How much taxpayers will have to fork out for scrapped plans to build a $186,000 float spruiking Metronet for this year’s annual Perth Christmas Pageant will remain a mystery — for now.
Last week, this masthead revealed the state government’s Metronet office had opted not to progress a contract issued to Perth-based brand agency Rubis on September 13 for the preparation of a float ahead of the parade on December 7.
With details – and designs – for the Metronet float scarce, we turned to WAtoday’s graphic design department for ideas...Credit: WAtoday
The contract was proposed to celebrate “the positive impact” the Metronet juggernaut had across the metropolitan region at a cost of more than $186,300. It would have sailed down St Georges Terrace just 12 weeks shy of the 2025 election.
The Metronet office has since confirmed the decision to cancel the contract was made due to the scale and complexity of the project, which a spokesperson said had only become apparent after scoping activities with the contractor.
But it appears the phased tender was so advanced that taxpayers could be on the hook anyway.
When quizzed about the cost, a Metronet spokesperson insisted no funding had been expended “to date”.
After further inquiries from this masthead, the office revealed discussions with the contractor were “ongoing” but refused to be drawn on whether the deal contained an early termination clause that would require further payment.
The office has also repeatedly refused to answer questions about who had signed off on the tender, which the state government has confirmed was advertised with its support.
To add to the intrigue, the description accompanying the now cancelled tender was also altered in the hours after WAtoday first published the story.
On Wednesday, the advertisement indicated the contract comprised a float proposed by the Department of Transport to “celebrate the positive impact Metronet has had across the metropolitan area”.
But by Friday, it had been amended to read: “Design, production and event management.”
It is understood the state government was unaware of changes to the tender advertisement.
While the initial proposal won’t be proceeding, a state government spokesperson said it was continuing to assess a more cost-effective way of participating in the parade and advertising the mammoth rail network expansion.
Opposition leader Shane Love slammed the plan, arguing it held little educational value and appeared to be more about promoting the Labor government’s signature policy.
Love said taxpayers had a right to know how funds from the public purse were being spent, the purpose of the government advertising and the true cost.
“We’re seeing Labor Party advertising trotted out at the taxpayer’s expense across the metropolitan area, with little transparency around the cost for this extravagance — including the exhibition at the Perth Royal Show,” he said.
“The problem of state government advertising has been well-documented by the auditor general, including the intermingling of the government and its objective of self-survival with the sometimes legitimate spend of taxpayer funds to provide public information.
“This, however, is just about promoting a government policy … the public have a right to know how their money is being spent.”
Rubis was contacted for comment, but told this masthead all inquiries had to be directed to the Metronet office.
The major public transport plan was a key pledge WA Labor took to the 2017 election, and comprises more than 70 kilometres of rail and 23 new train stations.
At the time, the program was tipped to cost $3 billion. The total capital cost of the project is now approaching $13 billion.
Last week, opposition spokesman Tjorn Sibma branded the float plan “tone-deaf” and “frivolous” and said the money could have been better spent elsewhere.
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