The federal government has commissioned a report into infrastructure procurement policies and practices, which it will take to the COAG Transport and Infrastructure Council later in the year.
The report will be developed in consultation with industry and will examine how policy can deliver better value on investments and help develop expertise and experience in the construction sector working on infrastructure projects.
Deputy prime minister and Federal infrastructure and transport minister, Michael McCormack, said that as Australia’s infrastructure programme grows, Commonwealth and state payment arrangements have to be organised in a way that does not hamper market competition.
“Around the country our investment is focused on improving safety and driving economic growth, creating around 50,000 additional direct and indirect jobs, and we want to maximise that benefit,” McCormack said.
“The community should have confidence the size of the government’s infrastructure investment provides opportunities across the construction supply chain. We know the benefits which can come from fair and reasonable opportunity for Australian businesses to compete for work.”
Andrew Broad, assistant minister to the deputy prime minister, said that discussions with industry would help develop policy for major procurement and also identify the best ways to delivery support for local construction contractors to engage on federally-funded infrastructure projects.
“It is important that we show the leadership and work with state and territory governments to refine the settings for major infrastructure projects to support local content and grow the experience and capability of the Australian construction industry,” Broad said.