Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Human Services, upon notice, on 15 June 2011:

Did Centrelink contract with Ms S Foster of Sutton for $10 000 of 'cosmetic services' between June 2010 and June 2011 as per contract notice 351334:

(a) if so:

(i) what services were supplied,

(ii) what was the reason for this purchase,

(iii) who received the service,

(iv) what procurement method was chosen,

(v) if an open procurement method was chosen, did this entail an open approach to market and/or an open tender process,

(vi) if the requirement for these services was advertised, or published as a Request for Tender (RFT), can this be supplied,

(vii) were these services sought by Centrelink's National Support Office,

(viii) what was the actual cost of the services supplied, and

(ix) is Centrelink intending on purchasing any more such services; and

(b) if no 'cosmetic services' were purchased by Centrelink:

(i) what services were supplied as per contract notice 351334,

(ii) what was the reason for this purchase,

(iii) who received the service,

(iv) what procurement method was chosen,

(v) if an open procurement method was chosen, did this entail an open approach to market and/or an open tender process,

(vi) if the requirement for these services was advertised, or published as a RFT, can this be supplied,

(vii) were these services sought by Centrelink's National Support Office,

(viii) what was the actual cost of the services supplied, and

(ix) is Centrelink intending on purchasing any more such services.

Mark Arbib (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Social Housing and Homelessness) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Minister for Human Services has provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question:

Centrelink contracted with Ms S Foster of Sutton for $10 000 of 'cosmetic services' between June 2010 and June 2011 as per contract notice 351334.

(a) Centrelink produces professionally-produced video content to inform and educate the community about essential government payments and services through Front-of-House video played in Centrelink Customer Service Centre waiting areas. Centrelink also produces training videos, DVDs and Video on Demand packages for staff. For major productions, individuals are provided with appearance preparation services appropriate for filming purposes.

(i) The supplier provided appearance preparation services for officers required to be filmed for official purposes, and operated autocue for recordings.

(ii) Centrelink does not have professional camera, audio or appearance/autocue personnel on staff. These services are contracted on an as-needed basis.

(iii) Various Centrelink and DHS staff involved in production and on-camera work.

(iv) The procurement method was indicated incorrectly in AusTender as an Open Tender. The correct method of procurement was Direct Source. The AusTender record was amended on 21st June 2011 to reflect the correct procurement method. In line with normal practice for procurements under $80,000, the procurement was conducted through sourcing quotes from the only two suppliers that can supply the full range of services in the Canberra region.

(v) An open procurement method was not used.

(vi) There was no Request for Tender.

(vii) Yes.

(viii) $7,880.

(ix) Yes.

(b) These services were supplied as per contract notice 351334, therefore the questions listed under part (b) of the Senator's question have not been answered.