In many Partnerships Victoria projects, the private party will be a special purpose vehicle or a subsidiary of a larger company. While the project deed may provide for formal communication channels between the government party and the private party, the government party should also consider regular communication with the private party's sponsors or parent company where this is not already set out in the project deed. For example, it may be appropriate to invite representatives of the parent company to attend performance review meetings or government process seminars to foster better private sector understanding of government objectives and processes.
Project deeds usually provide for a senior representative group that conducts regular formal meetings between the contract director with senior representatives of the private party, its parent company, its key subcontractors and its financiers. This is regarded as best practice, and on projects where the project deed does not expressly require such meetings, the government party should still consider holding them.
When communicating with the parent company or sponsor, the contract director should ensure that confidentiality and privacy obligations set out in the project deed are observed. Particular care should be taken where the parent or sponsor is not the sole owner of the private party.