Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee, , 2:10:57 to 2:13:56
Officials provide details on the specific events and international delegate numbers associated with the Sofitel Darling Harbour contract.
Topics: COP31, Procurement
Speakers: Sally Box, Hon Sarah Henderson, Varun Ghosh, Ms. Sally Box
>> I'd like to return to
>> Senator Henderson. You now have the
>> Thank you. I'd like to return to the $682,000 contract. Miss Box, >> could you please give me a breakdown as to what that money was for?
>> What I can tell you, Senator, is that this was for a venue hire at the Softel Hotel. a colleague has just reminded me in Sydney to host a range of events um that included a mitigation work program global dialogue and investment focused event. It included the standing committee forum uh sorry standing committee on finance forum on ocean and waterways. It included a just transition workshop and it included a number of smaller meetings including a capacity building workshop for nally determined contributions. So this contract was was there for the venue hire for for those events. Uh I don't have a breakdown of exactly how many meeting rooms but those between those events hundreds of delegates were hosted for those events uh in Sydney over a period of of of weeks um uh in September.
>> And these were meeting rooms and accommodation.
>> I don't have the exact breakdown of meeting rooms and accommodation senator but I can see if I can get
>> but they were accommodation as well. I
actually don't know. I I'll take that on notice.
>> Was it just meeting rooms or
>> I'll take that on notice, Senator?
>> The contract says, as I mentioned, this was a limited tender with extreme urgency or events unseen. Why was it a limited tender? What was the urgency?
>> Uh, I'd have to take that on notice, but I anticipate it was because we were trying to organize these meetings in a in a confined sort of period of time.
>> How many over how many days were was this were these event held? you mentioned over a number of weeks, but how many specific days were involved?
>> So, each each event had its own rhythm. Um, so some events were held over uh two or three days, others might have been shorter. I can I can give you the exact number of days for each meeting on notice, but I don't have that.
>> If you could give us the breakdown of each meeting, >> for how long it was held, what venue it was held in the sophetel and also a breakdown of accommodation costs as well, how many rooms are involved. This is the Sydney Darling Harour Soft Hotel.
>> That's correct, Senator.
>> So, why was it necessary to hire a five-star hotel for this purpose?
>> I would have to take the exact I'd have to take that on notice, but of course, we need to find an accommodation that is going to be centrally located to support the delegates and that's going to provide the sort of facilities we need to host these sorts of meetings.
>> Did you consider or did the department look at any other options for venues?
The department looked at a range of options for venues.
>> And what other options were did you consider lower cost options?
>> I'm sure the department considered a range of options, Senator, but I don't have that information in front of me.
>> If you could please provide that to us on notice.
>> Certainly.
>> Thank you. Um chair, we don't have any more unless so I don't think we've got any more questions for corporate.