Victorian Political News		www.robertclark.net

Government must reinstate Federation Square chief

News Release 6 March 2000

The State Opposition has called on the Government to guarantee it will not sack or punish the Director of the Federation Square project, Mr Damien Bonnice, after he blew the whistle on the possible invalidity of the Government's decision to axe the western shard.

Shadow Planning and Major Projects Minister Robert Clark said Mr Bonnice was suspended by the Labor Government after he gave a statement to The Age newspaper, which outlined why he considered the decision breached the contract between the State Government and the Melbourne City Council.

Mr Clark said that only last Monday (28 February) the Premier was reported as saying about government employees who spoke out:

We want to make sure that if there's things that are not working well, that they can express their view and express it with impunity.

They won't be silenced, they won't lose their job. (The Australian, p.7)

"Mr Bonnice's case seems to fall squarely within what the Premier was saying.

"Mr Bonnice took his concern to the project steering committee and they wouldn't listen to him, so he made his concerns public about this very serious issue of due process.

"If the Government is to have any credibility, the Premier must implement his whisteblower policy and guarantee protection to Mr Bonnice," Mr Clark said.

Mr Clark also called on the Government to provide some answers to public about how it came to make the decision to scrap the western shard, and what consequences the decision will have.

"What delay will the redesign of the project cause. Will it miss the May 2001 opening date?

"What functions, activities and groups were to be located in the western shard, and where will they be located now.

"What additional cost will the redesign and re-engineering cause to the project?"

Mr Clark also rejected Government claims that the project was not being properly managed when Labor came to office.

"The project had highly competent management by the Office of Major Projects, and an oustanding project director in Mr Bonnice.

"It is typical of this Government that they attempt to pass the blame for their own failings to public servants and others."