Mr STIRLING - 1995-05-17
I have received a copy of a letter sent to the minister making allegations regarding the Arafura Sports Festival food voucher system. The food voucher system gave competitors and officials a $6 voucher to buy food and drinks. The vouchers were redeemable by businesses from the sports authorities, and any expenditure less than the $6 meant change was given as a credit note to competitors and officials to permit them to purchase other items elsewhere. The allegation has been made that some businesses - namely, McDonalds and Red Rooster - took the $6 vouchers, did not give change if the cost of the purchase was less than $6, and then forwarded the vouchers to the relevant sport authority. People who complained about this at the time were told that this practice had been approved by the Arafura assistant manager. I am concerned about the allegation and ask the minister if he has had it investigated. If so, what was the result of his investigations, particularly as to whether McDonalds and Red Rooster profited unfairly or whether the competitors missed out on the full value of the $6 voucher where their purchase was less than $6?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, obviously I am aware of the allegation that has been raised by the member for Nhulunbuy. I have checked the situation. It was apparent and it was brought to my notice - I think on Thursday of last week. I immediately asked some questions of the department and it was a fact that the gentleman who complained had produced a voucher at McDonalds and bought a package of meals, I think it was for $3.95 or $4, handed over his voucher and no change was given. The explanation given by McDonalds - it was repeated in subsequent discussions and a similar situation applied with Red Rooster - was that their
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computer systems simply did not allow them to provide a cash refund on a redeemable voucher system.
I am quite satisfied that, in relation to the 700 vouchers that were submitted to McDonalds and Red Rooster over the period of the games, there were only 2 complaints. With the cooperation of the management of the Arafura Games, arrangements were made that all staff at McDonalds were instructed to `up-sell' to customers if they bought something that was of a value lower than $6.
Members interjecting.
Mr POOLE: If the athlete spent only $4.95, the staff would suggest that they might take an extra cheeseburger, a can of coke or whatever to make up the $6.
The problem was caused simply by the computer system. We have looked at the values of the vouchers. At least 4000 or 5000 vouchers were issued over the period of the games. There were 2 complaints, one from an athlete and one from the gentleman who wrote to me, who was actually one of the ambassadors. In actual fact, no government money was involved although that is not to say that I reject any responsibility for it happening. It involves the athletes who purchased their packages ...
Mr Ede: If they were ripped off, they would not be happy.
Mr POOLE: That is right. My understanding is that there were literally 2 complaints from the total number of vouchers issued.
Mr Ede: But that does not mean there were not a lot of unhappy people.
Mr POOLE: My understanding is exactly the opposite. The point I want to make is that approximately 140 ambassadors were working at the games. They were volunteers, of course, and they did a tremendous job throughout the period of the games from 6-13 May. When they worked through their meal breaks, they were issued with vouchers. Apparently, some 245 of the vouchers that were issued, totalling some $1470 in value, were actually given to ambassadors. Obviously, that was done at the direct expense of the Department of Sport and Recreation and was covered by the Arafura budget.
I have spoken to the owners of the McDonalds franchise here and I am satisfied that there are means of avoiding a recurrence of this situation in the future. That can be done simply by utilising their own internal cash register receipts to verify the amount on the dockets, enabling the voucher holder to be reimbursed against actual expenditure. These were isolated incidents and it is a pity that they occurred. They should not be permitted to overshadow the success of the games or the participation of the countries that competed in Darwin. At the end of the day, I think even the opposition would agree that the games and the organisation of the games were an unqualified success. A total of 18 countries participated in 24 sports. Literally hundreds of people were involved in a volunteer capacity, as judges, officials, referees, carpark attendants, and even as rubbish collectors. I was amazed to find members of a local church group walking around emptying garbage bins at functions.
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The spirit of participation was wonderful. We had competitors from countries new to the Arafura Games, such as Thailand, Tahiti, Japan and Naru. Pleasingly, Thailand and Tahiti took home 17 medals between them. All those countries have indicated that they will return. The media were saying at one stage that Papua New Guinea was catching up with the Northern Territory. In actual fact, Papua New Guinea won a total of 124 medals and the Northern Territory won a total of 186 medals. There were tremendous results all round. It was demonstrated clearly that the standard of competition is improving rapidly. The Asian countries certainly regard the Arafura Games as the prelude to the South-East Asian Games. It was a pity that we had a hiccup with Indonesia, but I am sure that we will sort that out in time for the next Arafura Games.
To have to conduct a mini post mortem on the food voucher system following the Arafura Games is unfortunate, but I assure honourable members that everyone is well aware of what happened. It will not happen again and it is not a big deal as far as I am concerned.
Page 543
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, obviously I am aware of the allegation that has been raised by the member for Nhulunbuy. I have checked the situation. It was apparent and it was brought to my notice - I think on Thursday of last week. I immediately asked some questions of the department and it was a fact that the gentleman who complained had produced a voucher at McDonalds and bought a package of meals, I think it was for $3.95 or $4, handed over his voucher and no change was given. The explanation given by McDonalds - it was repeated in subsequent discussions and a similar situation applied with Red Rooster - was that their
Page 541
computer systems simply did not allow them to provide a cash refund on a redeemable voucher system.
I am quite satisfied that, in relation to the 700 vouchers that were submitted to McDonalds and Red Rooster over the period of the games, there were only 2 complaints. With the cooperation of the management of the Arafura Games, arrangements were made that all staff at McDonalds were instructed to `up-sell' to customers if they bought something that was of a value lower than $6.
Members interjecting.
Mr POOLE: If the athlete spent only $4.95, the staff would suggest that they might take an extra cheeseburger, a can of coke or whatever to make up the $6.
The problem was caused simply by the computer system. We have looked at the values of the vouchers. At least 4000 or 5000 vouchers were issued over the period of the games. There were 2 complaints, one from an athlete and one from the gentleman who wrote to me, who was actually one of the ambassadors. In actual fact, no government money was involved although that is not to say that I reject any responsibility for it happening. It involves the athletes who purchased their packages ...
Mr Ede: If they were ripped off, they would not be happy.
Mr POOLE: That is right. My understanding is that there were literally 2 complaints from the total number of vouchers issued.
Mr Ede: But that does not mean there were not a lot of unhappy people.
Mr POOLE: My understanding is exactly the opposite. The point I want to make is that approximately 140 ambassadors were working at the games. They were volunteers, of course, and they did a tremendous job throughout the period of the games from 6-13 May. When they worked through their meal breaks, they were issued with vouchers. Apparently, some 245 of the vouchers that were issued, totalling some $1470 in value, were actually given to ambassadors. Obviously, that was done at the direct expense of the Department of Sport and Recreation and was covered by the Arafura budget.
I have spoken to the owners of the McDonalds franchise here and I am satisfied that there are means of avoiding a recurrence of this situation in the future. That can be done simply by utilising their own internal cash register receipts to verify the amount on the dockets, enabling the voucher holder to be reimbursed against actual expenditure. These were isolated incidents and it is a pity that they occurred. They should not be permitted to overshadow the success of the games or the participation of the countries that competed in Darwin. At the end of the day, I think even the opposition would agree that the games and the organisation of the games were an unqualified success. A total of 18 countries participated in 24 sports. Literally hundreds of people were involved in a volunteer capacity, as judges, officials, referees, carpark attendants, and even as rubbish collectors. I was amazed to find members of a local church group walking around emptying garbage bins at functions.
Page 542
The spirit of participation was wonderful. We had competitors from countries new to the Arafura Games, such as Thailand, Tahiti, Japan and Naru. Pleasingly, Thailand and Tahiti took home 17 medals between them. All those countries have indicated that they will return. The media were saying at one stage that Papua New Guinea was catching up with the Northern Territory. In actual fact, Papua New Guinea won a total of 124 medals and the Northern Territory won a total of 186 medals. There were tremendous results all round. It was demonstrated clearly that the standard of competition is improving rapidly. The Asian countries certainly regard the Arafura Games as the prelude to the South-East Asian Games. It was a pity that we had a hiccup with Indonesia, but I am sure that we will sort that out in time for the next Arafura Games.
To have to conduct a mini post mortem on the food voucher system following the Arafura Games is unfortunate, but I assure honourable members that everyone is well aware of what happened. It will not happen again and it is not a big deal as far as I am concerned.
Page 543
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016