❓ Hon George Cash questions the Minister for Housing and Works on the government's commitment to openness and accountability, specifically regarding confidentiality deeds in contracts. The Minister affirms his support for transparency but defers the second part of the answer.
AnsweredQoN 866Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
GOVERNMENT OPENNESS AND ACCOUNTABILITY
(1) Does the minister support the Government’s pre-election commitment to openness and accountability in government dealings? (2) Does the Department of Housing and Works incorporate confidentiality deeds in any of its contracts; and, if so, to what extent? Hon TOM STEPHENS
(1) Does the minister support the Government’s pre-election commitment to openness and accountability in government dealings? (2) Does the Department of Housing and Works incorporate confidentiality deeds in any of its contracts; and, if so, to what extent? Hon TOM STEPHENS
AnswerView source ↗
(1) Yes, I do, both in my capacity as Minister for Housing and Works and as Minister for Local Government and Regional Development. That has seen me specifically engaged with the State Supply Commission to ensure that the tendering processes and contracting processes of government are deliberately focused on becoming more transparent, open and accountable. Transparency in the awarding of contracts has considerable value for the Government and the community. When contracts are awarded, it is important that all players get a chance to have direct contact with the agencies that are letting the contracts, so that they understand how their tendering to government can be enhanced, how they can sharpen the pencil and more effectively put in tenders. That is to the advantage of businesses trying to do business with government. It also has an advantage for government, insofar as those pencils will be sharpened, the prices keener and the advantages to the taxpayer more readily gained. It is also important for that transparent and open process to be an opportunity for an unsuccessful tenderer to engage with the successful tenderer to see in what way he can assist the successful tenderer in delivering the contract for government. There will be occasions when better local content will be achieved for Western Australia when an unsuccessful tenderer uses the transparency processes that are now available in the letting of contracts, to engage the successful contractor to see if there is an opportunity to participate in the work. I have campaigned vigorously among the small business community throughout regional Western Australia, and again this morning here in Perth, to encourage the business community to utilise these transparent processes in that way and to encourage the agencies not to be threatened by the dialogue. The PRESIDENT: I remind the minister that this is not the opportunity for a ministerial statement. He might like to answer the second part of the question. Hon TOM STEPHENS: In deference to the Chair, I will make the second part of the answer available to the member.
(2) Does the Department of Housing and Works incorporate confidentiality deeds in any of its contracts; and, if so, to what extent? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: (1) Yes, I do, both in my capacity as Minister for Housing and Works and as Minister for Local Government and Regional Development. That has seen me specifically engaged with the State Supply Commission to ensure that the tendering processes and contracting processes of government are deliberately focused on becoming more transparent, open and accountable. Transparency in the awarding of contracts has considerable value for the Government and the community. When contracts are awarded, it is important that all players get a chance to have direct contact with the agencies that are letting the contracts, so that they understand how their tendering to government can be enhanced, how they can sharpen the pencil and more effectively put in tenders. That is to the advantage of businesses trying to do business with government. It also has an advantage for government, insofar as those pencils will be sharpened, the prices keener and the advantages to the taxpayer more readily gained. It is also important for that transparent and open process to be an opportunity for an unsuccessful tenderer to engage with the successful tenderer to see in what way he can assist the successful tenderer in delivering the contract for government. There will be occasions when better local content will be achieved for Western Australia when an unsuccessful tenderer uses the transparency processes that are now available in the letting of contracts, to engage the successful contractor to see if there is an opportunity to participate in the work. I have campaigned vigorously among the small business community throughout regional Western Australia, and again this morning here in Perth, to encourage the business community to utilise these transparent processes in that way and to encourage the agencies not to be threatened by the dialogue. The PRESIDENT: I remind the minister that this is not the opportunity for a ministerial statement. He might like to answer the second part of the question. Hon TOM STEPHENS: In deference to the Chair, I will make the second part of the answer available to the member.
Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: (1) Yes, I do, both in my capacity as Minister for Housing and Works and as Minister for Local Government and Regional Development. That has seen me specifically engaged with the State Supply Commission to ensure that the tendering processes and contracting processes of government are deliberately focused on becoming more transparent, open and accountable. Transparency in the awarding of contracts has considerable value for the Government and the community. When contracts are awarded, it is important that all players get a chance to have direct contact with the agencies that are letting the contracts, so that they understand how their tendering to government can be enhanced, how they can sharpen the pencil and more effectively put in tenders. That is to the advantage of businesses trying to do business with government. It also has an advantage for government, insofar as those pencils will be sharpened, the prices keener and the advantages to the taxpayer more readily gained. It is also important for that transparent and open process to be an opportunity for an unsuccessful tenderer to engage with the successful tenderer to see in what way he can assist the successful tenderer in delivering the contract for government. There will be occasions when better local content will be achieved for Western Australia when an unsuccessful tenderer uses the transparency processes that are now available in the letting of contracts, to engage the successful contractor to see if there is an opportunity to participate in the work. I have campaigned vigorously among the small business community throughout regional Western Australia, and again this morning here in Perth, to encourage the business community to utilise these transparent processes in that way and to encourage the agencies not to be threatened by the dialogue. The PRESIDENT: I remind the minister that this is not the opportunity for a ministerial statement. He might like to answer the second part of the question. Hon TOM STEPHENS: In deference to the Chair, I will make the second part of the answer available to the member.
(1) Yes, I do, both in my capacity as Minister for Housing and Works and as Minister for Local Government and Regional Development. That has seen me specifically engaged with the State Supply Commission to ensure that the tendering processes and contracting processes of government are deliberately focused on becoming more transparent, open and accountable. Transparency in the awarding of contracts has considerable value for the Government and the community. When contracts are awarded, it is important that all players get a chance to have direct contact with the agencies that are letting the contracts, so that they understand how their tendering to government can be enhanced, how they can sharpen the pencil and more effectively put in tenders. That is to the advantage of businesses trying to do business with government. It also has an advantage for government, insofar as those pencils will be sharpened, the prices keener and the advantages to the taxpayer more readily gained. It is also important for that transparent and open process to be an opportunity for an unsuccessful tenderer to engage with the successful tenderer to see in what way he can assist the successful tenderer in delivering the contract for government. There will be occasions when better local content will be achieved for Western Australia when an unsuccessful tenderer uses the transparency processes that are now available in the letting of contracts, to engage the successful contractor to see if there is an opportunity to participate in the work. I have campaigned vigorously among the small business community throughout regional Western Australia, and again this morning here in Perth, to encourage the business community to utilise these transparent processes in that way and to encourage the agencies not to be threatened by the dialogue. The PRESIDENT: I remind the minister that this is not the opportunity for a ministerial statement. He might like to answer the second part of the question. Hon TOM STEPHENS: In deference to the Chair, I will make the second part of the answer available to the member.
The PRESIDENT: I remind the minister that this is not the opportunity for a ministerial statement. He might like to answer the second part of the question. Hon TOM STEPHENS: In deference to the Chair, I will make the second part of the answer available to the member.
Hon TOM STEPHENS: In deference to the Chair, I will make the second part of the answer available to the member.
(2) Does the Department of Housing and Works incorporate confidentiality deeds in any of its contracts; and, if so, to what extent? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: (1) Yes, I do, both in my capacity as Minister for Housing and Works and as Minister for Local Government and Regional Development. That has seen me specifically engaged with the State Supply Commission to ensure that the tendering processes and contracting processes of government are deliberately focused on becoming more transparent, open and accountable. Transparency in the awarding of contracts has considerable value for the Government and the community. When contracts are awarded, it is important that all players get a chance to have direct contact with the agencies that are letting the contracts, so that they understand how their tendering to government can be enhanced, how they can sharpen the pencil and more effectively put in tenders. That is to the advantage of businesses trying to do business with government. It also has an advantage for government, insofar as those pencils will be sharpened, the prices keener and the advantages to the taxpayer more readily gained. It is also important for that transparent and open process to be an opportunity for an unsuccessful tenderer to engage with the successful tenderer to see in what way he can assist the successful tenderer in delivering the contract for government. There will be occasions when better local content will be achieved for Western Australia when an unsuccessful tenderer uses the transparency processes that are now available in the letting of contracts, to engage the successful contractor to see if there is an opportunity to participate in the work. I have campaigned vigorously among the small business community throughout regional Western Australia, and again this morning here in Perth, to encourage the business community to utilise these transparent processes in that way and to encourage the agencies not to be threatened by the dialogue. The PRESIDENT: I remind the minister that this is not the opportunity for a ministerial statement. He might like to answer the second part of the question. Hon TOM STEPHENS: In deference to the Chair, I will make the second part of the answer available to the member.
Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: (1) Yes, I do, both in my capacity as Minister for Housing and Works and as Minister for Local Government and Regional Development. That has seen me specifically engaged with the State Supply Commission to ensure that the tendering processes and contracting processes of government are deliberately focused on becoming more transparent, open and accountable. Transparency in the awarding of contracts has considerable value for the Government and the community. When contracts are awarded, it is important that all players get a chance to have direct contact with the agencies that are letting the contracts, so that they understand how their tendering to government can be enhanced, how they can sharpen the pencil and more effectively put in tenders. That is to the advantage of businesses trying to do business with government. It also has an advantage for government, insofar as those pencils will be sharpened, the prices keener and the advantages to the taxpayer more readily gained. It is also important for that transparent and open process to be an opportunity for an unsuccessful tenderer to engage with the successful tenderer to see in what way he can assist the successful tenderer in delivering the contract for government. There will be occasions when better local content will be achieved for Western Australia when an unsuccessful tenderer uses the transparency processes that are now available in the letting of contracts, to engage the successful contractor to see if there is an opportunity to participate in the work. I have campaigned vigorously among the small business community throughout regional Western Australia, and again this morning here in Perth, to encourage the business community to utilise these transparent processes in that way and to encourage the agencies not to be threatened by the dialogue. The PRESIDENT: I remind the minister that this is not the opportunity for a ministerial statement. He might like to answer the second part of the question. Hon TOM STEPHENS: In deference to the Chair, I will make the second part of the answer available to the member.
(1) Yes, I do, both in my capacity as Minister for Housing and Works and as Minister for Local Government and Regional Development. That has seen me specifically engaged with the State Supply Commission to ensure that the tendering processes and contracting processes of government are deliberately focused on becoming more transparent, open and accountable. Transparency in the awarding of contracts has considerable value for the Government and the community. When contracts are awarded, it is important that all players get a chance to have direct contact with the agencies that are letting the contracts, so that they understand how their tendering to government can be enhanced, how they can sharpen the pencil and more effectively put in tenders. That is to the advantage of businesses trying to do business with government. It also has an advantage for government, insofar as those pencils will be sharpened, the prices keener and the advantages to the taxpayer more readily gained. It is also important for that transparent and open process to be an opportunity for an unsuccessful tenderer to engage with the successful tenderer to see in what way he can assist the successful tenderer in delivering the contract for government. There will be occasions when better local content will be achieved for Western Australia when an unsuccessful tenderer uses the transparency processes that are now available in the letting of contracts, to engage the successful contractor to see if there is an opportunity to participate in the work. I have campaigned vigorously among the small business community throughout regional Western Australia, and again this morning here in Perth, to encourage the business community to utilise these transparent processes in that way and to encourage the agencies not to be threatened by the dialogue. The PRESIDENT: I remind the minister that this is not the opportunity for a ministerial statement. He might like to answer the second part of the question. Hon TOM STEPHENS: In deference to the Chair, I will make the second part of the answer available to the member.
The PRESIDENT: I remind the minister that this is not the opportunity for a ministerial statement. He might like to answer the second part of the question. Hon TOM STEPHENS: In deference to the Chair, I will make the second part of the answer available to the member.
Hon TOM STEPHENS: In deference to the Chair, I will make the second part of the answer available to the member.
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