❓ A parliamentary question raises concerns about a potential conflict of interest regarding a drainage contractor's involvement in a committee evaluating salinity management projects, given their company also tenders for these projects. The Minister assures conflict of interest protocols were followed and the committee doesn't influence separate drainage approval processes.
AnsweredQoN 38Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(1) If the engineering evaluation steering committee examines proposals seeking funding for engineering options for salinity management, will the minister please explain why the inclusion of an active drainage contractor on that steering committee is not considered to be a conflict of interest, given that the contractor is also tendering for projects that are seeking funding? (2) Does the drainage representative on the engineering evaluation steering committee have any administrative approval responsibilities on non-funded engineering drainage proposals that are seeking approval from the Commissioner of Soil and Land Conservation? Hon TOM STEPHENS
AnswerView source ↗
The Minister for the Environment provides the following reply - (1) The engineering evaluation steering committee is a skills-based committee. The drainage contractor member provides necessary knowledge and understanding from the drainage industry perspective. During the project selection phase, all members of the committee were required to declare any conflict of interest for any of the projects put forward. A number of members, including the drainage contractor member, did so. However, it should be noted that no projects were submitted by drainage contractors; the projects were submitted by catchment groups, land conservation district committees and individual landowners. Furthermore, no decisions have yet been made on contractors for the implementation phase of the successful projects. Work schedules are currently being developed, which will plan, design and cost the works. (2) The engineering evaluation steering committee is not involved in decisions made by the Commissioner of Soil and Land Conservation in the notice of intent to drain process.
(2) Does the drainage representative on the engineering evaluation steering committee have any administrative approval responsibilities on non-funded engineering drainage proposals that are seeking approval from the Commissioner of Soil and Land Conservation? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: The Minister for the Environment provides the following reply - (1) The engineering evaluation steering committee is a skills-based committee. The drainage contractor member provides necessary knowledge and understanding from the drainage industry perspective. During the project selection phase, all members of the committee were required to declare any conflict of interest for any of the projects put forward. A number of members, including the drainage contractor member, did so. However, it should be noted that no projects were submitted by drainage contractors; the projects were submitted by catchment groups, land conservation district committees and individual landowners. Furthermore, no decisions have yet been made on contractors for the implementation phase of the successful projects. Work schedules are currently being developed, which will plan, design and cost the works. (2) The engineering evaluation steering committee is not involved in decisions made by the Commissioner of Soil and Land Conservation in the notice of intent to drain process.
Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: The Minister for the Environment provides the following reply - (1) The engineering evaluation steering committee is a skills-based committee. The drainage contractor member provides necessary knowledge and understanding from the drainage industry perspective. During the project selection phase, all members of the committee were required to declare any conflict of interest for any of the projects put forward. A number of members, including the drainage contractor member, did so. However, it should be noted that no projects were submitted by drainage contractors; the projects were submitted by catchment groups, land conservation district committees and individual landowners. Furthermore, no decisions have yet been made on contractors for the implementation phase of the successful projects. Work schedules are currently being developed, which will plan, design and cost the works. (2) The engineering evaluation steering committee is not involved in decisions made by the Commissioner of Soil and Land Conservation in the notice of intent to drain process.
The Minister for the Environment provides the following reply - (1) The engineering evaluation steering committee is a skills-based committee. The drainage contractor member provides necessary knowledge and understanding from the drainage industry perspective. During the project selection phase, all members of the committee were required to declare any conflict of interest for any of the projects put forward. A number of members, including the drainage contractor member, did so. However, it should be noted that no projects were submitted by drainage contractors; the projects were submitted by catchment groups, land conservation district committees and individual landowners. Furthermore, no decisions have yet been made on contractors for the implementation phase of the successful projects. Work schedules are currently being developed, which will plan, design and cost the works. (2) The engineering evaluation steering committee is not involved in decisions made by the Commissioner of Soil and Land Conservation in the notice of intent to drain process.
(1) The engineering evaluation steering committee is a skills-based committee. The drainage contractor member provides necessary knowledge and understanding from the drainage industry perspective. During the project selection phase, all members of the committee were required to declare any conflict of interest for any of the projects put forward. A number of members, including the drainage contractor member, did so. However, it should be noted that no projects were submitted by drainage contractors; the projects were submitted by catchment groups, land conservation district committees and individual landowners. Furthermore, no decisions have yet been made on contractors for the implementation phase of the successful projects. Work schedules are currently being developed, which will plan, design and cost the works. (2) The engineering evaluation steering committee is not involved in decisions made by the Commissioner of Soil and Land Conservation in the notice of intent to drain process.
(2) The engineering evaluation steering committee is not involved in decisions made by the Commissioner of Soil and Land Conservation in the notice of intent to drain process.
(2) Does the drainage representative on the engineering evaluation steering committee have any administrative approval responsibilities on non-funded engineering drainage proposals that are seeking approval from the Commissioner of Soil and Land Conservation? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: The Minister for the Environment provides the following reply - (1) The engineering evaluation steering committee is a skills-based committee. The drainage contractor member provides necessary knowledge and understanding from the drainage industry perspective. During the project selection phase, all members of the committee were required to declare any conflict of interest for any of the projects put forward. A number of members, including the drainage contractor member, did so. However, it should be noted that no projects were submitted by drainage contractors; the projects were submitted by catchment groups, land conservation district committees and individual landowners. Furthermore, no decisions have yet been made on contractors for the implementation phase of the successful projects. Work schedules are currently being developed, which will plan, design and cost the works. (2) The engineering evaluation steering committee is not involved in decisions made by the Commissioner of Soil and Land Conservation in the notice of intent to drain process.
Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: The Minister for the Environment provides the following reply - (1) The engineering evaluation steering committee is a skills-based committee. The drainage contractor member provides necessary knowledge and understanding from the drainage industry perspective. During the project selection phase, all members of the committee were required to declare any conflict of interest for any of the projects put forward. A number of members, including the drainage contractor member, did so. However, it should be noted that no projects were submitted by drainage contractors; the projects were submitted by catchment groups, land conservation district committees and individual landowners. Furthermore, no decisions have yet been made on contractors for the implementation phase of the successful projects. Work schedules are currently being developed, which will plan, design and cost the works. (2) The engineering evaluation steering committee is not involved in decisions made by the Commissioner of Soil and Land Conservation in the notice of intent to drain process.
The Minister for the Environment provides the following reply - (1) The engineering evaluation steering committee is a skills-based committee. The drainage contractor member provides necessary knowledge and understanding from the drainage industry perspective. During the project selection phase, all members of the committee were required to declare any conflict of interest for any of the projects put forward. A number of members, including the drainage contractor member, did so. However, it should be noted that no projects were submitted by drainage contractors; the projects were submitted by catchment groups, land conservation district committees and individual landowners. Furthermore, no decisions have yet been made on contractors for the implementation phase of the successful projects. Work schedules are currently being developed, which will plan, design and cost the works. (2) The engineering evaluation steering committee is not involved in decisions made by the Commissioner of Soil and Land Conservation in the notice of intent to drain process.
(1) The engineering evaluation steering committee is a skills-based committee. The drainage contractor member provides necessary knowledge and understanding from the drainage industry perspective. During the project selection phase, all members of the committee were required to declare any conflict of interest for any of the projects put forward. A number of members, including the drainage contractor member, did so. However, it should be noted that no projects were submitted by drainage contractors; the projects were submitted by catchment groups, land conservation district committees and individual landowners. Furthermore, no decisions have yet been made on contractors for the implementation phase of the successful projects. Work schedules are currently being developed, which will plan, design and cost the works. (2) The engineering evaluation steering committee is not involved in decisions made by the Commissioner of Soil and Land Conservation in the notice of intent to drain process.
(2) The engineering evaluation steering committee is not involved in decisions made by the Commissioner of Soil and Land Conservation in the notice of intent to drain process.
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