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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 08 Hansard (Tuesday, 3 August 2004) . . Page.. 3321 ..

issues in relation to the changeover from the old scheme to the new. Those have now been ironed out and, of course, that is relevant to the letter that your constituent received in relation to this. But as to the specific detail of the fee or the charge that you raised, I will have to take some advice on that.

I cannot mention specifically any of the range of charges that changed on 1 July but it is certainly the case that fees and charges across the board have changed.

Emission standards

MR STEFANIAK: My question is to the Minister for Environment. Can the minister please advise whether the underground car park at Woden Plaza currently meets Australian emission standards? If not, what emission standards are exceeded in the car park? What are you doing to ensure that it complies with these standards?

MR STANHOPE: No, I cannot say, but I am more than happy to have the issue investigated and provide full details to the Assembly in relation to the issue the member raises.

MR STEFANIAK: I ask a supplementary question. Whilst you are doing that, Chief Minister, could you also take on board what other underground car parks in the ACT exceed Australian emission standards?

MR STANHOPE: I am happy to take that on notice.

Procurement guidelines

MRS BURKE: Mr Speaker, my question is to the Minister for Children, Youth and Family Support. Hopefully, the minister is aware that the ACT government’s procurement guidelines 2003 requires ACT government agencies to seek three quotes for the procurement of works over $5,000 and put out to public tender all works over $20,000. Minister, these arrangements are, I believe, in place to ensure that the ACT taxpayer receives best value for the money paid.

However, your department does not follow these guidelines. Totalcare is a select contractor to perform repairs and maintenance. Work is automatically allocated to them without these procedures being put in place. In other words, it is an inside job.

Minister, why is your department failing to follow the ACT government’s procurement guidelines for selecting contractors to perform repairs and maintenance?

MS GALLAGHER: I know that Totalcare has had a long history with the education department, which relies on Totalcare to provide maintenance and support for its buildings. But Totalcare is inside the public service now; they are with the Department of Urban Services. Since they have returned to government, they have been the preferred provider of those works in schools. But I don’t think anything has changed from what happened beforehand.

Mr Wood: They’re employees; they’re our work force.

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