Proton Cars Australia, Milperra, New South Wales

SangYong Australia, Mascot, New South Wales

Subaru (Australia) Pty Ltd, Baulkham Hills, New South Wales

Suzuki Australia Pty Ltd, Laverton, Victoria

Toyota Motor Corporation Australia Limited, Port Melbourne, Victoria

Volkswagen Group Australia Pty Ltd, Botany, New South Wales

Exemptions

Treasurer's Instructions: exemptions granted in 2007–08

All Government agencies undertake procurement activity in accordance with the Treasurer's Instructions. These Instructions can be accessed by following the links at www.purchasing.tas.gov.au

The Treasurer's Instructions relating to procurement provide the policy and procedural framework that guide agencies in undertaking their procurement activities. All procurement activity is based on the following four principles:

• value for money;
• open and effective competition;
• purchasing ethics and code of conduct; and
• enhancing opportunities for local business.

There are certain circumstances in which our Secretary, or a delegate, can grant an exemption to an agency from:

• undertaking an open tender;
• undertaking a quotation process; or
• using only pre-qualified consultants or contractors.

These circumstances include, but are not limited to, matters of urgency; situations where there is only one supplier; exceptional circumstances; protection of essential security interests; and where the cost to the agency and suppliers outweighs the value for money of conducting an open tender process.

In 2007–08, we approved 72 requests for exemption from the Treasurer's Instructions in relation to the above matters. Details of the exemptions granted are provided below.

Additionally, the Crown Contracts Confidentiality Policy contained in the Treasurer's Instruction 1401 provides that in any contract between the Crown and any other party, confidentiality requirements in relation to the provisions of the contract are not to be included unless an exemption has been approved as being in the public interest.

Details of contracts containing confidentiality provisions are also provided below.

The value of the contracts is, in many instances, an estimate only as the actual purchase figure may not be known at the time of the request. Therefore, the figures below may vary from those that are available through the tenders section of www.purchasing.tas.gov.au or published in the annual reports of the relevant agencies.

Exemptions – purchases valued at more than $10 000 but less than $100 000: goods and services

The Treasurer's Instruction 1106 requires agencies to seek three written quotations, including at least one from a local supplier, for the purchase of goods and services where the value of the procurement is more than $10 000 but less than $100 000. The following table provides details of 32 exemptions approved during 2007–08.