The State Government will introduce a new “Buy Queensland” procurement policy across all agencies, statutory bodies and government-owned corporations from September 1.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced the new, multi-billion-dollar Queensland Procurement Strategy and Policy in Townsville at the weekend.
“Since the 2015 election, there have been 77,300 jobs created in Queensland. Queensland’s 414,000 small businesses employed 44 per cent of the state’s private workforce,” she said.
“Queensland business knows this policy will work for them. Working together my Government and business are dedicated to create more jobs.”
The State Government spends $14 billion a year buying supplies and services.
An additional $4 billion is invested each year in building and maintaining the state’s roads, schools and hospitals infrastructure.
In an Australian first, Cabinet agreed the State Government would no longer be bound by free trade agreements that have seen jobs go off-shore or interstate.
From September 1, the government’s new procurement policy will define a “local supplier” as a business that maintains a workforce within a 125km radius of where the goods or workers are needed.
Local suppliers will receive a local weighting of up to 30 per cent on any tender lodged for a significant procurement.
The policy will also sets out the following:
- Require at least one local or regional supplier, and one other Queensland based business, to be invited to quote or tender for every procurement opportunity offered
- For significant infrastructure projects $100 million and above, require the use of local sub-contractors and manufacturers where the local capability and capacity exists
- Significant projects will be required, where possible, to spend 15 per cent on apprenticeships – up from the current 10 per cent
- Deliver a more visible pipeline of opportunities for every Queensland business
- Reduce complexity to assist Queensland industry prepare for government tenders, and provide resources to help them tender
- Exempt business from the pre-qualification system for building contracts and ICT projects under $1 million
Businesses tendering for government procurement contracts will need to have a permanent workforce in Queensland.
They will also need to offer fair wages, conditions and superannuation, and have good workplace health and safety records.
