A leading Canberra auctioneer called yesterday for an open, advertised tender for the position of authorised government auctioneer for the ACT.
The call from Matt Campbell came after the previous authorised auctioneer went into receivership and Department of Administrative Services sources said last week that the department was approaching the replacement process very carefully and expected a contract to be signed for the vehicle auctions in the next few weeks and one for miscellaneous goods shortly thereafter.
Mr Campbell asked yesterday, “”If they are that close, where are the advertisements for the tender?”
He said he was one of Canberra’s leading auctioneers and that he watched advertisements about auctions and auctioneering closely. As far as he was aware there had been no advertisements and that none of the registered 172 auctioneers in Canberra had been approached to make a bid.
“”Why insult the Canberra auctioneers by excluding them from the process?” he asked. He called for a full, open tender process. “”This should not be handed out to individuals on a plate,” he said.
The previous auctioneer, Australian Capital Auctioneers, went into liquidation last month owing at least $1.1 million, mostly to the Federal Government, and some to the ACT Government.
Its two principals, who have NSW auctioneer’s licences, have each applied for an ACT auctioneer’s licences. One is being objected to, but not by either Government. Their applications are to be heard next week. A public notice published last week says objections can be made with the registry of the ACT Magistrates’ Court up to today.