Mark Arbib (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Government Service Delivery) Share this | Hansard source

The tender process for the Job Network was at arm’s length from the government. The tender process for every tender for the Job Network was ticked off by an independent probity auditor. The probity auditor in his report on the procurement process said:

… the ES procurement process represents a high benchmark for the conduct of Commonwealth procurements …

He also said that the achievement in delivering such a well-run procurement process is emphasised by the scope and complexity of the endeavour involved in the ES procurement process. In relation to the minister, my advice is that any MP who sent correspondence from constituents to the former minister’s office in relation to the employment services tender was referred immediately to the department and to the independent probity auditor.