Page 1289 - Week 04 - Thursday, 7 April 2016
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MR BARR: Obviously, the ACT government, in the context of any MOUs that we sign with any organisation, seeks advice in relation to those matters.
Trade unions—memorandum of understanding
MR COE: My question is to the Chief Minister regarding the MOU with UnionsACT. Chief Minister, how were government agencies informed of their obligations under this agreement?
MR BARR: Procurement and Capital Works have responsibility for procurement processes under the ACT procurement act. All agencies are cognisant of their responsibilities under that act.
MADAM SPEAKER: Supplementary question, Mr Coe.
MR COE: Chief Minister, how and when are officers of your directorate briefed about how they evaluate tenders in accordance with the MOU? Is it in the introductory processes for new staff?
MR BARR: Officers within procurement and capital works conduct tender processes in accordance with the procurement act and relevant ACT and federal law.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Ms Burch.
MS BURCH: Chief Minister, can you outline to the Assembly the benefits that such an MOU would provide?
MR BARR: I certainly go to—
Mr Hanson interjecting—
MR BARR: I go to the recommendations of the getting home safely report, the inquiry into compliance with work health and safety requirements in the ACT’s construction industry. At the time this report was commissioned, the ACT’s serious injury rate for the construction industry was 31 per cent higher than the national average. The industry’s long-term injury performance was 50 per cent worse than most other jurisdictions.
A series of recommendations were that the ACT government should use its purchasing power to ensure that through its tendering processes only contractors with good health and safety records and the capacity to complete a project as safely as possible should be allocated government work; the government should ensure that contractors working on its projects are fulfilling their health and safety responsibilities to the best of their ability throughout the project—
Opposition members interjecting—
MADAM SPEAKER: Mrs Jones! Mr Hanson!
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