Mr. Buswell questions the Minister's decision to extend the court security contract to GSL, citing concerns about GSL's suitability and Professor Harding's advice. The Minister defends the decision as a cabinet-approved extension based on a business case and GSL's performance.

AnsweredQoN 739Legislative Assembly
Asked
26 November 2007
Portfolio
Corrective Services

QuestionView source ↗

COURT SECURITY AND CUSTODIAL SERVICES CONTRACT EXTENSION
I refer to the minister’s decision to allow the novation of the court security and custodial services contract to Global Solutions Limited and the subsequent extension of the contract for a further three years. How can the minister justify her decision given, firstly, Professor Richard Harding’s advice that such an action was an improper abandonment of responsibility to the interests of the state; secondly, that GSL was not considered good enough to get on the short list in relation to contracts at Acacia Prison; and thirdly, that GSL has no history of performance delivery in Western Australia, despite the minister’s claims that the contract was renewed because historical performance measures had been achieved? Ms M.M. QUIRK

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the member for his question. The issue of the extension of the GSL contract went to, and was canvassed at length in, cabinet. I am, of course, unable to disclose the nature of those discussions. I refer to Professor Harding’s statement to the media yesterday in which he was largely supportive of extending the GSL contract. Mr T. Buswell : Have you read the April letter? Ms M.M. QUIRK : I certainly have read the letter. Professor Harding also noted that there have been some improvements since GSL took the contract over from AIMS Corporation. The decision to extend the court security and custodial services contract for a further three years from 31 July 2008 was made by the government on 30 July this year. It was a cabinet decision. I consented to the novation of the contract from AIMS to GSL on 25 July. The novation occurred at the request of AIMS, and was consented to after due diligence processes had been undertaken, member for Vasse. A business case was prepared involving all agencies, including not only the Department of Corrective Services but also the Department of the Attorney General and the WA Police; the Department of Treasury and Finance was also involved. The business case considered all options, including the extension of the existing contract, re-tendering of services and bringing the services back in-house. Therefore, as I said, the business case went to cabinet and the decision was made. Mr T. Buswell : What did the business plan recommend? The SPEAKER : Order, Deputy Leader of the Opposition! Ms M.M. QUIRK : The standard approach adopted by government is that contracts that are operating within budget and that are not breaching the performance measures of the contract should be renewed, where possible. Mr T. Buswell : Was the break-out included - The SPEAKER : Order, Deputy Leader of the Opposition! Ms M.M. QUIRK : The court security and custodial services contract had another three years to run through the use of the option to extend. I note the member for Vasse’s comments, which I presume are about the Supreme Court break-out; AIMS, not GSL, was responsible for the contract at that time.
Ms M.M. QUIRK replied: I thank the member for his question. The issue of the extension of the GSL contract went to, and was canvassed at length in, cabinet. I am, of course, unable to disclose the nature of those discussions. I refer to Professor Harding’s statement to the media yesterday in which he was largely supportive of extending the GSL contract. Mr T. Buswell : Have you read the April letter? Ms M.M. QUIRK : I certainly have read the letter. Professor Harding also noted that there have been some improvements since GSL took the contract over from AIMS Corporation. The decision to extend the court security and custodial services contract for a further three years from 31 July 2008 was made by the government on 30 July this year. It was a cabinet decision. I consented to the novation of the contract from AIMS to GSL on 25 July. The novation occurred at the request of AIMS, and was consented to after due diligence processes had been undertaken, member for Vasse. A business case was prepared involving all agencies, including not only the Department of Corrective Services but also the Department of the Attorney General and the WA Police; the Department of Treasury and Finance was also involved. The business case considered all options, including the extension of the existing contract, re-tendering of services and bringing the services back in-house. Therefore, as I said, the business case went to cabinet and the decision was made. Mr T. Buswell : What did the business plan recommend? The SPEAKER : Order, Deputy Leader of the Opposition! Ms M.M. QUIRK : The standard approach adopted by government is that contracts that are operating within budget and that are not breaching the performance measures of the contract should be renewed, where possible. Mr T. Buswell : Was the break-out included - The SPEAKER : Order, Deputy Leader of the Opposition! Ms M.M. QUIRK : The court security and custodial services contract had another three years to run through the use of the option to extend. I note the member for Vasse’s comments, which I presume are about the Supreme Court break-out; AIMS, not GSL, was responsible for the contract at that time.
I thank the member for his question. The issue of the extension of the GSL contract went to, and was canvassed at length in, cabinet. I am, of course, unable to disclose the nature of those discussions. I refer to Professor Harding’s statement to the media yesterday in which he was largely supportive of extending the GSL contract. Mr T. Buswell : Have you read the April letter? Ms M.M. QUIRK : I certainly have read the letter. Professor Harding also noted that there have been some improvements since GSL took the contract over from AIMS Corporation. The decision to extend the court security and custodial services contract for a further three years from 31 July 2008 was made by the government on 30 July this year. It was a cabinet decision. I consented to the novation of the contract from AIMS to GSL on 25 July. The novation occurred at the request of AIMS, and was consented to after due diligence processes had been undertaken, member for Vasse. A business case was prepared involving all agencies, including not only the Department of Corrective Services but also the Department of the Attorney General and the WA Police; the Department of Treasury and Finance was also involved. The business case considered all options, including the extension of the existing contract, re-tendering of services and bringing the services back in-house. Therefore, as I said, the business case went to cabinet and the decision was made. Mr T. Buswell : What did the business plan recommend? The SPEAKER : Order, Deputy Leader of the Opposition! Ms M.M. QUIRK : The standard approach adopted by government is that contracts that are operating within budget and that are not breaching the performance measures of the contract should be renewed, where possible. Mr T. Buswell : Was the break-out included - The SPEAKER : Order, Deputy Leader of the Opposition! Ms M.M. QUIRK : The court security and custodial services contract had another three years to run through the use of the option to extend. I note the member for Vasse’s comments, which I presume are about the Supreme Court break-out; AIMS, not GSL, was responsible for the contract at that time.
Mr T. Buswell : Have you read the April letter? Ms M.M. QUIRK : I certainly have read the letter. Professor Harding also noted that there have been some improvements since GSL took the contract over from AIMS Corporation. The decision to extend the court security and custodial services contract for a further three years from 31 July 2008 was made by the government on 30 July this year. It was a cabinet decision. I consented to the novation of the contract from AIMS to GSL on 25 July. The novation occurred at the request of AIMS, and was consented to after due diligence processes had been undertaken, member for Vasse. A business case was prepared involving all agencies, including not only the Department of Corrective Services but also the Department of the Attorney General and the WA Police; the Department of Treasury and Finance was also involved. The business case considered all options, including the extension of the existing contract, re-tendering of services and bringing the services back in-house. Therefore, as I said, the business case went to cabinet and the decision was made. Mr T. Buswell : What did the business plan recommend? The SPEAKER : Order, Deputy Leader of the Opposition! Ms M.M. QUIRK : The standard approach adopted by government is that contracts that are operating within budget and that are not breaching the performance measures of the contract should be renewed, where possible. Mr T. Buswell : Was the break-out included - The SPEAKER : Order, Deputy Leader of the Opposition! Ms M.M. QUIRK : The court security and custodial services contract had another three years to run through the use of the option to extend. I note the member for Vasse’s comments, which I presume are about the Supreme Court break-out; AIMS, not GSL, was responsible for the contract at that time.
Ms M.M. QUIRK : I certainly have read the letter. Professor Harding also noted that there have been some improvements since GSL took the contract over from AIMS Corporation. The decision to extend the court security and custodial services contract for a further three years from 31 July 2008 was made by the government on 30 July this year. It was a cabinet decision. I consented to the novation of the contract from AIMS to GSL on 25 July. The novation occurred at the request of AIMS, and was consented to after due diligence processes had been undertaken, member for Vasse. A business case was prepared involving all agencies, including not only the Department of Corrective Services but also the Department of the Attorney General and the WA Police; the Department of Treasury and Finance was also involved. The business case considered all options, including the extension of the existing contract, re-tendering of services and bringing the services back in-house. Therefore, as I said, the business case went to cabinet and the decision was made. Mr T. Buswell : What did the business plan recommend? The SPEAKER : Order, Deputy Leader of the Opposition! Ms M.M. QUIRK : The standard approach adopted by government is that contracts that are operating within budget and that are not breaching the performance measures of the contract should be renewed, where possible. Mr T. Buswell : Was the break-out included - The SPEAKER : Order, Deputy Leader of the Opposition! Ms M.M. QUIRK : The court security and custodial services contract had another three years to run through the use of the option to extend. I note the member for Vasse’s comments, which I presume are about the Supreme Court break-out; AIMS, not GSL, was responsible for the contract at that time.
Professor Harding also noted that there have been some improvements since GSL took the contract over from AIMS Corporation. The decision to extend the court security and custodial services contract for a further three years from 31 July 2008 was made by the government on 30 July this year. It was a cabinet decision. I consented to the novation of the contract from AIMS to GSL on 25 July. The novation occurred at the request of AIMS, and was consented to after due diligence processes had been undertaken, member for Vasse. A business case was prepared involving all agencies, including not only the Department of Corrective Services but also the Department of the Attorney General and the WA Police; the Department of Treasury and Finance was also involved. The business case considered all options, including the extension of the existing contract, re-tendering of services and bringing the services back in-house. Therefore, as I said, the business case went to cabinet and the decision was made. Mr T. Buswell : What did the business plan recommend? The SPEAKER : Order, Deputy Leader of the Opposition! Ms M.M. QUIRK : The standard approach adopted by government is that contracts that are operating within budget and that are not breaching the performance measures of the contract should be renewed, where possible. Mr T. Buswell : Was the break-out included - The SPEAKER : Order, Deputy Leader of the Opposition! Ms M.M. QUIRK : The court security and custodial services contract had another three years to run through the use of the option to extend. I note the member for Vasse’s comments, which I presume are about the Supreme Court break-out; AIMS, not GSL, was responsible for the contract at that time.
Mr T. Buswell : What did the business plan recommend? The SPEAKER : Order, Deputy Leader of the Opposition! Ms M.M. QUIRK : The standard approach adopted by government is that contracts that are operating within budget and that are not breaching the performance measures of the contract should be renewed, where possible. Mr T. Buswell : Was the break-out included - The SPEAKER : Order, Deputy Leader of the Opposition! Ms M.M. QUIRK : The court security and custodial services contract had another three years to run through the use of the option to extend. I note the member for Vasse’s comments, which I presume are about the Supreme Court break-out; AIMS, not GSL, was responsible for the contract at that time.
The SPEAKER : Order, Deputy Leader of the Opposition! Ms M.M. QUIRK : The standard approach adopted by government is that contracts that are operating within budget and that are not breaching the performance measures of the contract should be renewed, where possible. Mr T. Buswell : Was the break-out included - The SPEAKER : Order, Deputy Leader of the Opposition! Ms M.M. QUIRK : The court security and custodial services contract had another three years to run through the use of the option to extend. I note the member for Vasse’s comments, which I presume are about the Supreme Court break-out; AIMS, not GSL, was responsible for the contract at that time.
Ms M.M. QUIRK : The standard approach adopted by government is that contracts that are operating within budget and that are not breaching the performance measures of the contract should be renewed, where possible. Mr T. Buswell : Was the break-out included - The SPEAKER : Order, Deputy Leader of the Opposition! Ms M.M. QUIRK : The court security and custodial services contract had another three years to run through the use of the option to extend. I note the member for Vasse’s comments, which I presume are about the Supreme Court break-out; AIMS, not GSL, was responsible for the contract at that time.
Mr T. Buswell : Was the break-out included - The SPEAKER : Order, Deputy Leader of the Opposition! Ms M.M. QUIRK : The court security and custodial services contract had another three years to run through the use of the option to extend. I note the member for Vasse’s comments, which I presume are about the Supreme Court break-out; AIMS, not GSL, was responsible for the contract at that time.
The SPEAKER : Order, Deputy Leader of the Opposition! Ms M.M. QUIRK : The court security and custodial services contract had another three years to run through the use of the option to extend. I note the member for Vasse’s comments, which I presume are about the Supreme Court break-out; AIMS, not GSL, was responsible for the contract at that time.
Ms M.M. QUIRK : The court security and custodial services contract had another three years to run through the use of the option to extend. I note the member for Vasse’s comments, which I presume are about the Supreme Court break-out; AIMS, not GSL, was responsible for the contract at that time.

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