Advertisements aimed at appointing a new authorised government auctioneer in the ACT will appear tomorrow, after the previous one went into liquidation owning more than $1 million.
The Department of Administrative Services said yesterday the advertisements would seek interested parties for auctioneer of vehicles.
Those parties could then provide background on their financial suitability and qualifications as auctioneers under the ACT Auctioneers Act.
After vetting suitable parties would be able to tender for the contract. A tender process for auctioneer of non-vehicle items would follow shortly thereafter.
A DAS spokesman rejected suggestions from the auctioneering industry in the ACT that arrangements had already been made for a Sydney auctioneer to be authorised auctioneer.
“”It is absolute balderdash,” he said. “”This department is straight and correct whatever the industry thinks.”
A dealer in second-hand government furniture called this week for a condition that an auctioneer should not also be a dealer because it was a conflict of interest. He said the auctioneer’s duty was to get the highest price; a dealer’s was to get second-hand goods cheaply.
Asked whether that would be a requirement of this contract, the DAS spokesman said the requirements would be in accordance with the ACT Auctioneers Act.
Two of the principals of the previous authorised auctioneer, Sale-O Pty Ltd, trading as Australian Capital Auctioneers, have applied as individuals for ACT auctioneer’s licences. Their applications will be heard next week. At least one objection has been lodged.
The liquidator has had difficulty working out precisely how much is owed to Federal and ACT departments because of imprecise assets control in the departments.
The Deputy Leader of the ACT Opposition, Tony de Domenico, called for changes to the ACT Auctioneers Act to provide that all funds from auctions must go through a trust account, as was the case in most other states. Until a new auctioneer is appointed departments have been making their own arrangements for auctions.