Robert Schwarten
PUBLIC Works Minister Robert Schwarten has slammed Shadow Minister Jann Stuckey's call to suspend JM Kelly and Woollam Constructions from all government tenders.
Mr Schwarten yesterday said no decision should be made until investigations into the Rockhampton companies were completed.
"The presumption of innocence is the cornerstone of democracy. Ms Stuckey is asking us, the government, to basically throw (them) off the tender list on the basis of an inquiry," Mr Schwarten said.
The two companies are being investigated by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission in relation to discussing prices for government tenders.
Ms Stuckey said building companies JM Kelly and TF Woollam's admission of secret discussions, in Brisbane's Federal Court, raised serious concerns about the probity of the Bligh Government's tender process.
"These companies have won tenders for $273 million in State Government projects and have secured work in the Rudd Government's seriously flawed Building Education Revolution scheme," Ms Stuckey said.
"Until that is shown in this case to be absolutely beyond doubt, Minister Schwarten should immediately suspend them from all State Government tender processes."
But the builders, in their defences lodged before the Federal Court, have denied their discussions resulted in fixed prices for projects or hurt competition in the area.
Mr Schwarten said he would not be a decision-maker in the investigation, and the government wouldn't penalise the companies until the investigation was completed.
"The director general indicated that following the ACCC conduction of their investigation and hearings there will be further action to be taken. What we won't do is jump in and convict people. We won't impede the process of the courts."
Neither company involved provided comment yesterday.
The presumption of innocence is the cornerstone of democracy
