Page 1509 - Week 05 - Wednesday, 4 May 2016
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one project and a different standard for all others. He is suggesting that some companies should have the protections from commercial in confidence and that other companies should not. I do not believe that makes any sense. I do not believe it is consistent. I do not believe it has any sound policy basis. Therefore, I cannot support it. Later, when Mr Coe talks to stakeholders who engage in contracts or commercial transactions, I am sure that they will also tell him that it makes no sense, and Mr Coe will be left in the very awkward position of having to explain the stunt he has engaged in today and the lack of consistency of policy positions that he is adopting when it comes to other matters.
MR COE (Ginninderra) (3.41), in reply: The Government Procurement (Capital Metro) Amendment Bill is a bill designed to ensure transparency regarding the capital metro light rail project. It is important that this bill be passed today. However, that is, of course, not looking likely. It will ensure that the government is up-front and transparent when it comes to capital metro. This government, of course, claims that they are the champions of transparency and open government. Now is a good opportunity for them to prove it.
Capital metro, if it goes ahead, will be the largest ever financial commitment by an ACT government. It is right then that taxpayers are given the opportunity to view the contract and the financials. Ultimately, it is Canberrans—generations of them—through their rates, fees and charges who will pay for this project.
Of most concern to the opposition, and I think of concern to the majority of Canberrans, is the total cost of this project. For instance, what payments will the ACT government make outside of the capital metro contract? To date the government has spent or budgeted approximately $130 million on capital metro, which is not included in the capital metro contract. Commercial-in-confidence provisions can be used to hide certain payments which could ordinarily be associated with the project. The bill today would stop them from being hidden.
Furthermore, commercial-in-confidence provisions can be used to hide pricing schedules. The government could do this to ensure that their light rail appears affordable, at least in 2019 and 2020, and then perhaps it might escalate. In effect, we may well see a back-ending of the financial obligations with regard to this contract. Commercial-in-confidence provisions may also be used to suppress lending rates in the contract which would deny Canberrans the opportunity to understand the full cost of financing this project.
If the government is willing to sign a secret MOU with UnionsACT, an MOU which is hidden from cabinet ministers, then surely this is a government capable and willing to hide details of a government contract. This is a government that has an appalling track record when it comes to transparency. This is a government that has a secret deal regarding procurement. If they have a secret deal regarding procurement, we need to make sure that it does not happen again. Legislation such as this, legislation I am bringing forward today, would help prove to Canberrans that there will be some transparency in this project.
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