GOVERNMENT STATIONERY CONTRACT

Mr BIGNELL (Mawson) (15:04): My question is to the Minister for the Public Sector. Can the minister inform the house about savings achieved through the new across government stationery contract?

The Hon. M.F. O'BRIEN (Napier—Minister for Finance, Minister for the Public Sector) (15:04): I thank the member for Mawson for this particular question. Members will be interested to know that the government has completed the tender process for a new across government stationery contract that delivers better value for money. The new contract is for the provision of stationery and related products over the next three years with an option to extend for another three years.

Ms Chapman: Does that include cartridges?

The Hon. M.F. O'BRIEN: Yes, it does actually, so all will be revealed. The estimated total value of the contract over six years is $160 million. I am pleased to inform the house that there will be an estimated saving to the government and taxpayers of around $5.36 million over the initial three-year term of the contract.

The contract will be mandated and implemented across the majority of state government agencies in the metropolitan area. Benefits of this arrangement include reduced transaction and ordering costs through more streamlined processes. It is also anticipated there will be improved reporting and better service delivery.

Members will be aware that there was a number of publicised examples of public servants receiving benefits in exchange for making inappropriate purchases of printer cartridges. As the Minister for Finance, I directed that this across government stationery contract not only deliver better value but also explicitly prohibit the provision of private benefits to public sector employees. Government agencies across the entire state will only be able to make purchase of printer cartridges from the contracted suppliers.

Madam Speaker—and this would be of interest to you having a regional electorate—the government took into account the needs of regional areas when adopting these new arrangements. With the exception of printer cartridges, government agencies in country towns will be able to continue to order stationery from local suppliers if they choose to do so, thereby maintaining investment and business activity in regional communities. I am also pleased to inform the house that the contracted suppliers will support South Australian communities through sponsorship commitments to Indigenous education and netball.