House of Assembly: Thursday, September 24, 2020

Contents

Public Transport Privatisation

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens) (14:30): My question is to the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure. Is the minister aware of the outcome of the BDO probity investigation into the privatisation process initiated by a complaint by Bombardier? With your leave, sir, and that of the house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: In a letter to Wendy McMillan from Mr Kyffin Thompson and Ken Patterson, partner and senior manager of BDO Advisory, the probity officers appointed to the process, they write and I quote:

This review will focus on the matters raised in the media and any others that impact upon the integrity of the process.

I will table this afterwards.

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD (Gibson—Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing) (14:30): I will say it again, but I will say it slowly so the member for West Torrens can understand.

Mr Malinauskas: This is a serious, serious question.

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: I understand: it is a serious question and it is going to get a serious answer. Member for West Torrens, if I speak slowly—

The SPEAKER: Order! The minister will not respond to interjections, and the interjections on my left will cease. The minister has the call.

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: Thank you, sir. Again I stress the point: I will speak slowly so the member for West Torrens can understand. What we have here is a procurement process—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: —a competitive tender. People put a bid in; those bids are evaluated.

An honourable member: You said that.

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: Exactly—and the member for West Torrens just failed to understand, so I will say it again. There is an independent probity adviser who actually oversees the process.

The Hon. A. Koutsantonis: What's the result of the investigation?

The SPEAKER: Order, member for West Torrens!

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: Under the act, they have to provide a written report at the signing of the contract that the Auditor-General sees. The Auditor-General will then assess the probity and the contract and file a report to the parliament. That is the process. That is how it is stated under the procurement act and that is—

Mr Malinauskas interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, leader!

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: —what will take place.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! I call to order the Deputy Premier.