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Strengthening Buy Queensland

Last updated: 
26 July 2022 1:33PM  
First published: 
22 December 2020 12:03PM

The Queensland Government is committed to harnessing its procurement spend to support local businesses and deliver positive outcomes for the community. The Buy Queensland approach supports businesses to provide genuine, quality, secure ongoing local jobs. We are strengthening our Buy Queensland approach to further support the community, stimulate the economy in response to COVID-19, and help set Queensland on the path to recovery.

The enhanced Queensland Procurement Policy (QPP) 2021 will commence on 1 February 2021. Key enhancements include:

These enhancements aim to:

  • drive the creation of local jobs, to support the community and stimulate the economy
  • further support quality, safe workplaces for Queenslanders working on major government projects
  • increase government spend with Queensland SMEs, including the local food and beverage industry
  • ensure the QPP keeps pace with current practices relating to government procurement.

Streamlining the implementation of the BPPs

The QPP 2021 streamlines how the BPPs are to be implemented by removing the fourth BPP which is the ‘history of compliance with procurement, tendering and other government policy’ from clause 1.1. This is in recognition of ongoing initiatives to strengthen government procurement prequalification and compliance measures.

Strengthening the existing Buy Queensland first food and beverage commitment

The existing QPP food and beverage commitment has been strengthened by prioritising Buy Queensland first for food and beverages made, grown or produced in Queensland. This applies when releasing tenders, establishing standing offer arrangements and awarding contracts for food and beverage procurement, including functions and events. It also refers buyers to the Queensland Government Food and Beverage Supplier Directory to help identify potential suppliers.

Reflecting the Queensland SME procurement target

The target requires all government agencies subject to the QPP to collectively source at least 25% of procurement by value from Queensland SMEs from 1 July 2020. This increases to 30% by 30 June 2022.

The target delivers on the action in the Queensland Small Business Procurement Commitment – Action Statement, to establish a measurable target to drive an increase in small business participation in procurement activities across government.

Reinforcing the focus on using government procurement to support local workforces

The QPP 2021 ensures that government procurement is focused on supporting local jobs and workforces, supporting local communities and the economy. In particular:

  • the existing economic commitment in Principles 1 and 2 of the QPP has been enhanced to require the use of contractors and suppliers, including manufacturers, that employ local workforces, in significant Queensland Government infrastructure projects, worth $100 million and above, wherever possible
  • Clause 2.1 has been strengthened to mandate that agencies will ensure that capable and competitive suppliers employing a local workforce, including Queensland suppliers and small and medium enterprises, are given a full, fair and reasonable opportunity to supply government.

Facilitating the collection of procurement-related data and information

The procurement reporting requirement for budget sector agencies subject to the QPP has been enhanced by replacing clause 1.8 with a new requirement to collect procurement-related data and information, and provide it to the Office of the Chief Advisor – Procurement in accordance with the whole-of-government procurement reporting framework, endorsed by the Queensland Government Procurement Committee. This enhancement ensures that the QPP keeps pace with current reporting practices related to government procurement.

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