Mr STIRLING - 1994-06-30
I want to take the minister forward in time to what may be a happier occasion when the new Parliament House has actually been handed over and is open for business. What form of review does he envisage will be conducted to establish the cost-effectiveness of the entire project and the processes
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involved, the contractual arrangements and the emphasis given to local contractors? Will such a review involve public meetings?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I have had nothing put before me that causes me to believe that there should be some kind of gigantic review in relation to the processes involved for all of this construction. Some people have made unfounded allegations but, when the actual details are examined, the costings for the building itself show that, given the requested alterations - in particular the library, the ministerial offices and those kinds of features - the cost increases over the period of time are quite reasonable and bear no resemblance at all to the cost blow-outs that usually occur on those types of major constructions around the country.
The member for Nhulunbuy's premise is that something terrible has occurred here. However, it is like any process of government. The Auditor-General reviews the contractual arrangements, the payments and the administrative processes when they are audited to see whether there are ways in which they can be improved. Whenever the government undertakes a major job, it is usual for internal review processes to examine whether improvements can be made to the way in which the business is being undertaken. I dare say that those kinds of usual processes would be undertaken in this case. The reasons for suggesting that there should be some kind of public inquiry elude me totally. Certainly, no evidence has been presented to me to suggest that such action should even be contemplated.
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involved, the contractual arrangements and the emphasis given to local contractors? Will such a review involve public meetings?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I have had nothing put before me that causes me to believe that there should be some kind of gigantic review in relation to the processes involved for all of this construction. Some people have made unfounded allegations but, when the actual details are examined, the costings for the building itself show that, given the requested alterations - in particular the library, the ministerial offices and those kinds of features - the cost increases over the period of time are quite reasonable and bear no resemblance at all to the cost blow-outs that usually occur on those types of major constructions around the country.
The member for Nhulunbuy's premise is that something terrible has occurred here. However, it is like any process of government. The Auditor-General reviews the contractual arrangements, the payments and the administrative processes when they are audited to see whether there are ways in which they can be improved. Whenever the government undertakes a major job, it is usual for internal review processes to examine whether improvements can be made to the way in which the business is being undertaken. I dare say that those kinds of usual processes would be undertaken in this case. The reasons for suggesting that there should be some kind of public inquiry elude me totally. Certainly, no evidence has been presented to me to suggest that such action should even be contemplated.
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Last updated: 09 Aug 2016