Member conduct
John PESUTTO (Hawthorn – Leader of the Opposition) (14:22): My question is to the Assistant Treasurer. This morning in relation to the banking and financial services state purchase contract you said that the decision was made by the department:
I noted the outcome …
Who approved the contract?
Danny PEARSON (Essendon – Minister for Government Services, Assistant Treasurer, Minister for WorkSafe and the TAC, Minister for Consumer Affairs) (14:23): As I indicated, I noted that brief, and the contract would have been executed by a senior official of the Department of Treasury and Finance.
Jacinta Allan interjected.
The SPEAKER: Order! The Deputy Premier!
Members interjecting.
The SPEAKER: Order! Through the Chair, Leader of the Opposition. The Deputy Premier will come to order.
John PESUTTO (Hawthorn – Leader of the Opposition) (14:23): Indeed. The government’s own Buying for Victoria website states in relation to the banking and financial services state purchase contract:
All Department accounts will be transitioned to the new state purchase contract under an umbrella purchase order contract approved by the Assistant Treasurer.
Minister, did you just mislead the house?
Danny PEARSON (Essendon – Minister for Government Services, Assistant Treasurer, Minister for WorkSafe and the TAC, Minister for Consumer Affairs) (14:24): As I have indicated previously, I was not a decision-maker in the awarding of the banking and financial services tender. It was an independent process undertaken by senior officials within the Department of Treasury and Finance with a probity auditor involved at every step of the way, and I noted the outcome of the tender once it was determined by the department.