Lee Rhiannon (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

  (i) the Australian Government's hire of public sector workers and purchase of goods and services makes it the largest single spender in Australian markets,

  (ii) in 2016-17, $47 billion in Australian Government procurement contracts were reported,

  (iii) government objectives differ from profit-driven firms, and

  (iv) there is a need to ensure that procurement practices uphold the government's social and ecological obligations for the long-term well-being of our community; and

(b) calls on the government to:

  (i) make procurement decisions with consideration of broader policy objectives including supporting local industry and job creation,

  (ii) ensure that, in any government procurement decision which selects an imported tender over local content, the government must have publicly available justifications as to why the imported choice is better value, where "value" considers the financial cost and the benefit to local industry and local employment opportunities,

  (iii) ensure that Australia does not enter into any free trade agreements that restrict the government's ability to preference and support local suppliers, and

  (iv) ensure existing policies promoting local procurement are better monitored and enforced.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Sue Lines (WA, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Achieving value for money for Australia taxpayers is the core rule of the Commonwealth Procurement Rules. Similarly, the use of contractors, where appropriate, is an efficient way to keep the overall cost of government administration low when the business need to access relevant skills and expertise is temporary, or the expertise and skills are more efficiently obtained and maintained in the private sector. The Australian government enters into commitments in trade agreements that are aimed at supporting Australian businesses—in particular, to open up new market access opportunities internationally and to put in place a framework of rules and standards that support transparency and competition on a level playing field.

Question agreed to.