Christian Porter (Pearce, Liberal Party, Minister for Social Services) Share this | Hansard source

The member for Macquarie, during the 90-second statement period, asserted that, as social services minister, I'd terminated a contract with Rape & Domestic Violence Services Australia. The actual situation is that there was a relevant subcontract between Medibank Health Solutions and Rape & Domestic Violence Services Australia, which was due to end by the effluxion of time on 30 June 2017. That contract was extended to the end of next month to allow for the completion of a tender process. That tender process was conducted by Medibank Health Solutions, not my office or the department.

The result of the tender process was to offer future subcontracts to four not-for-profit providers and to increase the funding by $5 million and counselling to 17 extra counsellors. The four successful not-for-profit groups were DV Connect, safe steps, Women's Safety Services and Rape & Domestic Violence Services Australia. No termination occurred. In fact, Rape & Domestic Violence Services Australia declined the offer to be a subcontractor on the panel.

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