BUS CONTRACTS

Ms CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (15:12): My question again is to the Minister for Transport Services: is the minister confident that the Transfield bid was properly assessed by the government, given that the CEO of the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure has confirmed questions were raised within government concerning the extremely low bid price made by Transfield for metropolitan bus services?

The Hon. C.C. FOX (Bright—Minister for Transport Services, Minister Assisting the Minister for the Arts) (15:12): First of all, of course, every bid is examined and every bid is questioned. You don't just sort of look at a couple of bids and decide on them without questioning them. Of course you do; of course you sit down with those who are tendering and talk about what it is they are offering for the amount that they are giving you.

The comments that you are referring to were made by Mr Hook, and Mr Hook said quite openly, as indeed he should, that when he received a tender from this particular group he went back to them and he had a conversation with them about what it was that they were offering, and I think that that is completely normal and acceptable behaviour.