❓ Hon. Kate Doust questions the Minister for Small Business regarding the investigation into subcontractor non-payment under the Building the Education Revolution program. The Minister's response is somewhat defensive and critical of the opposition's timing.
AnsweredQoN 818Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
BUILDING MANAGEMENT AND WORKS — BUILDING
THE EDUCATION REVOLUTION — SUBCONTRACTOR NONPAYMENT
818. Hon KATE DOUST to the Minister for Small Business:
This question was originally referred to the Minister for
Finance; we made a mistake, and it has now been directed to the Minister for
Small Business.
I refer the minister to his media statement of 17 October
outlining that the government would be moving to protect subcontractors and the
appointment of an independent investigator to investigate the claims of
subcontractors.
(1) When did the minister first raise this issue with the
Small Business Commissioner?
(2) By what date must the commissioner appoint the
independent investigator?
(3) On what date will the investigation open?
(4) On what date will
the investigation close?
(5) What are the terms of reference for this investigation?
THE EDUCATION REVOLUTION — SUBCONTRACTOR NONPAYMENT
818. Hon KATE DOUST to the Minister for Small Business:
This question was originally referred to the Minister for
Finance; we made a mistake, and it has now been directed to the Minister for
Small Business.
I refer the minister to his media statement of 17 October
outlining that the government would be moving to protect subcontractors and the
appointment of an independent investigator to investigate the claims of
subcontractors.
(1) When did the minister first raise this issue with the
Small Business Commissioner?
(2) By what date must the commissioner appoint the
independent investigator?
(3) On what date will the investigation open?
(4) On what date will
the investigation close?
(5) What are the terms of reference for this investigation?
AnswerView source ↗
This is interesting timing. I understand a debate about this
very matter has been held and concluded in another place. It is a pity the
Deputy Leader of the Opposition did not have the benefit of this question
before that happened. I guess politics comes first with you lot, and you worry
about checking the facts later!
Several members interjected.
The PRESIDENT : Order!
Hon SIMON O'BRIEN : Thank you so much for some notice
of this question.
Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You're so precious!
Hon
SIMON O'BRIEN : Love
you, too, petal!
I thank the member for some notice of this question.
(1) The issue
was raised with the Small Business Commissioner previously. I met with him in
person on 17 October 2012.
(2) As soon as practicable.
(3) The
investigation will formally commence once the independent investigator has been
appointed. In the interim, subcontractors are encouraged to register their
details with the Small Business Development Corporation, and, once appointed,
the investigator will contact them to discuss their individual case. I
encourage the member who asked the question to advise me of any cases she
wishes to bring to my attention, because I do not think she has done so at all.
Hon
Kate Doust interjected.
Hon
SIMON O'BRIEN : Not
once. Have you referred one to me?
Hon
Kate Doust : When the
investigation —
Hon SIMON O'BRIEN : Even one? Not one!
Several members interjected.
The PRESIDENT : Order! I think the minister is coming to
the end of his answer.
Hon SIMON O'BRIEN : Certainly, Mr President. These people have
shown no interest in this matter until very recently. The answer continues —
(4) It is expected that the investigator will report back to
the minister in December 2012.
(5) Draft
terms of reference have been developed and will be finalised with the input of
the investigator once he or she is appointed.
very matter has been held and concluded in another place. It is a pity the
Deputy Leader of the Opposition did not have the benefit of this question
before that happened. I guess politics comes first with you lot, and you worry
about checking the facts later!
Several members interjected.
The PRESIDENT : Order!
Hon SIMON O'BRIEN : Thank you so much for some notice
of this question.
Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You're so precious!
Hon
SIMON O'BRIEN : Love
you, too, petal!
I thank the member for some notice of this question.
(1) The issue
was raised with the Small Business Commissioner previously. I met with him in
person on 17 October 2012.
(2) As soon as practicable.
(3) The
investigation will formally commence once the independent investigator has been
appointed. In the interim, subcontractors are encouraged to register their
details with the Small Business Development Corporation, and, once appointed,
the investigator will contact them to discuss their individual case. I
encourage the member who asked the question to advise me of any cases she
wishes to bring to my attention, because I do not think she has done so at all.
Hon
Kate Doust interjected.
Hon
SIMON O'BRIEN : Not
once. Have you referred one to me?
Hon
Kate Doust : When the
investigation —
Hon SIMON O'BRIEN : Even one? Not one!
Several members interjected.
The PRESIDENT : Order! I think the minister is coming to
the end of his answer.
Hon SIMON O'BRIEN : Certainly, Mr President. These people have
shown no interest in this matter until very recently. The answer continues —
(4) It is expected that the investigator will report back to
the minister in December 2012.
(5) Draft
terms of reference have been developed and will be finalised with the input of
the investigator once he or she is appointed.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.