Buy Queensland initiative puts Queenslanders first, now and into the future

• Buy Queensland 2023 strengthens support for local supply chains and builds Queensland’s economic resilience, whilst creating more jobs in more industries.
• Better supports businesses doing their bit to help cut emissions, whilst streamlining and simplifying doing businesses with Government.
• Enables Queensland’s journey toward global ‘Leading’ status on procurement by 2027.

The Palaszczuk Government has worked in partnership with industry, unions, and procurement experts on a new and improved version of its nation-leading Buy Queensland approach, to deliver even greater value from its $20 billion annual procurement spend.

Recognising that ‘value for money’ is more than just the lowest price, Buy Queensland 2023 ensures public spending is used to support all Queenslanders.

Under the enhanced procurement policy, requirements have been streamlined and simplified to better maximise local, social, environmental and ethical benefits.

They will also have greater visibility of the government’s forward pipeline of opportunities, including those supporting the $62 billion Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan, and building the new Queensland SuperGrid.

Buy Queensland 2023 ensures public spending helps strengthen the state’s already strong economy and supports more jobs for more Queenslanders.

It requires Queensland Government agencies to prioritise procurement with small to medium-sized local businesses, especially in regional areas.

It also requires consideration of how public spending can support meaningful work for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with a disability, and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

The latest enhancements to the nation-leading procurement approach will support innovation, and encourage businesses to adopt trials and pilot projects to deliver on a range of policy objectives to improve the lives of Queenslanders.

Quotes attributable to the Minister for Public Works and Procurement, Mick de Brenni:

“A raft of international and domestic challenges make it imperative, now more than ever, that we secure greater value for Queenslanders from every procurement dollar spent on their behalf.

“Strategic procurement decisions will be instrumental to meeting the State Government’s emissions reduction targets and to powering Queensland with 70% renewable energy by 2032.

“Buy Queensland 2023 offers a creative approach in ensuring the money the Palaszczuk Government spends today leaves a lasting positive legacy for Queenslanders today, tomorrow, and for many years to come.”

Quotes attributable to Heidi Cooper, CEO, Business Chamber Queensland

“It’s critical Queensland businesses are put first for government spending and are competitive for, and benefit from, procurement opportunities. A commitment to ensuring that happens is welcome.

“Queensland businesses have an important role to play in their local workforces, industries, economies and supply chains – every dollar spent locally circulates through and benefits local communities. It’s essential businesses benefit from procurement opportunities, and continue to make their important local impact. 

“There are extraordinary opportunities ahead in Queensland over the next decade and beyond, and it is important Queensland businesses are supported to realise those opportunities, now and in the future.

“To achieve a lasting business legacy, work must start now, especially with steps being taken to ensure Queensland businesses benefit from procurement opportunities.

“At the same time, we know sustainable businesses will have a competitive advantage to maximise procurement, trade and other opportunities. At Business Chamber Queensland, we’re supporting businesses to start and progress their sustainable business practices through the ecoBiz program.”

Quotes attributable to Jacqueline King, Acting General Secretary of the Queensland Council of Unions: 

“The Queensland Council of Unions welcomes the new and improved Buy Queensland initiative

“Supporting secure, local jobs through government procurement is more important than ever given the challenges facing workers.

"Insecure work remains prevalent (particularly in regional Queensland) and First Nations workers, workers with disability and workers from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds continue to face barriers to employment.

"It is positive to see active investment from government to support these workers." 

“These investments will also be critical in supporting Queensland’s transition towards more renewable energy -- and making sure that workers are not left behind in that transition. 

“We look forward to continuing to work with the Queensland government and Minister de Brenni on further initiatives to support secure jobs for Queensland workers.” 

More information

The Buy Queensland approach comprises the Queensland Procurement Strategy 2023 – Jobs, Economy, Legacy, Confidence (QPS) and Queensland Procurement Policy 2023 (QPP). Introduced in 2017, Buy Queensland uses the power of procurement to provide goods and services while creating positive change in Queenslanders’ lives.

Buy Queensland is seeing more procurement investment won by Queensland businesses:

• Awarded about $57.81 billion in procurement investment to more than 70,480 Queensland-registered businesses in the period between 1 September 2017 and 31 December 2022;
• Of the more than 70,480 Queensland-registered businesses that supplied goods and services to the Queensland Government, approximately 44 per cent (over 31,030) were Queensland regional businesses; and
• Delivered 28.96 per cent (approximately $5.78 billion) of procurement investment with Queensland small and medium enterprises for the period between 1 July 2021 and 30 June 2022.

ENDS

Media contact

Elise Williams 0482 503 675