The Cook Government has spent a staggering $46 million on external consultants over the past two years, a spending spree that includes a $312,000 review of the state's university sector which has never been publicly released.
Minister Defends "Sparingly" Use of Consultants
Education Minister Sabine Winton has defended the significant expenditure, arguing that consultants are used "sparingly" and only when specialised skills are required. "Consultants have always been used by governments," Ms Winton stated. "At times we need specialised skills to help us with strategy or, in fact, sometimes independent analysis of key government work."
She emphasised that within the Education Department, external advice is sought to support internal expertise and is "not done lightly." This defence comes as the Opposition accuses the Labor government of "outsourcing work at an alarming rate."
The $312,000 University Review Shrouded in Secrecy
A specific and costly example is a review of Western Australia's university sector. Between March and September 2023, the Education Department paid five individual consultants a total of $314,862 for the work.
A discussion paper from May 2023 outlined the need for changes to secure a future pipeline of skilled workers, warning that "these needs will grow over time." However, the final report containing the consultants' findings and recommendations has never seen the light of day.
Shadow Education Minister Liam Staltari has slammed the government for failing its own "gold standard" of transparency. "The public deserve to see the details of this review when they are on the hook for this spend," Mr Staltari said. "More than $312,000 of taxpayer money has been spent... and yet, years later, that report has yet to see the light of day."
New Committee, New Report, Same Questions
In a further development, Tertiary Education Minister Tony Buti this year appointed a new committee to investigate the potential costs and benefits of merging WA's universities. This committee was chaired by former Labor Minister Alannah MacTiernan.
On Monday, Minister Winton confirmed that Ms MacTiernan's report has been completed but stated that it is up to Minister Buti to decide when and how to respond to its contents. "I'm not aware of that but I know Minister Buti is moving swiftly," she said. "I know it's front and centre on his mind."
The situation leaves taxpayers questioning the value received for millions of dollars in consultancy fees, with two major reports on the future of the state's universities now completed but their findings kept from public view.
