House of Assembly Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2) 52 2 Parliament of South Australia House of Assembly published Question Time Government Stationery Contract GOVERNMENT STATIONERY CONTRACT The Hon. I.F. EVANS House of Assembly Davenport GOVERNMENT STATIONERY CONTRACT The Hon. I.F. EVANS (Davenport) (14:51): My question is to the Minister for Finance. If the government has the power to offer an exemption, as the minister has just advised the house, why wasn't that offered when the complaints were first made? Why has it taken six months to establish that the government has the power to offer an exemption? The Hon. M.F. O'BRIEN House of Assembly Napier Minister for Finance Minister for Police Minister for Correctional Services Minister for Emergency Services Minister for Road Safety GOVERNMENT STATIONERY CONTRACT The Hon. M.F. O'BRIEN (Napier—Minister for Finance, Minister for Police, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Road Safety) (14:51): For the very simple reason that a tender process was undertaken, that that tender process was signed off by an independent probity adviser, and that there was no issue with the tender process or the results, but what occurred was a conflict, if I could describe it that way, between small business and government. We have appointed a Commissioner for Small Business to deal with these kinds of complaints. We have taken the initiative to— Members interjecting: The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: Would the Minister for Finance please be seated. The leader is very close to early departure from the house, and I warn the member for Unley for the second time. Minister for Finance. The Hon. M.F. O'BRIEN House of Assembly The Hon. M.F. O'BRIEN: It is entirely appropriate that the Commissioner for Small Business take carriage of this matter. That is why the position was created. The tender process was conducted in line with established practice. It was signed off by an independent probity adviser, so there was no advice to government that the process was flawed or that the result was flawed. What occurred was a dispute on the one hand between a small business operator and the government. It was fair and reasonable. Mr Venning interjecting: The Hon. M.F. O'BRIEN House of Assembly The Hon. M.F. O'BRIEN: In fact, it was correct that it went to the— Mrs Redmond interjecting: The Hon. M.F. O'BRIEN House of Assembly The Hon. M.F. O'BRIEN: —Small Business Commissioner, and the Small Business Commissioner has taken the necessary time to work his way through a very difficult proposition. The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: The member for Schubert is called to order, the member for Heysen is warned for the second time and the member for Davenport has a question.