Page 1770 - Week 05 - Wednesday, 5 May 2010

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for 2010-13 was advertised in today’s Canberra Times, at page 26. The advertisement says:

Documents for the tenders advertised below may be downloaded from the Procurement website …

Mr Hargreaves: You got that off Brendan, didn’t you? You told him the page number.

MR SPEAKER: Order, Mr Hargreaves! Mr Hanson has the floor.

MR HANSON: Minister, the website states:

Please be advised that the Kinship Carers Support Program request for Proposal is scheduled to be released on Saturday, 8 May 2010.

The website also describes the contact person as an “interim officer”. Minister, why did you advertise the tender for this program when the tender documents are not available?

MS BURCH: The procurement process is such that I certainly have a hands-off approach to that. It would be inappropriate for me to do that. But any advertising to let the community know that we are progressing with this procurement and that we are investing in support for kin carers and foster carers is a good thing.

MR SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Hanson?

MR HANSON: Minister, are the tender documents ready, and if not, why not?

MS BURCH: Just so we can cut to the end of this, I will find out. It would not be advertised if they were not available. It is a Procurement Solutions bid. But to satisfy those opposite, because I know that many over there have an absolute interest in how this government provides support to kin carers, I will find out.

MR SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mrs Dunne.

MRS DUNNE: Minister, why is there only an interim officer allocated to this tender?

Ms Gallagher: These are matters for the department.

MS BURCH: Yes, I am having trouble, because I just do not understand how Mrs Dunne thinks it is appropriate for me to know the wherewithal of the over 1,100 staff that are in the department, if they are interim, if they are full time, if they are casual, if they are acting up or acting down. I know that many of her questions on notice actually want that level of detail, so that will be provided in many ways to her in good time.

MR SPEAKER: Mrs Dunne, a supplementary question?


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