The Department of Finance has launched a formal consultation process with Australia’s office fit-out and rental industry to explore strategies for reducing costs.
Assistant Minister for Finance, David Coleman said the Department currently spends $400 million annually on office fit-outs and is the largest lessee in the Australian office market, with annual expenditure on leases, fit-outs and other property services in excess of $2 billion.
Mr Coleman said previous initiatives had put the Department on track to deliver savings of more than $105 million over four years by increasing efficiencies across its property portfolio.
He said there were opportunities to further increase efficiencies in office fit-outs as currently they were spread across multiple arrangements involving the 94 non-corporate Commonwealth entities.
“We are committed to ensuring that taxpayer dollars are spent as efficiently as possible,” Mr Coleman said.
“As the largest lessee in the national office market, it is important that our scale is brought to bear in seeking the best deals for taxpayers.”
He said the industry consultation would help inform the Government’s future approach to office fit-outs.
“While substantial progress has already been made in reducing our property costs, we will continue to look for further opportunities to do more,” Mr Coleman said.
He said Finance would host the industry briefing on 5 July in Canberra.
