❓ A WA parliamentary question seeks details on an internal review of the State Supply Commission and the future of government procurement. The Treasurer's response indicates an ongoing review stemming from a 2003 Cabinet-endorsed plan, with no immediate changes planned.
AnsweredQoN 773Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
It is understood that following an internal review of the State Supply Commission that the future survival of the Commission in its present role is under threat, as is the future of the “
State Supply Commission Act 1991
”. Will the Minister please outline, in detail -
(1) Who initiated this review?
(2) What was the scope of this review and who determined the scope?
(3) Why was the review necessary?
(4) Who undertook, and who was involved in the internal review of the State Supply Commission?
(5) When was this review undertaken?
(6) Will the Minister please table the results of this review in Parliament?
(a) if not, why not?
(7) Which Government agencies and industries were involved in the review of the State Supply Commission including the dates and nature of involvement in the review?
(8) If there was no agency or industry involvement in the review, why not?
(9) Can the Minister advise the future of the State Supply Commission and the
State Supply Commission Act 1991
in Government procurement and contracting, including any proposed changes in functions and/or responsibilities proposed during 2006-2009?
(10) If there are changes proposed, will the Minister please outline the reasons, rationale and responsibility for any proposed changes and outline the new arrangements in detail?
(11) How will the new arrangements provide independence in policy and review from operational procurement functions?
(12) How will the proposed arrangements prevent corruption and avoid conflicts of interest?
State Supply Commission Act 1991
”. Will the Minister please outline, in detail -
(1) Who initiated this review?
(2) What was the scope of this review and who determined the scope?
(3) Why was the review necessary?
(4) Who undertook, and who was involved in the internal review of the State Supply Commission?
(5) When was this review undertaken?
(6) Will the Minister please table the results of this review in Parliament?
(a) if not, why not?
(7) Which Government agencies and industries were involved in the review of the State Supply Commission including the dates and nature of involvement in the review?
(8) If there was no agency or industry involvement in the review, why not?
(9) Can the Minister advise the future of the State Supply Commission and the
State Supply Commission Act 1991
in Government procurement and contracting, including any proposed changes in functions and/or responsibilities proposed during 2006-2009?
(10) If there are changes proposed, will the Minister please outline the reasons, rationale and responsibility for any proposed changes and outline the new arrangements in detail?
(11) How will the new arrangements provide independence in policy and review from operational procurement functions?
(12) How will the proposed arrangements prevent corruption and avoid conflicts of interest?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
2 May 2006
Response time
35 days
(1) The review process to which the question refers is broader than just the State Supply Commission, and is still in progress. It stems from project recommendations included in the Business Solution and Implementation Plan, Procurement Reform within the Western Australian Government Sector, endorsed by Cabinet in December 2003.
(2) The scope of the review flows from various procurement governance and legislative issues identified by the Functional Review. The terms of reference recommended jointly by the Under Treasurer and the Chair of the State Supply Commission (SSC) Board, were approved by the Treasurer on 20 October 2005. They are as follows:
1. to consider opportunities for, and barriers to, improved transparency, accountability and efficiency in the procurement of goods and services (excluding public works) by public authorities;
2. to make recommendations in relation to the most appropriate governance model for procurement of goods and services by public authorities, that simplifies the current procurement arrangements; and
3. to make recommendations in relation to improving the legal framework under which the procurement of goods and services by State Government public authorities is governed.
(3) The Functional Review identified a number of legislative and policy related issues that require resolution in order to ensure an efficient and effective whole of government procurement framework. These included - 'procurement is carried out under a range of legislation, creating confusion and grey areas; compliance regimes on agencies are both resource intensive and can significantly extend lead times; delegations, exemptions and partial exemptions are complex and frequently not well understood; and current legislation/policy does not permit agencies to access each others contracts'.
The Business Solution and Implementation Plan endorsed by Cabinet recommended rationalising and simplifying the number of Acts under which agencies purchase.
(4) A high level Steering Committee has been appointed to oversee the Review. It is chaired by the Under Treasurer and includes the Chair of the State Supply Commission Board; the State Solicitor; the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; the Director General of the Department of Education and Training; the Director General of the Department of Housing and Works; the A/CEO of the State Supply Commission; the Executive Director of the Office of Government Procurement; and a representative from the Treasurer's office. The Committee's first meeting/workshop was facilitated by a former Chair of the State Tenders Committee, past member of the State Supply Commission Board and current Chairman of the Environmental Protection Authority.
(5) The review process commenced in November 2005 and is yet to conclude/report.
(6) The Treasurer will be in a position to consider this once the report has been received and reviewed.
(7) Agency involvement is indicated by the response to (4). The SSC Board consists predominantly of private sector members, and its views are represented by the Board Chairperson, who is also from the private sector. To date, the Steering Committee has met on two occasions - 23.11.05 and 11.1.06. Members of a smaller Working Group have also met on several occasions.
(8) At this stage the Steering Committee is examining the issues and options. The need for and extent of any wider involvement/consultation (including with industry) will depend to a large degree on what recommendations the Committee makes.
(9) No. The Review is still in progress.
(10)-(12) Not applicable
(2) The scope of the review flows from various procurement governance and legislative issues identified by the Functional Review. The terms of reference recommended jointly by the Under Treasurer and the Chair of the State Supply Commission (SSC) Board, were approved by the Treasurer on 20 October 2005. They are as follows:
1. to consider opportunities for, and barriers to, improved transparency, accountability and efficiency in the procurement of goods and services (excluding public works) by public authorities;
2. to make recommendations in relation to the most appropriate governance model for procurement of goods and services by public authorities, that simplifies the current procurement arrangements; and
3. to make recommendations in relation to improving the legal framework under which the procurement of goods and services by State Government public authorities is governed.
(3) The Functional Review identified a number of legislative and policy related issues that require resolution in order to ensure an efficient and effective whole of government procurement framework. These included - 'procurement is carried out under a range of legislation, creating confusion and grey areas; compliance regimes on agencies are both resource intensive and can significantly extend lead times; delegations, exemptions and partial exemptions are complex and frequently not well understood; and current legislation/policy does not permit agencies to access each others contracts'.
The Business Solution and Implementation Plan endorsed by Cabinet recommended rationalising and simplifying the number of Acts under which agencies purchase.
(4) A high level Steering Committee has been appointed to oversee the Review. It is chaired by the Under Treasurer and includes the Chair of the State Supply Commission Board; the State Solicitor; the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; the Director General of the Department of Education and Training; the Director General of the Department of Housing and Works; the A/CEO of the State Supply Commission; the Executive Director of the Office of Government Procurement; and a representative from the Treasurer's office. The Committee's first meeting/workshop was facilitated by a former Chair of the State Tenders Committee, past member of the State Supply Commission Board and current Chairman of the Environmental Protection Authority.
(5) The review process commenced in November 2005 and is yet to conclude/report.
(6) The Treasurer will be in a position to consider this once the report has been received and reviewed.
(7) Agency involvement is indicated by the response to (4). The SSC Board consists predominantly of private sector members, and its views are represented by the Board Chairperson, who is also from the private sector. To date, the Steering Committee has met on two occasions - 23.11.05 and 11.1.06. Members of a smaller Working Group have also met on several occasions.
(8) At this stage the Steering Committee is examining the issues and options. The need for and extent of any wider involvement/consultation (including with industry) will depend to a large degree on what recommendations the Committee makes.
(9) No. The Review is still in progress.
(10)-(12) Not applicable
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