Mr Oakeshott asked the Minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science, in writing, on 24 February 2010:

1. In respect of the tender process within the Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO) for sourcing uniform material from overseas, can he explain (a) when (i) he, and (ii) the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of DMO, first knew that tenders had been accepted from outside Australia, and (b) why it appears that it took a newspaper article on the issue in the Daily Telegraph to prompt CEO and ministerial action.
   
2. Why were long-established principles and practices not adhered to during the tender process in part (1).
3. What action is (a) he, and (b) the CEO of DMO, taking to restore checks and balances within the departmental processes for material procurement in the future.

Mr Combet – The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

1.      (a) and (b) 
            The premise of the Honourable Member’s question in incorrect. No tender was accepted from outside Australia.

2.      Refer to (1) above.
3.      Refer to (1) above.

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