Ms CARNEY - 2008-10-30
Can you confirm that all NT Fleet vehicles, including police vehicles in Alice springs, that require the fitting of bull bars, tow bars, dual battery systems, long range fuel tanks, spare wheels, and so on, have them fitted in Darwin? If this is the case, I am happy to table a letter from a business owner that he sent to you this week saying that it is the case. Can you advise why businesses in Alice Springs are not able to perform this work? Will you show your support for Alice Springs businesses by ensuring that they can do this type of work on NT Fleet vehicles?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for her question. I also received an e-mail from a company in Alice Springs asking exactly the same questions. The vehicles we acquire from NT fleet can actually be fitted with parts in two ways. One is, if it is a genuine part, it has to be fitted by the factory. For example, if we order a Toyota ute, we put the order directly to Toyota, and Toyota authorise their authorised dealers to put a genuine part in the vehicle. However, there are some parts that are not genuine, or there are no genuine parts. Then, NT Fleet utilise an outside supplier for these vehicles. NT Fleet advertises for tenders, and everybody from Alice Springs, Nhulunbuy, Katherine, Jabiru, Tennant Creek, and Darwin is welcome to submit a tender.
As a matter of fact, my office spoke to the company manager yesterday and advised him that we had a Meet the Buyers seminar in Alice Springs recently. Unfortunately, the company was unable to attend. At the same time, we advised them they can always tender for it and we offered our assistance to explain the tender process, which they welcomed. Our tender process is open to everybody. However, we are constrained by certain guidelines and standards of what kind of bull bars or add-ons that we can put …
Mr Giles: The same company operates here in Darwin as it does in Alice Springs.
Mr VATSKALIS: Just wait until I finish before you jump up again, because you are going to put your foot in your mouth like you did before.
As I said, if we buy a vehicle that requires genuine parts, we cannot get out of using the genuine part. We have to provide genuine parts as required by the manufacturer. If we go outside and get a fitting that is not standard, anybody can supply it, depending if they put in the tender and the price is competitive ...
Ms Carney: So, you are going to help him?
Mr VATSKALIS: Absolutely! I will always stand for Territory business to provide us with the equipment, irrespective of whether they are in Alice Springs or in Darwin.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for her question. I also received an e-mail from a company in Alice Springs asking exactly the same questions. The vehicles we acquire from NT fleet can actually be fitted with parts in two ways. One is, if it is a genuine part, it has to be fitted by the factory. For example, if we order a Toyota ute, we put the order directly to Toyota, and Toyota authorise their authorised dealers to put a genuine part in the vehicle. However, there are some parts that are not genuine, or there are no genuine parts. Then, NT Fleet utilise an outside supplier for these vehicles. NT Fleet advertises for tenders, and everybody from Alice Springs, Nhulunbuy, Katherine, Jabiru, Tennant Creek, and Darwin is welcome to submit a tender.
As a matter of fact, my office spoke to the company manager yesterday and advised him that we had a Meet the Buyers seminar in Alice Springs recently. Unfortunately, the company was unable to attend. At the same time, we advised them they can always tender for it and we offered our assistance to explain the tender process, which they welcomed. Our tender process is open to everybody. However, we are constrained by certain guidelines and standards of what kind of bull bars or add-ons that we can put …
Mr Giles: The same company operates here in Darwin as it does in Alice Springs.
Mr VATSKALIS: Just wait until I finish before you jump up again, because you are going to put your foot in your mouth like you did before.
As I said, if we buy a vehicle that requires genuine parts, we cannot get out of using the genuine part. We have to provide genuine parts as required by the manufacturer. If we go outside and get a fitting that is not standard, anybody can supply it, depending if they put in the tender and the price is competitive ...
Ms Carney: So, you are going to help him?
Mr VATSKALIS: Absolutely! I will always stand for Territory business to provide us with the equipment, irrespective of whether they are in Alice Springs or in Darwin.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016