PREMIER Denis Napthine claims the government has not done a backflip despite awarding the $630 million hospital contract to a consortia featuring Lend Lease, a builder it had banned from all government work.
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The Exemplar consortia, featuring Lend Lease, was named as the successful tender for the project yesterday by Premier Denis Napthine.
The move to ban Lend Lease from all work funded by the state government is still being challenged in court for breaching the Fair Work Act.
Although the trial finished last Wednesday, Justice Mordy Bromberg has already flagged he could need more than two weeks to make a decision.
“The Federal Court case was not of our doing,” Dr Napthine said yesterday when questioned about Lend Lease and the New Bendigo Hospital Project.
“It was the CFMEU taking that to the court.
“We always said it was a waste of time and money taking that to court and I think this proves that.”
Dr Napthine said the government had never excluded any bidder from the tender process.
“We went in a best and final offer process to get more value for money,” he said.
“We promised in 2010 a $630 million hospital redevelopment.
“We have delivered not only on that promise – we have exceeded that promise.
“We’ve delivered above and beyond that in terms of the services at the acute hospital, the additional services and the broader benefits for Bendigo and region.
“This is a government that’s worked hard with the two competitive bidders to get the best value for money for Victorian tax payers and get an absolutely outstanding result for Bendigo and region.”?
