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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 4 Hansard (8 May) . . Page.. 1224 ..

. debrief unsuccessful tenderers to enable them to be more competitive in the future;

. establish and maintain business level contact with local suppliers; and

. actively consider the opportunities for developing `partnering' arrangements with local suppliers.

A purchasing awareness program has also been conducted resulting in 406 ACT Government staff being trained in the principles and objectives of the Policy since 1995.

(3) The Government has not adopted any explicit policy about the proportion of Government purchases which should be made locally. Such a policy would be in conflict with the spirit of the Government Procurement Agreement and the National Competition Policy. Parties to these agreements have undertaken not to apply any preference arrangements which favour suppliers based within their jurisdiction.

The Government's policies whilst complying with inter jurisdictional agreements provide local suppliers with maximum access to business opportunities. The effectiveness of these policies is supported by statistical information from the ACT Government Gazette which indicates that 87% of all suppliers tendering are local firms and that 93% (by value) of contracts gazetted are awarded to local firms. (1996-97 information to 31 March 1997).

My Department is currently examining the options available to extract purchasing statistical information from agencies' financial management systems. This will enable the Government to more accurately monitor purchasing trends and patterns and ensure its policies are achieving the desired outcomes.

(4) The ACT Government is a signatory to the Government Procurement Agreement as are all State, Territory, Commonwealth and New Zealand governments. The principles of the Agreement provide that the Parties will ensure Australian and New Zealand suppliers are able to compete on an equal basis for government contracts and that preference schemes will not be applied based on the State of origin of goods and services. The principles of the National Competition Policy also aim to develop an open, integrated domestic market for goods and services by removing unnecessary barriers to trade and competition.

However, the Government is aware of the benefits to the local economy from buying locally and uses the Purchasing Policy, basis and training programs to educate officers and thus maximise the business opportunities afforded to local suppliers.

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