The Cairns Post

Boot camp no easy contract

- Grace Uhr grace.uhr@news.com.au

A YOUTH services provider with more than 15 years’ experience say they are racing against the clock to submit an applicatio­n for the State Government’s new boot camp contract, but admit the organisati­on’s reputation would be on the line if they got it.

Choice Australia Management was originally overlooked as the inaugural administra­tors earlier this year with the $2 million contract handed to Safe Pathways.

But that organisati­on was stripped of it last month after the first two youths who entered the program escaped the Kuranda facility and threatened a woman in a nearby property.

Choice chief executive Todd Hartley said they were working to submit their tender before today’s 5pm deadline and were preparing what he considered a ‘‘reasonably compelling tender’’.

Mr Hartley said the short 21-day re-tender process would sort out ‘‘who can and can’t deliver’’, but the stakes of submitting an applicatio­n were high.

‘‘You’ve certainly got to weigh up the consequenc­es of risk versus reward,’’ he said.

‘‘It’s a lot about reputation harm.

‘‘There’s some subtle difference­s (in the second tender process).

‘‘Obviously the fact that you’ve got to place a lot of emphasis on the duty of care. The difference is not necessaril­y what you put out, the difference is in consequenc­es.’’

Attorney General Jarrod Bleijie has since changed the criteria for the submission so no element of the camp is based in a residentia­l area and last week called on rural land owners to come forward if they were willing to provide land for the two-year trial.

A Department of Justice spokespers­on was unable to confirm how many submission­s had been received, although organisati­ons have until close of business today to apply.

Yarrabah-based psychologi­st and youth worker Dr Tim White has previously described the reincarnat­ed boot camp contract as a ‘‘poisoned chalice’’ and was concerned the ‘‘right people’’ would not bid for the job because of a lack of trust in State Government process.

Dr White suggested the indigenous community may be an ideal location.

 ??  ?? Escape drama: The Kuranda property from which the two youths absconded.
Escape drama: The Kuranda property from which the two youths absconded.

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