The Water Corporation says the value of its contracts awarded to Aboriginal businesses has almost tripled in the past financial year.
In a statement, the Corporation said that in 2020-21, $14.1 million worth of contracts above $50,000 were awarded to WA Aboriginal suppliers — up from $4.8 million the previous financial year.
It said, in the same period, Aboriginal suppliers registered with the utility rose 15 per cent to 196.
Minister for Water, Dave Kelly said the achievement followed the Corporation’s recommitment to the second term of the Government’s Aboriginal Procurement Policy.
“The new Policy aims to address inequity between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians and increase the number of Government Agency contracts awarded to Aboriginal businesses to four per cent by 2023-24,” Mr Kelly said.
“When awarding contracts to meet the Policy’s targets, the Water Corporation ensures that contracts also achieve best value for money and comply with existing procurement legislation, policies and internal obligations.”
The Minister announced that the Corporation would host its third biennial Aboriginal supplier event in Perth in November, where project managers would present their capital works program to Aboriginal businesses.
“Aboriginal suppliers can now also apply for the Government’s Aboriginal Business Round — one of three new Local Capability Fund rounds worth $2 million — to receive up to $50,000 to improve their capability and competitiveness for State Government contracts, including those of the Water Corporation,” Mr Kelly said.
