Vic: Vic consulting agency advertising close links to gov

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Vic: Vic consulting agency advertising close links to gov

By Jane Williams

MELBOURNE, April 1 AAP - A Victorian media consulting firm used its Labor Party linksto acquire government contracts worth almost $310,000, the state opposition said today.

In a flyer advertising its services, Essential Media Communication (EMC) played upthe company's close ties with the Labor government including its relationship with embattledFrankston East MP Matthew Viney, deputy opposition leader Louise Asher said.

Mr Viney stood down as parliamentary secretary for human services last month afterbeing identified as part of alleged corruption relating to a local government tender.

Ms Asher said current EMC directors, Mark Civitella, ELizabeth Lukin and James Douglaswere previous directors of Auspoll, a company belonging to Mr Viney while senior EMC consultantJames McGarvey had been an adviser to former Labor leader John Brumby and campaign managerfor Mr Viney in the Frankston by-election.

Since Labor won government more than two years ago, EMC received nearly $310,000 ingovernment consultancies, including $49,500 for one month's work for the Department ofEducation, Employment and Training, $1,200 each to travel to and from meetings in Sheppartonand Lakes Entrance and $400 to attend a central business district forum.

Many of the jobs could have been done by the government's own media unit, Ms Asher said.

"What is the education strategy for which the taxpayer has paid $49,500?"

"This is an appalling example of jobs for Labor mates," she said.

Transport Minister Peter Batchelor dismissed Ms Asher's claim, saying all governmentcontracts were awarded fairly.

"Contracts and consultancies are awarded on the basis of merit," he told reporters.

"I remind you that this government lets contracts through open tender."

Ms Asher said she would raise questions in parliament over whether tenders were putout, and why one firm with close links to the ALP received such a high volume of work.

"The fundamental issue is the blatant way in which people are listing ALP qualificationsas a credential and are, as a consequence, getting government work," she said.

Telephone calls to EMC's offices went unanswered today.

AAP jmw/clr/ph/sb

KEYWORD: CONSULTANCIES