House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2013-03-20 Daily Xml

Contents

GOVERNMENT STATIONERY CONTRACT

Mr MARSHALL (Norwood—Leader of the Opposition) (14:28): Supplementary, Mr Speaker: can the Minister for Finance explain why in the contract it states, 'The agreement is entered into on a non-exclusive basis. There is no obligation to purchase a minimum quantity of goods from the contractor'?

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) (14:28): For the very reason that I gave in the last answer—that there have been exclusions and those exclusions are—

Mr Marshall interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Yes, we got that.

The Hon. M.F. O'BRIEN: It is not an exclusive contract, to the extent that cabinet originally signed off certain exceptions. It was felt that in tendering for the contract the potential contractors should be made aware of the scope of the contract, and I think that is fair and reasonable. They should have an understanding of the quantum, and we were very, very specific in pointing that out.

Mr Venning interjecting:

Mr MARSHALL: Supplementary question.

The SPEAKER: Before we go to the supplementary, Leader of the Opposition, I call the member for Schubert to order. Leader, supplementary.