Page 2577 - Week 07 - Thursday, 18 June 2009
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
MR HANSON: The question is: can you advise the Assembly if any proposals or commitments in any form had been made by the government prior to the last election in relation to the purchase of Calvary hospital?
MS GALLAGHER: There had been no commitments made. We had certainly started discussions. Those discussions had been in meetings with me and then through ACT Health with Little Company of Mary. The only commitment that was made was to continue discussions.
Recycling—Aussie Junk
MS BRESNAN: My question is to the Minster for Territory and Municipal Services and is in regard to Aussie Junk and its contract with ACT NOWaste. Are you aware that during the 2007 Mugga Lane recycling tender process, prior to the contract for the Mugga recycling site being announced, ACT NOWaste was provided with a statutory declaration that Aussie Junk was breaking the law regarding staff payments and environmental matters?
MR STANHOPE: Thank you, Ms Bresnan. I was not aware, that I recall. I will have to take some advice and perhaps refresh myself and certainly take advice from the department in relation to information that may have been available to them at that time in relation to that contract. Bear with me for half a second.
I must say that I am not equipped today to answer that question in relation to what information was available to the department at the time that they made decisions in relation to the letting of the contract through the tender process that was pursued at the time. I have faith in Procurement Solutions and the tender process and I have faith in the rigour and significant and utter faith in the integrity of our procurement processes, of our tender processes and of those officers that we charge with responsibility for the assessment and analysis of tenders.
This is a very important area of government. It needs to be rigorously controlled and managed and I believe the system’s checks and balances and the arrangements we have in place serve us well in relation to the rigour of our processes. I am prepared to say that. I was not the minister at the time and I simply do not have that level of detail. I am more than happy to seek it.
MR SPEAKER: Ms Bresnan, a supplementary question?
MS BRESNAN: Thank you, Mr Speaker. Chief Minister, if ACT NOWaste was given this information, was due diligence potentially not followed? Will you appoint an independent person to review the 2007 contracts for the Mugga landfill?
MR STANHOPE: I will not make that commitment here and now, Ms Bresnan, but I am more than happy to ask for and receive advice on the issues that you raise. They are serious issues and they will be genuinely and seriously pursued. I will be more than happy to provide you with the outcome of that.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .