Advisory group to set new path on Government procurement

Published Tuesday, 27 September, 2016 at 12:51 PM

Minister for Housing and Public Works
The Honourable Mick de Brenni

The Palaszczuk Government is charting a new course for Government procurement with a new advisory group of key industry leaders meeting for the first time today.

Minister for Housing and Public Works Mick de Brenni said the first Procurement Industry Advisory Group (PIAG) meeting was an important next step in strengthening government procurement.

“Unlike our predecessors, this government understands the power that procurement has to build jobs, prosperity and confidence across the economy,” Mr de Brenni said.  

“We have assembled Queensland’s industry leadership to collaborate and establish Queensland as a sophisticated market player when it comes to procurement.

“By bringing together business advocates and industry associations across a range of procurement categories we are setting the ground work for a system that sees taxpayer dollars deliver on more than just the bottom line.

“This government values expert opinion, and we understand that Queenslanders want value for every dollar we spend, and they want to see value go beyond just the price only.

“Better procurement means more employment opportunities, which will continue to build the economy and expand prosperity and opportunities across the state,” he said.

Mr de Brenni said the Palaszczuk Government understood the value of targeting procurement spending on achieving overall value for the community, making it easier for local firms to do business with government.

“Through sophisticated procurement we have an opportunity to lead market reform when it comes to areas like sustainability, climate change mitigation, and international best practice” he said.

Mr de Brenni welcomed an Auditor General’s report into strategic procurement.

“The report notes that government is in a better position to undertake strategic procurement than it was four years ago.

“Matters raised in the report are largely consistent with those identified by the Interdepartmental Committee report published earlier this year, and this government is working to implement the recommendations of that report.

“It’s clear that the Newman-Nicholls Government lacked the systems, processes and focus to make procurement work in the interests of all Queenslanders, which is why we are working hard to get procurement right,” he said.  

Mr de Brenni said that the introduction of the Industry Advisory Group was part of a series of reforms to Government Procurement, including reforms to procurement policy in consultation with industry.

“We are putting together a new procurement strategy to ensure that our system is based on best practice and works for the best interests of all Queenslanders,” Mr de Brenni said.

 

[ENDS]   27 September 2016

Media contact: Tristan Douglas 0447 164 197