The ACT government has conceded that probity and governance standards weren't met during the controversial Dickson land swap deal, as it outlined steps to prevent similar failures in the future.
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Planning Minister Mick Gentleman has finally detailed what action the government is taking to implement the recommendations of last year's damning auditor-general's report into the complex 2014 land swap.
A specific "fraud and corruption prevention" plan, which staff will receive training on, was among a number of measures that have already been implemented.
The audit report detailed a series of weaknesses and failures throughout the tender process, which resulted in the government paying the CFMEU-linked Tradies Club $3.9 million for a Rosevear Place block housing union's old offices, as well as $45,000 for nearby land accommodating the Downer Club.
In exchange, the government sold the club the car park next to the Dickson Tradies for $3.5 million. Settlement has been delayed until completion of the nearby Dickson Coles development, which Mr Gentleman approved last month.
Work on the housing and shopping complex is scheduled to be finished in 2022.
Then auditor-general Maxine Cooper found the deal benefited the club in the order of $2.6 million.
Ms Cooper's February 2018 report made four recommendations, calling on the government to strengthen probity, governance and accountability standards in procurement.
She also recommended that planning directorate officials brief government ministers on the report.
Mr Gentleman had agreed to provide details on the government's progress implementing the recommendations by October 31 last year, but that deadline passed after he admitted that cabinet was yet to be briefed.
On Thursday afternoon, Mr Gentleman said his colleagues had now been brought up to speed, which meant he could update the Assembly on "significant changes" made in the past year.
In arguably the government's strongest admission of failure since the saga erupted, Mr Gentleman acknowledged that the tender process "did not demonstrate the rigorous standards of probity, governance or assurance required of the ACT public service".
But he was confident that the changes already implemented, coupled with those in train, would ensure land sales were better handled in the future.
The government has already developed a land release and development governance framework, and implemented an electronic document management system, he said.
Failures in record-keeping were highlighted in the audit report, and it later emerged at an Assembly inquiry examining the deal that minutes from key meetings could not be accounted for.
He said the directorate was close to finalising documents providing guidance on tenders for land sales, which would address probity, record keeping and "transparency in decision-making requirements".
"It is critical to public confidence and trust in the work of territory entities that operations are conducted properly and are open to scrutiny," he said.
Opposition Leader Alistair Coe again questioned how and why the Tradies Club would be able to secure the prime Dickson block in 2023, having paid "2013 prices".
"Canberrans should ask what are the real motivations behind the ACT Labor government's planning and property decisions?" Mr Coe said.
Dan Jervis-Bardy
Dan covers federal politics from Parliament House, with a special focus on climate policy and the NDIS. He has previously reported on ACT politics and urban affairs since joining the Canberra Times in 2018.
Dan covers federal politics from Parliament House, with a special focus on climate policy and the NDIS. He has previously reported on ACT politics and urban affairs since joining the Canberra Times in 2018.
