . . Page.. 2041 ..

Capital works projects-prequalification of tenderers

MR RUGENDYKE: My question is to the Minister for Urban Services. I advise that I have given the minister notification of this question, due to its unwieldiness. Minister, does your government still subscribe to the concept and practice of prequalification for tenderers who seek to tender for ACT government capital works projects? What is the dollar value of such capital works where such prequalification is required? Does your government apply the same criteria to subcontractors who partner, work for or provide services to, the prime contractor of capital works contracts awarded by your government?

MR SMYTH: I thank Mr Rugendyke for notice of the question. The government is fully committed to the concept of prequalification for tenderers who seek work from the ACT government. In the case of consultants, the threshold has been set at $50,000. In the case of other contractors, it has been set at $100,000. That strategy has been in place for some time. It is in line with the national code of practice. It does not apply to subcontractors, except for project management, where exactly the same rules do apply.

MR RUGENDYKE: I ask a supplementary question. Will the minister assure the house that he will apply the same criteria and prequalification requirements to any entities or related entities that perform any work or provide any service pursuant to, or as a consequence of, a capital works contract, apply this rule where the value of that work or service is either cumulatively or singularly greater than $1,000 and apply this arrangement to all current requests for tender and expressions of interest for capital works projects?

MR SMYTH: The current scheme does not extend to such a small level. It would be totally impractical for the government to insist upon prequalification for any service provided over the $1,000 level. The imposts on small and medium-sized businesses would be an impossible burden for them to carry. With that in mind, we do not do that. In the case of subcontractors, as previously stated, the levels do apply for project management, for consultancies above $50,000 or for works above $100,000.

Williamsdale quarry

MR BERRY: My question is to the Chief Minister. It is in relation to the Williamsdale quarry. Chief Minister, how much of the Williamsdale quarry does the territory own through Totalcare today and how much of the Williamsdale quarry will the territory, through Totalcare, own on election day?

Mr Humphries: Mr Speaker, I think Mr Berry has asked this question before and I have answered it fully before.

MR SPEAKER: I think he can answer it.

MR BERRY: All I asked him was how much does it own today. Doesn't he know or doesn't he care?

MR SPEAKER: But the second part could not be answered. Questions shall not ask ministers for an expression of opinion. I don't know that he could possibly tell us.

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