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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2011-11-24 Daily Xml
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SPOTLESS CONTRACT

The Hon. I.F. EVANS (Davenport) (14:39): My question is again to the minister for transport. Before cabinet signed off on expanding the Spotless contract without going to tender, was the minister for transport aware that the education department building on Flinders Street, managed by Spotless, reported a high legionella count in the air-conditioning system on 23 May this year?

The Hon. P.F. CONLON (Elder—Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Minister for Housing and Urban Development) (14:40): I do not personally manage the contract, so I doubt I would have been aware of that. As I said—

Mr Pisoni: It was on the news. It was on the news—1,500 people evacuated.

The SPEAKER: Order, the member for Unley!

An honourable member interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Minister.

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: I—

Mr Pisoni interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Member for Unley, you are warned.

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: I don't know why he's so angry.

The Hon. M.D. Rann: He's lost four elections.

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: Four elections, and one more to come. Again I stress that the reason that cabinet considered the contract and extended it was on the advice of the responsible officer and the officers responsible for managing the contract. Imagine if I were to take the position of having been advised that the best interest of the taxpayer is to extend the contract and I said, 'No, blow that. We'll go to market.' You know what they'd be doing? The member for Norwood would be asking me if the new winner had been donating to the ALP.

The truth is—and God forbid it happens—that I hope if the opposition ever becomes the government, they appoint the right people in the Public Service to do the job and they take their advice without fear or favour. I will tell this house that I am not going to substitute the opinion of the member for Davenport or the member for Norwood for that officer who has been doing her job for a very long time and who has never given me anything but good advice, and I would urge them—

Mr Williams interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: I would urge them that if they find themselves fortunate enough to be in government and have that honour that they actually appoint good officers and take their advice.

Mr Marshall interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Member for Norwood, behave yourself.

Ms Chapman interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Bragg, also. Thank goodness it is the last day of the week.

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