Tuesday, 20 June 2023

Public transport ticketing system

Richard RIORDAN (Polwarth) (14:16): My question is to the Minister for Public Transport. The losing bidders for the Myki replacement contract, Cubic and now NTT, were asked by the government to increase their bid price and extend the rollout times for the tap-and-go system in order to make Conduent’s bid more competitive. Minister, there are now two global bidders with a proven track record of delivering accusing this government of a dodgy tender process. Why did the Andrews government rig the process to ensure Conduent won the contract?

Ben CARROLL (Niddrie – Minister for Industry and Innovation, Minister for Manufacturing Sovereignty, Minister for Employment, Minister for Public Transport) (14:17): I thank the member for his question, and at the outset I reject the premise of the question.

Daniel Andrews: So does the probity auditor.

Ben CARROLL: So does the probity auditor. It is a bit like John Roskam saying, ‘Can I have a re-run of Warrandyte?’

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! I understand the humour behind the comment, but I ask members to come to order.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, this question related to a billion-dollar contract that has been described as dodgy. I would ask the minister to be brought back to the question.

The SPEAKER: Order! The Manager of Opposition Business’s point of order referred to relevance, and I ask the minister to come back to the question that was asked.

Ben CARROLL: We have chosen the best operator to have a statewide solution for our public transport ticketing solution that will be statewide. As I said to Mrs McArthur last week, she can still keep her Myki card, but we are also making sure that you will be allowed to have the option on your phone and on your credit card. Not only has the probity adviser assured us about the request-for-proposal process but about the expression-of-interest process as well, so we have every confidence in our selection of Conduent. As the Prime Minister said on the weekend, it is just the Victorian Liberal Party looking for a conspiracy to try and find another theory. We have every confidence, and we will get on with the job. While you keep talking about the past, we are focused on the future.

Richard RIORDAN (Polwarth) (14:19:169:): Minister, why is the government forcing Victorian taxpayers to pay more when there are two companies that could deliver this project cheaper and quicker?

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Sunbury is warned.

Ben CARROLL (Niddrie – Minister for Industry and Innovation, Minister for Manufacturing Sovereignty, Minister for Employment, Minister for Public Transport) (14:19): There is a very simple answer to that. The new contract is no more expensive overall than the equivalent previous contract, but the great thing is it will deliver additional benefits, whether it is your Visa card, your MasterCard or even this one, the Eurocard, so when Tim Smith comes back he can bring his Eurocard and touch on as well.