Parker David: Oral Questions — Questions to Ministers Questions to MembersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeParker David: Oral Questions — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members[Sitting date: 19 August 2015. Volume:707;Page:5940. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]12.Hon DAVID PARKER (Labour) to the Minister of Foreign Affairs: Does he stand by his statement that “The Government is comfortable with the process that was followed in relation to the Agrihub”; if so did his department follow all Government rules during the development and procurement of the $6 million Agrihub?Hon TIM GROSER (Minister of Trade) on behalf of theMinister of Foreign Affairs: Yes and we welcome the announcement by the Auditor-General that she will look into the Saudi Arabia Food Security Partnership and the agri-hub project.Hon David Parker: Is he aware that rule 21 of the Government procurement rules states: “An agency should not purchase procurement advice from a supplier that has a commercial interest in the contract opportunity and to do so would prejudice fair competition …”?Hon TIM GROSER: I am sure the Auditor-General will look into all relevant aspects of the issue.Hon David Parker: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I seek a ruling from you. The existence of an inquiry from the Auditor-General does not absolve the Minister from his responsibility to answer questions in this House.Mr SPEAKER: I agree with the member. I think the best way forward in the first instance is for the member to have the opportunity to repeat the question for the benefit of the Minister.Hon David Parker: Is he aware that rule 21 of the Government procurement rules states: “An agency should not purchase procurement advice from a supplier that has a commercial interest in the contract opportunity and to do so would prejudice fair competition …”?Hon TIM GROSER: The Government is very happy to answer all parliamentary questions on this but on the specifics of this case we will be biding our time and waiting until the Auditor-General has produced a report and then we will talk further.Hon David Parker: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I suggest that that answer is out of order. He does have a responsibility to Parliament. I did not ask anything about the Auditor-General’s inquiry.Mr SPEAKER: Again the way forward—because the question to me has no relevance to the inquiry; the question is a simple question about awareness of rules regarding advice around Government procurement. If the question can be asked again we will take it after that and see where the answer gets to.Hon David Parker: Is that using up another supplementary question?Mr SPEAKER: No no. [Interruption] Order! So I am clear it is a chance for the Minister—[Interruption] Order! Just so I am clear it is a chance for the member to repeat the question for the benefit of the Minister because I am not sure that he actually understands the question.Hon David Parker: Is he aware that rule 21 of the Government procurement rules states: “An agency should not purchase procurement advice from a supplier that has a commercial interest in the contract opportunity and to do so would prejudice fair competition …”?Hon TIM GROSER: I am sure the Minister is aware of the rule. The relevance of this to the case may well be a matter for the Auditor-General to look into.Hon David Parker: Why then was Brownrigg Agriculture paid to provide advice on the so-called business case and paid by his department to travel to Saudi Arabia as part of a team developing the business case and was then awarded the contract?Hon TIM GROSER: This aspect of this issue has been gone into in excruciating detail in questions and answers prior. This matter has been conducted by a group of officials through a competitive process and I am quite confident that the Auditor-General will be able to satisfy everybody on this when she completes her report.Hon David Parker: I seek leave to table the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade document dated 15 March 2013 showing that Brownrigg Agriculture was paid to provide that advice.Mr SPEAKER: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is none. It can be tabled.Document laid on the Table of the House.Hon David Parker: Is he aware that Cabinet agreed to the $6 million investment subject to strict conformity with Government procurement rules; if so does he think Cabinet directives should be followed all of the time or just some of the time?Hon TIM GROSER: The Minister I am sure believes that Cabinet directives should be followed all of the time.Hon David Parker: I seek leave to table the Cabinet minute of 18 February 2013 that says: “The $6 million will be undertaken in strict conformity with Government procurement requirements.”Mr SPEAKER: Can I just clarify with the member—has that document not already been tabled in this House?Hon David Parker: No I have not tabled it.Mr SPEAKER: OK on the basis that it is a Cabinet minute leave is sought to table it. Is there any objection? There is none. It can be tabled.Document laid on the Table of the House.Hon David Parker: Is he aware that his officials told the Auditor-General—this is not part of the inquiry Mr Speaker; these are earlier statements—“that some of the information gaps in the draft indicative business case are to be picked up in the procurement and contracting phase of the project.”; if so why did his officials not proceed with that second phase of the procurement process and instead just gave the contract to Brownrigg Agriculture?Hon TIM GROSER: In response to the first part of the question yes.