❓ A WA parliamentary question probes the Rottnest Island Authority's (RIA) engagement of Pitcher Partners for hotel management support, questioning the necessity, cost, and procurement process.
AnsweredQoN 2059Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer the Minister to an answer provided in this House on May 13 regarding the employment of Pitcher Partners by the Rottnest Island Authority, in which it was revealed that it is the RIA, not Pitcher Partners, who are managing the Rottnest hotel on a day-to-day basis, and I ask -
(1) If the RIA is managing the hotel on a day-to-day basis, can the Minister please elaborate on the nature of the ‘expert assistance and financial support’ that Pitcher Partners is now providing?
(2) Given that previous managers of the Rottnest Island Hotel did not require this specialised support, why is it that the RIA is employing Pitcher Partners for this task?
(3) Did the Minister approve this expenditure?
(4) Is it the RIA that will be footing the cost of the bill from Pitcher Partners?
(5) If the RIA is not paying the bill from Pitcher Partners, who is?
(6) On what basis were Pitcher Partners selected to fill the role as providers of ‘expert assistance and financial support’?
(7) Was a tender process initiated to select the provider of ‘expert assistance and financial support’?
(8) If not, why not?
(1) If the RIA is managing the hotel on a day-to-day basis, can the Minister please elaborate on the nature of the ‘expert assistance and financial support’ that Pitcher Partners is now providing?
(2) Given that previous managers of the Rottnest Island Hotel did not require this specialised support, why is it that the RIA is employing Pitcher Partners for this task?
(3) Did the Minister approve this expenditure?
(4) Is it the RIA that will be footing the cost of the bill from Pitcher Partners?
(5) If the RIA is not paying the bill from Pitcher Partners, who is?
(6) On what basis were Pitcher Partners selected to fill the role as providers of ‘expert assistance and financial support’?
(7) Was a tender process initiated to select the provider of ‘expert assistance and financial support’?
(8) If not, why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
2 July 2004
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary representing the Minister for Tourism
Response time
30 days
(1) Pitcher Partners have provided expert assistance and financial support to:
1. ensure the smooth transition from leasehold management to internal management, including:
· liquor licensing requirements;
· supplies and purchasing;
· occupational health and safety; and
· other hospitality staffing issues;
2. securing suitably qualified hotel management staff;
3. establishing administrative procedures;
4. establishing financial reporting models; and
(2) Within the last two decades the RIA has not operated the hotel service as it has been outsourced, with the last lease concluding on 31 March 2004. As at 31 March 2004 the RIA therefore did not have expertise in hotel management and operations as part of its staffing structure.
(3) It is assumed that the Member’s reference to ‘expenditure’ relates to the RIA’s engagement of Pitcher Partners. If this is correct the Minister was not required to approve expenditure.
(4) Yes
(5) Not applicable
(6) Pitcher Partners were selected to provide services in accordance with State Supply Commission guidelines and approvals. These guidelines and approvals provide for the calling of public tenders to be waived where the State Supply Commission determines that an exceptional circumstance exists that warrants the waiving of the tender process. Given the timeframe, the State Supply Commission gave approval for the RIA to negotiate a contract for service with Pitcher Partners. Once negotiated, the final details of the contract were also approved by the State Supply Commission before coming into effect.
(7) Refer to 6.
(8) Refer to 6.
1. ensure the smooth transition from leasehold management to internal management, including:
· liquor licensing requirements;
· supplies and purchasing;
· occupational health and safety; and
· other hospitality staffing issues;
2. securing suitably qualified hotel management staff;
3. establishing administrative procedures;
4. establishing financial reporting models; and
(2) Within the last two decades the RIA has not operated the hotel service as it has been outsourced, with the last lease concluding on 31 March 2004. As at 31 March 2004 the RIA therefore did not have expertise in hotel management and operations as part of its staffing structure.
(3) It is assumed that the Member’s reference to ‘expenditure’ relates to the RIA’s engagement of Pitcher Partners. If this is correct the Minister was not required to approve expenditure.
(4) Yes
(5) Not applicable
(6) Pitcher Partners were selected to provide services in accordance with State Supply Commission guidelines and approvals. These guidelines and approvals provide for the calling of public tenders to be waived where the State Supply Commission determines that an exceptional circumstance exists that warrants the waiving of the tender process. Given the timeframe, the State Supply Commission gave approval for the RIA to negotiate a contract for service with Pitcher Partners. Once negotiated, the final details of the contract were also approved by the State Supply Commission before coming into effect.
(7) Refer to 6.
(8) Refer to 6.
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