❓ A parliamentary question scrutinising the awarding of a Tourism WA advertising tender to Host Pty Ltd, focusing on transparency, potential conflicts of interest, and the selection of an east coast firm. The Minister denies any wrongdoing or lack of confidence in local firms.
AnsweredQoN 1986Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the announcement on 21 July 2009, by Tourism Western Australia’s then CEO Richard Muirhead, that Host Pty Ltd had won the tender to be the organisation’s new advertising agency, and in light of the 7 February 2010 launch of the new brand and marketing campaign, I ask -
(1) Will the Minister provide details of the creative pitches presented to Tourism WA by the other two Agencies short listed at stage two of the tender process (303 & BMF)?
(2) What specific aspects of Host’s creative pitch demonstrated an approach to marketing Western Australia that will clearly differentiate our State from our competitors, when compared to the creative pitches of 303 and BMF?
(3) Was the State Tender Review Committee made aware that Tourism WA’s Executive Director Marketing at the time of awarding the tender, now interim CEO Stephanie Buckland, had a previous working relationship with Host Pty Ltd in her role as Head of Marketing at BankWest when the Committee approved the tender?
(4) Will the Minister concede that awarding the advertising tender to an east coast firm shows the Government does not have confidence in the local advertising industry?
(1) Will the Minister provide details of the creative pitches presented to Tourism WA by the other two Agencies short listed at stage two of the tender process (303 & BMF)?
(2) What specific aspects of Host’s creative pitch demonstrated an approach to marketing Western Australia that will clearly differentiate our State from our competitors, when compared to the creative pitches of 303 and BMF?
(3) Was the State Tender Review Committee made aware that Tourism WA’s Executive Director Marketing at the time of awarding the tender, now interim CEO Stephanie Buckland, had a previous working relationship with Host Pty Ltd in her role as Head of Marketing at BankWest when the Committee approved the tender?
(4) Will the Minister concede that awarding the advertising tender to an east coast firm shows the Government does not have confidence in the local advertising industry?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
21 April 2010
Responded by
Minister for Environment representing the Minister for Tourism
Response time
48 days
(1) & (2) No. Tourism Western Australia has advised that these documents contain commercial information sensitive to third parties from the public and private sectors . I am advised by Tourism WA that the release of such information would have a significant adverse effect on its business, professional, commercial and financial affairs, as well as those of third parties. Therefore, as a matter of procedural fairness to those third parties, it would be necessary for these documents to be obtained through the Freedom of Information process.
Furthermore, I am advised that Tourism WA is contractually barred from disclosing the documents you seek.
(3) No. It is not standard practice to advise the State Tender Review Committee as these matters are dealt with through the evaluation process. The Department of Treasury and Finance Official, Ms Kylie Towie, who oversaw the process, was advised of Ms Buckland's previous working relationship with Host. Ms Buckland also advised the evaluation panel and the probity advisor. The probity report deemed the tender process consistent with the key probity principles of transparency, confidentiality, conflicts of interest, accountability and value for money.
(4) No.
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Furthermore, I am advised that Tourism WA is contractually barred from disclosing the documents you seek.
(3) No. It is not standard practice to advise the State Tender Review Committee as these matters are dealt with through the evaluation process. The Department of Treasury and Finance Official, Ms Kylie Towie, who oversaw the process, was advised of Ms Buckland's previous working relationship with Host. Ms Buckland also advised the evaluation panel and the probity advisor. The probity report deemed the tender process consistent with the key probity principles of transparency, confidentiality, conflicts of interest, accountability and value for money.
(4) No.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
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