Page 2680 - Week 08 - Tuesday, 15 August 2017
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MR WALL: Minister, is this an example of a wider policy directive by the ACT government in purchasing decisions? If so, what is being done to minimise the risks of local jobs being jeopardised as a result of it?
MR BARR: The government’s procurement policy balances value for money with positive weighting in favour of local suppliers in procurements. The policy has been in place for some time now. It is not buy local at any cost but, equally, it is not a policy of disregarding local providers either.
MR PARTON: Chief Minister, how is this ACT government policy supporting the growth of the local economy and protecting local jobs?
MR BARR: The suite of policies that the government has put in place, particularly the small business innovation partnerships program in recent times, has seen a tremendous opportunity for local businesses to partner with the ACT government. We have put in place a range of policies and programs, including the digital challenge, which has enabled very small start-up local businesses to get an opportunity to access ACT government procurement.
Of course we are not the only purchaser of goods and services in the territory. There is a lot of business-to-business procurement that occurs. We support the Canberra Business Chamber and a range of programs that they undertake to support local businesses to grow.
Ultimately the evidence that I would point to is that small business in the ACT is the most confident of any state or territory. Support for policies of the ACT government, as measured by the recent census small business index, demonstrates very strong support for policies of the territory government. That particularly relates to recent changes, over the past three or four years, to government procurement.
Animals—dangerous dogs
MR DOSZPOT: My question is to the Minister for Transport and City Services. Minister, on Saturday, 5 August a Wanniassa woman returned home to find three large dogs in her backyard. A neighbour had witnessed them savagely attack the woman’s two small dogs, which were then found hiding in the house covered in blood and badly mutilated. The small dogs have survived but the vet bills are over $5,500. The woman rang the police, who told her to ring domestic animal services. Access Canberra then told the woman that DAS was closed on weekends. Later that day the three attack dogs entered another property where a children’s birthday party was being held. The dogs were again reported, and seized by DAS rangers, but subsequently released. The dogs are reported to be trained hunting dogs. Minister, when people are attacked by dogs or see animals being attacked by dogs, whom should they ring?
MS FITZHARRIS: I thank Mr Doszpot for his question. Unfortunately, the caller was given the wrong information through Access Canberra. They can call Access
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