A little-known office, $55k contracts and a growing political problem
The Malinauskas government has made a virtue of its willingness to take risks and do things differently, but could that strategy be about to become unstuck?
As the Michelin Guide bestowed its prestigious stars upon 11 South Australian restaurants, National and international eyes were drawn to Adelaide, a city that had gambled on a unique approach to attract culinary and sporting events. Premier Peter Malinauskas declined to disclose the exact taxpayer expenditure for this endeavor, stating the government's policy is to innovate and take risks.
This approach extended to the $45 million redevelopment of the North Adelaide Golf Course, which was secured by Greg Norman's firm without open tender. The Department of the Premier and Cabinet (DPC) awarded contracts to 14 consultants, 11 of which were valued over $55,000, not requiring extra scrutiny under procurement policies.
This decision raised concerns about potential inefficiency and lack of transparency. The Auditor-General's report revealed that the department took a direct procurement approach due to time constraints, but acknowledged the value-for-money assessment was limited at the project's inception. The Liberal Party plans to compel the production of documents related to the $55,000 contracts, potentially intensifying scrutiny over the government's unconventional strategies.
Written by urgent.news from ABC News AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
