Home›Questions on Notice›QoN 5635

❓ A WA parliamentary question scrutinising Synergy's contract with Probe Australia, specifically regarding debt collection practices and tendering processes. The questions focus on potential outsourcing of debt collection to the Philippines and the transparency of the contract awarding.

AnsweredQoN 5635Legislative Assembly

Asked

30 June 2016

Member

Mr W.J. Johnston

Portfolio

Energy

QuestionView source ↗

I refer to Question on Notice 5433 concerning Synergy’s $130,000 per annum contract with Probe Australia, and I ask: (a) does the contract with Probe Australia involve the “sale” of unpaid debt, “factoring” or any similar financial arrangement; (b) if a similar financial arrangement, what is the nature of that arrangement; (c) does the contract with Probe involve telephone calls to Synergy clients with unpaid/overdue accounts; (d) if yes to (c), do any telephone calls originate from the Philippines either directly or via an Australia Office or telephone number; (e) if yes to (d), how many such telephone calls originating from the Philippines have been made since March 2015; (f) was the contract with Probe Australia tendered; (g) if yes to (f), on what date was it tendered and on what date was it awarded; and (h) if no to (f), why not?

AnswerView source ↗

Answered

16 August 2016

Responded by

Minister for Energy

Response time

47 days

(a)        No.
(b)        Not applicable.
(c)        Yes.
(d)        No.
(e)        Not applicable.
(f)        Yes.
(g)        A tender went to market in August 2013 and services commenced in March 2014.
(h)        Not applicable.

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