Last year the Federal Government spent $54 billion through tenders on goods and services, with building construction, support, maintenance, and repair services accounting for more than 10 percent of this.
The AWU’s submission to the Inquiry into Procurement Practices for Government-Funded Infrastructure by the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Infrastructure, Transport and Cities, points out governments at all levels are a major actor in the economy and the single largest consumer of goods and services.
The submission highlights the dumping of cheap and substandard material – such as steel, cement, glass and aluminium – by foreign suppliers, at the expense of Australian jobs.
Dan Walton, AWU National Secretary, says government purchasing decisions play a critical role in maintaining Australia’s sovereign capability. But for decades Australian governments of various levels have looked purely to the bottom line, and in doing so have devastated local businesses and jobs.
