Page 3877 - Week 12 - Thursday, 23 November 2006
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MR STANHOPE: Yes, most certainly.
Paper
Mr Barr presented the following paper:
Occupational Health and Safety Act, pursuant to section 228—operation of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 1989 and its associated law—quarterly report—September quarter 2006.
Government Procurement Act—review
Ministerial statement
MR STANHOPE (Ginninderra—Chief Minister, Treasurer, Minister for Business and Economic Development, Minister for Indigenous Affairs and Minister for the Arts): I ask leave of the Assembly to make a ministerial statement concerning a report on the outcomes of the review of operations of the Government Procurement Act 2001.
Leave granted.
MR STANHOPE: In accordance with the requirements of section 53 of the Government Procurement Act 2001, I am pleased to report on the outcome of the review of the operation of the act which has been conducted over recent months. The Government Procurement Act commenced on 24 May 2001. Since its commencement, the scope of the act and associated statutory instruments have expanded significantly. This includes the incorporation of the provisions of a number of former acts, including the Public Access to Government Contracts Act and amendment by a private member’s bill in the Legislative Assembly in 2003.
The vast majority of the provisions, and hence operations, of the act and associated statutory instruments focus on administrative activities within the ACT public service. The majority of the operative provisions that govern the procurement activities of ACT government agencies are contained in disallowable instruments called procurement guidelines issued under the act by the government procurement board.
Notwithstanding the use of the term “guideline” the instruments have the force of law and specify requirements with which agencies must comply. The existing statutory framework and the government procurement board have made significant contributions to enhancing the professionalism of ACT government procurement activities and public confidence in those activities.
During 2005 the Auditor-General reviewed government procurement activity. The audit office’s principal finding was that, overall, agencies have demonstrated a satisfactory level of compliance with the Procurement Act principles and guidelines in respect of major procurement processes—those greater than $50,000. The Auditor-General’s findings reflect the existence of a mature regulatory framework, with growing awareness amongst and compliance by public servants with the key requirements of the legislation.
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