❓ Opposition questions the Premier's ability to secure the best deals in upcoming asset sales (TAB, Fremantle Port, Western Power) given his acknowledgement of government naivety when dealing with private companies. Premier deflects by citing ICT failures and Labor's Shared Services fiasco.
AnsweredQoN 39Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
ASSET SALE PROGRAM
39. Mr M. McGOWAN to the Premier:
I refer to the Premier's
comments on radio this morning that the government is naive compared with the
private companies out there selling services and about his government's
poor track record of coming out second best when dealing with private companies
such as Alia, Crown, KAI and Serco. How can you possibly be trusted to get the
best deal from your fire sale of assets such as the Totalisator Agency Board,
Fremantle port and Western Power?
39. Mr M. McGOWAN to the Premier:
I refer to the Premier's
comments on radio this morning that the government is naive compared with the
private companies out there selling services and about his government's
poor track record of coming out second best when dealing with private companies
such as Alia, Crown, KAI and Serco. How can you possibly be trusted to get the
best deal from your fire sale of assets such as the Totalisator Agency Board,
Fremantle port and Western Power?
AnswerView source ↗
What I was referring to on radio was
the history in this state and probably in most other governments and indeed in
many large private corporations of failings in the area of information and
communications technology. It is probably fair to say that there is a naivety
in public sector organisations. They deal with very professional and very slick
sales representatives and experts in the private sector.
An opposition member interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
They do! Look at the current case in the health department, which involves
someone who sold equipment, software and other services that were not needed. I
think there is naivety and that is why we have appointed a state chief
information officer who has extensive career experience in the private sector
and is anything but naive. Indeed, he has probably already saved tens of
millions of dollars.
Several members interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
There is no doubt about it, because we have an expert from the other side.
Before members get up and talk about trust and the like, I just remembered the
Office of Shared Services. Do members remember that? The Labor government spent
$300 million for nothing. Shared Services was a $300 million fiasco.
Several members interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
On your watch! Which government brought in the Office of Shared Services? It
was a complete shambles and we had to wind it up! That is what happened; we had
to wind it up.
I think there is a bit of naivety within government, but
again I stress: many of the biggest corporations in this state have been
similarly naive and have made mistakes in this area.
the history in this state and probably in most other governments and indeed in
many large private corporations of failings in the area of information and
communications technology. It is probably fair to say that there is a naivety
in public sector organisations. They deal with very professional and very slick
sales representatives and experts in the private sector.
An opposition member interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
They do! Look at the current case in the health department, which involves
someone who sold equipment, software and other services that were not needed. I
think there is naivety and that is why we have appointed a state chief
information officer who has extensive career experience in the private sector
and is anything but naive. Indeed, he has probably already saved tens of
millions of dollars.
Several members interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
There is no doubt about it, because we have an expert from the other side.
Before members get up and talk about trust and the like, I just remembered the
Office of Shared Services. Do members remember that? The Labor government spent
$300 million for nothing. Shared Services was a $300 million fiasco.
Several members interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
On your watch! Which government brought in the Office of Shared Services? It
was a complete shambles and we had to wind it up! That is what happened; we had
to wind it up.
I think there is a bit of naivety within government, but
again I stress: many of the biggest corporations in this state have been
similarly naive and have made mistakes in this area.
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