Page 1191 - Week 04 - Wednesday, 7 May 2014

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briefing that was held on 30 April was attended by more than 120 people—I am advised making it one of the largest and most successful industry engagements in the territory’s history.

At the event I briefed industry on the intent of the territory in creating the partnerships framework, given that the capital program for the ACT is now reaching a level that encourages collaborative and public finance models of delivery. Representatives of the Justice and Community Safety Directorate and the project director also participated. I certainly look forward to further engagement with industry members in the territory and indeed across Australia as the territory moves into this new procurement space.

MADAM SPEAKER: Supplementary question, Mr Coe.

MR COE: Treasurer, what intellectual property or commercial-in-confidence provisions will apply to the courts’ PPP and other PPPs in future?

MR BARR: I advise the questioner to read the partnerships framework.

MADAM SPEAKER: Supplementary question, Dr Bourke.

DR BOURKE: Treasurer, what are the benefits of PPPs compared to other models for infrastructure delivery?

MR BARR: Public-private partnerships bring many benefits but also bring some challenges. I think it can be stated very clearly that before contemplating a PPP it is important to evaluate the commercial drivers for a project, including a range of factors, including time to market and the level of innovation that is sought.

PPPs are at the high end of allocation of risk to the private sector, packaging design, construction, maintenance, operations and financing, which the private sector then packages and recovers from the government, generally through an availability payment. The consortium is in this way incentivised to design for cost-effective and durable construction; to design and construct to a high standard so as to reduce maintenance, operations and refurbishment costs; and to maintain so as to minimise any impacts upon service delivery.

The government is committed to ensuring that PPP procurement is only selected where rigorous financial analysis identifies its appropriateness. Of course, in selecting a PPP delivery model, we must first establish that the higher cost of borrowing borne by the consortium is less than the savings provided through the PPP delivery.

Health—poisonous mushrooms

MR WALL: My question is to the Minister for Health. Minister, on 30 April you told 2CC listeners that your directorate has undertaken work to inform the community about poisonous mushrooms. What information has been distributed and to whom?

MS GALLAGHER: This is an ongoing piece of work since we had the unfortunate death of a number of people in Canberra about three years ago I think where we had a


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