Auditor-General's Report

In reply to the Hon. K.J. MAHER (Leader of the Opposition) (13 November 2018).

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing): I have been advised:

The savings were achieved through the modern digitisation of hotel services for task and meal allocation.

The task and meal allocation will be provided through a contemporary digital control system which will maximise the vendor's internal operational efficiency in delivering the service in SA Health hospitals.

As part of the procurement detailed acquisition planning process, there are times when high complex and/or high value procurements may require independent probity advice and/or a probity report. The determination of a probity advisor or probity report is assessed on a case by case basis and approved by the relevant delegate.

The hotel services procurement was a high spend therefore procurement and supply chain management, SA Health, contracted an independent probity advisor from O'Connor Marsden Associates to oversee and provide probity advice throughout the entire procurement process.

No probity issues were identified before, during or after the procurement process and/or prior to the 'awarding' of the contracts. The final hotel services probity report was completed in August 2018, which advised that no probity concerns were identified with the hotel services end-to-end procurement process.