The Department of Finance has updated the Aboriginal Procurement Policy (APP) to include Aboriginal employment targets for the first time.
The Department said the APP, which covered contracts for goods, services and works worth more than $5 million with Aboriginal businesses, applied across five categories including community services, construction, education and training, public administration, and finance.
It said the APP’s reach had now been extended, requiring suppliers wanting to contract with the Government to commit to contributing to Aboriginal economic development, including the employment of Aboriginal people.
The Department said it was following up on the Government’s commitment to use its buying power to provide new contracting opportunities to the Aboriginal business sector.
“From 1 January 2022, Aboriginal participation requirements will also apply to suppliers on certain Government contracts, which will need to meet an Aboriginal employment target or an Aboriginal business sub-contracting target,” it said.
Minister for Finance, Tony Buti said the Government had significant employing and purchasing power and intended to use it to ensure the building of capacity of Aboriginal businesses.
“We are already seeing some Government Agencies, such as Main Roads, exceeding Aboriginal procurement targets on some of their projects and achieving great outcomes,” Mr Buti said.
“I look forward to watching the continued growth of this sector in WA, and the wider benefits that stem from working with the local Aboriginal business sector,” he said.
