GOVERNMENT STATIONERY CONTRACT

The Hon. I.F. EVANS (Davenport) (14:40): Following the minister's answers to my earlier question regarding the whole-of-government stationery contract, Part C of the tender documents states in clause 7:

Non-exclusivity. This agreement is entered into on a non-exclusive basis. The principal may purchase other goods similar to the goods from other providers.

How does the minister reconcile that with his statement that the tender document explicitly stated exclusivity?

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) (14:41): Because that was the advice that I was given by crown law, and that is quite a robust and extensive body of opinion. The reason I gave in the previous answer as to why it was exclusive was the reason that was given in that advice.

The tender document went out and it was the intention of Shared Services to award two tenders, so the people tendering for the contract should have been aware of the fact that there would be two successful tenderers and they would have to, effectively, compete in the marketplace. That was the driver. We wanted to maintain a level of competitiveness and we have done that with the awarding of the two tenders.