New Defence bungle found
By GERARD McMANUS
19jan03
THE Department of Defence moved the goal posts three times to ensure a private health company won a $140 million contract to run Victoria's defence hospitals and health services.
In a new defence contracting problem uncovered by the Sunday Herald Sun, documents show how the department bent government contracting rules to ensure MayneHealth won the five-year contract to provide hospital and dental services to 12,000 defence personnel.
MayneHealth is due to take over the health services next month.
As part of the deal, the private contractor does not have to pay for power, gas, phones, computer links, meals, maintenance, pharmaceuticals and transport of patients, according to tender documents obtained by the Sunday Herald Sun.
It only has to pay a nominal $1 rental on nine hospitals and health facilities.
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