I am pleased to release the Commonwealth Procurement Rules which reflect the Australian Government’s policies and expectations for procuring officials.
The CPRs are the foundation of the Commonwealth procurement framework and the Australian Government is committed for procurement to demonstrate the highest standards of ethics, probity and integrity. These are the foundations of responsible organisational behaviour and the Government seeks to work with businesses that strive for the same high standards. To support this, the Commonwealth Supplier Code of Conduct is now a core component of the CPRs. The Code outlines the Commonwealth’s minimum expectations of suppliers, their personnel and their subcontractors while under contract with the Commonwealth.
Section 15 of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 (PGPA Act) sets out that the accountable authorities of a Commonwealth entities must govern the entity in a way that promotes the proper use and management of public resources. The Code and Section 15 of the PGPA Act impose similar standards of integrity on suppliers and government officials in order to deliver value for money. Achieving value for money is the core rule of the CPRs as it is critical in ensuring that public resources are used in the most efficient, effective, ethical and economic manner.
The Commonwealth procurement framework is a major economic lever, and the Government will use its significant purchasing power to stimulate First Nations entrepreneurship and further increase the opportunities for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) securing Commonwealth contracts. The Australian Government is taking a range of actions to support SMEs, including First Nations businesses, both through these CPRs and through broader improvements to the framework including existing Whole of Government panel arrangements. These reforms will provide greater opportunities for these businesses to contribute to the Australian economy.
In further recognition of the positive impact procurement can have on the economy, the Government is introducing the ability for women-owned and led businesses to be identified on AusTender. This will enable a gender-responsive approach to procurement, and give government the ability to measure and analyse the women-owned and led businesses the Commonwealth is contracting with. As part of the National Strategy for Gender Equality, the Government also announced to introduce a requirement for businesses with 500 or more employees to commit to and achieve workplace targets against at least three of the Gender Equality Indicators, in order to win government work. I have made these Commonwealth Procurement Rules under section 105B(1) of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 (PGPA Act). The previous Commonwealth Procurement Rules 13 June 2023 (F2023L00766) are repealed when this instrument commences on 1 July 2024.
Katy Gallagher
Minister for Finance
