❓ Mr. Watson raises concerns about a regional healthcare equipment supplier struggling under a new government contract. Minister Grylls acknowledges the issue, commits to investigating procurement practices, and collaborating with other ministers to support regional businesses.
AnsweredQoN 337Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Great Southern Healthcare Equipment — GOVERNMENT SUPPLY CONTRACT
I refer to the difficulty being faced by Darren Mackaay, the service manager of Great Southern Healthcare Equipment, in continuing his business in my electorate under a new government contract, and to his letter requesting the minister’s help, which I personally handed to the minister last week, in which he says — If this system stays the same, businesses like ours which have the facilities and track record in looking after the more vulnerable members of our society, will shut down and services will need to be sourced out of the metropolitan area. What action is the minister taking to ensure that this business receives full and fair opportunities and can continue to be a regional supplier to his government? Mr B.J. GRYLLS
I refer to the difficulty being faced by Darren Mackaay, the service manager of Great Southern Healthcare Equipment, in continuing his business in my electorate under a new government contract, and to his letter requesting the minister’s help, which I personally handed to the minister last week, in which he says — If this system stays the same, businesses like ours which have the facilities and track record in looking after the more vulnerable members of our society, will shut down and services will need to be sourced out of the metropolitan area. What action is the minister taking to ensure that this business receives full and fair opportunities and can continue to be a regional supplier to his government? Mr B.J. GRYLLS
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the Albany for the question. I appreciate the fact that the member has been a long-time strong campaigner on this issue of Buy Local, even going as far as having his car numberplates advocating that at the local level. Can I say that the concern brought to me last week by the member for Albany is something that is now regularly being expressed to me; the member for Kalgoorlie has raised it with me individually, and the member for North West has as well. There is lot of concern emanating from small business in regional areas about government procurement practices, and about the way in which small businesses in regional locations are engaged in that and how they fit into the mix. I express to the member that I, too, am concerned about what I am hearing back. Off the back of the member’s concern and the concern of others, I would encourage all members of Parliament with an interest in this area to get some local anecdotes from their local communities about how Buy Local could work better. I think everyone supports the principle of Buy Local, but the challenge is that when it comes to actually doing it, and when a business such as the one the member has spoken about tries to ensure that government procurement officers support the business, it does not seem to happen. We need to get to the bottom of that, because that is not a good outcome for small businesses in the regions. I do not think it is a good outcome for government, either, because if that sector contracts, that will cause more problems for government into the future. This matter is obviously not wholly within my portfolio. I think that the Premier and Treasurer, who is holding one of the major economic portfolios of government, and the Minister for Commerce, would also play a key role in this. I will talk to them about how we can investigate this matter and look at where the problems are, why they are arising, and what government can do better, on what I think is a bipartisan issue. I know that when we were in opposition, we raised this as an issue that needed to work better, and the member is now raising it with me, as well as with some other members of our team. I think it would be positive for Western Australian small business for us to try to identify where those challenges are and to act upon that. I give the member a commitment that I will work with the other relevant ministers and try to come up with a response that can provide some certainty to small businesses in regional areas that government values their contribution, wants to work closely with them, and wants to set up systems and protocols that will support them into the future.
Mr B.J. GRYLLS replied: I thank the member for the Albany for the question. I appreciate the fact that the member has been a long-time strong campaigner on this issue of Buy Local, even going as far as having his car numberplates advocating that at the local level. Can I say that the concern brought to me last week by the member for Albany is something that is now regularly being expressed to me; the member for Kalgoorlie has raised it with me individually, and the member for North West has as well. There is lot of concern emanating from small business in regional areas about government procurement practices, and about the way in which small businesses in regional locations are engaged in that and how they fit into the mix. I express to the member that I, too, am concerned about what I am hearing back. Off the back of the member’s concern and the concern of others, I would encourage all members of Parliament with an interest in this area to get some local anecdotes from their local communities about how Buy Local could work better. I think everyone supports the principle of Buy Local, but the challenge is that when it comes to actually doing it, and when a business such as the one the member has spoken about tries to ensure that government procurement officers support the business, it does not seem to happen. We need to get to the bottom of that, because that is not a good outcome for small businesses in the regions. I do not think it is a good outcome for government, either, because if that sector contracts, that will cause more problems for government into the future. This matter is obviously not wholly within my portfolio. I think that the Premier and Treasurer, who is holding one of the major economic portfolios of government, and the Minister for Commerce, would also play a key role in this. I will talk to them about how we can investigate this matter and look at where the problems are, why they are arising, and what government can do better, on what I think is a bipartisan issue. I know that when we were in opposition, we raised this as an issue that needed to work better, and the member is now raising it with me, as well as with some other members of our team. I think it would be positive for Western Australian small business for us to try to identify where those challenges are and to act upon that. I give the member a commitment that I will work with the other relevant ministers and try to come up with a response that can provide some certainty to small businesses in regional areas that government values their contribution, wants to work closely with them, and wants to set up systems and protocols that will support them into the future.
I thank the member for the Albany for the question. I appreciate the fact that the member has been a long-time strong campaigner on this issue of Buy Local, even going as far as having his car numberplates advocating that at the local level. Can I say that the concern brought to me last week by the member for Albany is something that is now regularly being expressed to me; the member for Kalgoorlie has raised it with me individually, and the member for North West has as well. There is lot of concern emanating from small business in regional areas about government procurement practices, and about the way in which small businesses in regional locations are engaged in that and how they fit into the mix. I express to the member that I, too, am concerned about what I am hearing back. Off the back of the member’s concern and the concern of others, I would encourage all members of Parliament with an interest in this area to get some local anecdotes from their local communities about how Buy Local could work better. I think everyone supports the principle of Buy Local, but the challenge is that when it comes to actually doing it, and when a business such as the one the member has spoken about tries to ensure that government procurement officers support the business, it does not seem to happen. We need to get to the bottom of that, because that is not a good outcome for small businesses in the regions. I do not think it is a good outcome for government, either, because if that sector contracts, that will cause more problems for government into the future. This matter is obviously not wholly within my portfolio. I think that the Premier and Treasurer, who is holding one of the major economic portfolios of government, and the Minister for Commerce, would also play a key role in this. I will talk to them about how we can investigate this matter and look at where the problems are, why they are arising, and what government can do better, on what I think is a bipartisan issue. I know that when we were in opposition, we raised this as an issue that needed to work better, and the member is now raising it with me, as well as with some other members of our team. I think it would be positive for Western Australian small business for us to try to identify where those challenges are and to act upon that. I give the member a commitment that I will work with the other relevant ministers and try to come up with a response that can provide some certainty to small businesses in regional areas that government values their contribution, wants to work closely with them, and wants to set up systems and protocols that will support them into the future.
This matter is obviously not wholly within my portfolio. I think that the Premier and Treasurer, who is holding one of the major economic portfolios of government, and the Minister for Commerce, would also play a key role in this. I will talk to them about how we can investigate this matter and look at where the problems are, why they are arising, and what government can do better, on what I think is a bipartisan issue. I know that when we were in opposition, we raised this as an issue that needed to work better, and the member is now raising it with me, as well as with some other members of our team. I think it would be positive for Western Australian small business for us to try to identify where those challenges are and to act upon that. I give the member a commitment that I will work with the other relevant ministers and try to come up with a response that can provide some certainty to small businesses in regional areas that government values their contribution, wants to work closely with them, and wants to set up systems and protocols that will support them into the future.
I give the member a commitment that I will work with the other relevant ministers and try to come up with a response that can provide some certainty to small businesses in regional areas that government values their contribution, wants to work closely with them, and wants to set up systems and protocols that will support them into the future.
Mr B.J. GRYLLS replied: I thank the member for the Albany for the question. I appreciate the fact that the member has been a long-time strong campaigner on this issue of Buy Local, even going as far as having his car numberplates advocating that at the local level. Can I say that the concern brought to me last week by the member for Albany is something that is now regularly being expressed to me; the member for Kalgoorlie has raised it with me individually, and the member for North West has as well. There is lot of concern emanating from small business in regional areas about government procurement practices, and about the way in which small businesses in regional locations are engaged in that and how they fit into the mix. I express to the member that I, too, am concerned about what I am hearing back. Off the back of the member’s concern and the concern of others, I would encourage all members of Parliament with an interest in this area to get some local anecdotes from their local communities about how Buy Local could work better. I think everyone supports the principle of Buy Local, but the challenge is that when it comes to actually doing it, and when a business such as the one the member has spoken about tries to ensure that government procurement officers support the business, it does not seem to happen. We need to get to the bottom of that, because that is not a good outcome for small businesses in the regions. I do not think it is a good outcome for government, either, because if that sector contracts, that will cause more problems for government into the future. This matter is obviously not wholly within my portfolio. I think that the Premier and Treasurer, who is holding one of the major economic portfolios of government, and the Minister for Commerce, would also play a key role in this. I will talk to them about how we can investigate this matter and look at where the problems are, why they are arising, and what government can do better, on what I think is a bipartisan issue. I know that when we were in opposition, we raised this as an issue that needed to work better, and the member is now raising it with me, as well as with some other members of our team. I think it would be positive for Western Australian small business for us to try to identify where those challenges are and to act upon that. I give the member a commitment that I will work with the other relevant ministers and try to come up with a response that can provide some certainty to small businesses in regional areas that government values their contribution, wants to work closely with them, and wants to set up systems and protocols that will support them into the future.
I thank the member for the Albany for the question. I appreciate the fact that the member has been a long-time strong campaigner on this issue of Buy Local, even going as far as having his car numberplates advocating that at the local level. Can I say that the concern brought to me last week by the member for Albany is something that is now regularly being expressed to me; the member for Kalgoorlie has raised it with me individually, and the member for North West has as well. There is lot of concern emanating from small business in regional areas about government procurement practices, and about the way in which small businesses in regional locations are engaged in that and how they fit into the mix. I express to the member that I, too, am concerned about what I am hearing back. Off the back of the member’s concern and the concern of others, I would encourage all members of Parliament with an interest in this area to get some local anecdotes from their local communities about how Buy Local could work better. I think everyone supports the principle of Buy Local, but the challenge is that when it comes to actually doing it, and when a business such as the one the member has spoken about tries to ensure that government procurement officers support the business, it does not seem to happen. We need to get to the bottom of that, because that is not a good outcome for small businesses in the regions. I do not think it is a good outcome for government, either, because if that sector contracts, that will cause more problems for government into the future. This matter is obviously not wholly within my portfolio. I think that the Premier and Treasurer, who is holding one of the major economic portfolios of government, and the Minister for Commerce, would also play a key role in this. I will talk to them about how we can investigate this matter and look at where the problems are, why they are arising, and what government can do better, on what I think is a bipartisan issue. I know that when we were in opposition, we raised this as an issue that needed to work better, and the member is now raising it with me, as well as with some other members of our team. I think it would be positive for Western Australian small business for us to try to identify where those challenges are and to act upon that. I give the member a commitment that I will work with the other relevant ministers and try to come up with a response that can provide some certainty to small businesses in regional areas that government values their contribution, wants to work closely with them, and wants to set up systems and protocols that will support them into the future.
This matter is obviously not wholly within my portfolio. I think that the Premier and Treasurer, who is holding one of the major economic portfolios of government, and the Minister for Commerce, would also play a key role in this. I will talk to them about how we can investigate this matter and look at where the problems are, why they are arising, and what government can do better, on what I think is a bipartisan issue. I know that when we were in opposition, we raised this as an issue that needed to work better, and the member is now raising it with me, as well as with some other members of our team. I think it would be positive for Western Australian small business for us to try to identify where those challenges are and to act upon that. I give the member a commitment that I will work with the other relevant ministers and try to come up with a response that can provide some certainty to small businesses in regional areas that government values their contribution, wants to work closely with them, and wants to set up systems and protocols that will support them into the future.
I give the member a commitment that I will work with the other relevant ministers and try to come up with a response that can provide some certainty to small businesses in regional areas that government values their contribution, wants to work closely with them, and wants to set up systems and protocols that will support them into the future.
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