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The Liberals have raised concerns about 13 years' worth of government funding to UnionsACT, which was awarded without a competitive tender process. The $121,000 annual funding is given to UnionsACT to support the employment of a "work health and safety liaison officer", who trains and advises workplaces around Canberra. The money has been given since 2003, initially using a budget appropriation, and this year through a three-year grant agreement. It has not been open to a competitive process. Labor says there is nothing unusual about the scenario, that UnionsACT was best-suited for the job, and that similar arrangements exist for other organisations, including the Canberra Business Chamber. UnionsACT has also rejected the opposition's criticisms, saying the arrangement was found to be "part of normal financial management procedures" during a review by the ACT Work Safety Council in 2011. But deputy opposition leader Alistair Coe said they raise "serious alarm bells", and is set to use the payments to mount an attack on the government in the lead-up to October's election. "There's something that just doesn't smell right about these payments and, given the government's record, it has a feel of 'jobs for the boys'," Mr Coe said. The payments are made by the Chief Minister, Treasury and Economic Development Directorate under a deed of grant, which lasts until June 2019. The directorate said the grant agreement required Unions ACT to prove it was spending the money appropriately, and "provide sufficient information to enable the territory to assess the effectiveness of these activities". The money had been transferred in quarterly instalments, but was made an annual payment in 2016-17. When asked why there was no competitive tender process, a directorate spokeswoman responded: "UnionsACT is the peak employee representative body in the territory and is seen as a trusted adviser on work health and safety by a significant number of employees and employers. "As there is no competing employee peak body with the equivalent networks and access, UnionsACT is uniquely placed to deliver the appropriate safety advice to the largest representation of industry in Canberra." UnionsACT secretary Alex White said the arrangement had been the subject of two separate reviews: one in 2011, and another last year. "The funding supported a position that provided highly regarded training for WHS representatives, WHS committee members, and to managers," he said. "It has been acquitted as part of normal financial management procedures." A spokesman for Chief Minister Andrew Barr said the process was not unusual for government services. He pointed to a $1.3 million investment in the Canberra Business Chamber for a "number of projects and services in their areas of expertise", including trade and export development for Canberra businesses, support for the development of Brand Canberra, and the Capital Metro business link program. "The ACT government regularly seeks the expertise of third-party organisations in the delivery of the services," he said.

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