Page 312 - Week 01 - Thursday, 16 February 2006
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The adjustment to the 2003-04 comparative year figure in Note 12 reflects a transfer of expenses from Cost of Goods Sold to Supplies and Services, following the change in classification of expenses incurred by the ex-Totalcare business units which were merged with the Department of Urban Services. The reclassification was undertaken to adopt a consistent accounting treatment throughout the Department of Urban Services for expenditure incurred on consultants and contractors.
(4) As stated in the response to question 3, above, there has been no misclassification of expenditure.
The accounting standards allow reporting entities the flexibility to change accounting treatments if the change will result in improved reporting. As required by the standards, the reclassification was fully disclosed in the notes of the financial statements.
(5) The financial statements of the Department of Urban Services were unqualified and the Auditor-General has made no specific comments on this issue.
(6) The Government is committed to efficient and effective management. Agencies are obliged under the Government Procurement (Principles) Guideline 2002 to apply the principle of value for money when making a decision to engage a contractor or consultant. This includes consideration not only of initial cost but also risk, costs and benefits on a whole of life basis.
Convention centre
(Question No 830)
Mr Smyth asked the Minister for Economic Development and Business, upon notice, on 14 December 2005:
(1) What are the reasons for the forecast underspend in the current financial year of $29.103m on the Convention and Exhibition Facilities;
(2) Where is the Convention Centre upgrade project currently up to;
(3) What are the reasons for current delays;
(4) When does the Government expect to be able to progress further on the upgrade;
(5) Is the expected completion date for the upgrade still June 2007; if not, why not and what is the new completion date; if so, how will you meet the June 2007 timeframe given your admissions that heavy booking will delay work until well after Christmas.
Mr Quinlan: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:
(1) The project is presently at a pre-planning and stakeholder consultation stage that is a necessary step in determining an agreed Scope Of Works against Budget. Further, the Centre is heavily booked to the end of June 2006, which limits the ability to obtain access and undertake major on-site works. Accordingly, funds budgeted for works in 2005/06 have been rolled over for expenditure in the 2006/07 financial year.
(2) The formal building condition and audit report has now been finalised and an Industry Advisory Panel is also active and contributing key stakeholder views on expenditure
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