- Aboriginal Procurement Policy exceeds set targets for the fourth year in a row
- 356 contracts were awarded to 167 Aboriginal businesses this financial year
- More than $254 million worth of contracts awarded to Aboriginal businesses
- Regional Aboriginal businesses make up 72 per cent of the contracts awarded
The State Government's Aboriginal Procurement Policy has exceeded its targets for a fourth year in a row, with the end of year report showing targets were almost double in the 2022-2023 financial year.
The overall value of contracts awarded to Aboriginal businesses this year was more than $254 million. The total number of contracts awarded in 2022-2023 was 356. This represents 6.86 per cent of all Government contracts awarded – exceeding the 3.5 per cent target.
Across the board, the number of contracts awarded has steadily increased from 179 contracts since the Aboriginal Procurement Policy was introduced in 2018-2019. The number of Aboriginal businesses engaged has also increased year on year.
To count towards an agency's target, contracts must be valued at $50,000 and above, awarded to a registered Aboriginal business, and published on Tenders WA.
Data from Tenders WA is used to determine the end of year report, which includes a list of agencies that have performed well against the targets, and areas where improvements can be made.
This year the agencies that performed the highest against the Policy included Main Roads, Department of Communities and Department of Education.
The results highlight the success of the policy, which aims to increase contracting opportunities for Aboriginal businesses working with State Government agencies, promoting employment and business opportunities.
Under the recently introduced Aboriginal Participation Requirements, an additional $19 million in subcontracting arrangements for Aboriginal businesses were committed to in 2022-23 by suppliers to Government.
Over the past five years, more than $1 billion worth of Government contracts have been awarded to Aboriginal businesses.
The 2022-23 Aboriginal Procurement Policy Performance Report and summary of the first four years' outcomes are available at https://www.wa.gov.au/government/document-collections/aboriginal-procurement-policy-performance-reports.
Comments attributed to Minister for Finance Sue Ellery:
"Our Government is proud of the results we have achieved since implementing the Aboriginal Procurement Policy in 2018. In the 2022-2023 financial year we have almost doubled our target of 3.5 per cent of all Government contracts being awarded to Aboriginal businesses.
"This Policy has provided significant outcomes for Aboriginal businesses, especially those based in our regions.
"A fantastic example of this is Nirrumbuk Aboriginal Corporation, which has increased employee numbers from 80 to 215 and expanded its services to support Aboriginal economic growth in the Kimberley – as a result of working with the State Government."
Comments attributed to Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Tony Buti:
"The results are excellent and demonstrate that the State Government remains committed to delivering contracting opportunities to Aboriginal businesses beyond the set targets of the Aboriginal Procurement Policy.
"A total of 211 contracts were awarded to Aboriginal businesses based in regional locations, with the total value awarded to those businesses more than $130 million.
"The Cook Government is strengthening relationships with Aboriginal businesses and is focused on growing the economic prosperity of all Western Australian communities."
