Australian Constructors Association Urges Government to Maintain Procurement Fairness
2026-06-07 14:21
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en.Wedoany.com Reported - The Australian Constructors Association (ACA) has urged the federal government to ensure that any procurement policy adjustments are aimed at improving productivity, competitiveness, and value for money.

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The ACA noted that proposed policy changes could allow the federal government to favor certain companies based on their labor arrangements, a practice that may undermine the fairness of the procurement process and drive up project costs. The association's Chief Executive Officer, Peter Colacino, stated that government contracts should continue to be awarded based on company performance. Colacino emphasized that engineering contracts should be determined by contractors' performance records, with the core goal being to deliver value for taxpayers, ensuring safety, efficiency, and certainty, rather than preferential labor arrangements. He pointed out that the drawbacks of preferential treatment are widely recognized, and the ACA supports a fair, lawful, and efficient system that requires all participants to adhere to uniform standards. Deviating from this principle of fairness could lead to higher costs, reduced competition, and slower delivery of Australia's urgently needed infrastructure and housing projects.

Colacino also stated that as the government pushes forward with major infrastructure and housing projects, policy settings should focus on enhancing productivity and flexibility. Contractors need the autonomy to make decisions that optimize project delivery, including creating a supportive work environment for their teams and selecting subcontractors based on performance. The ACA said it will continue to work with the federal government to develop the Secure Jobs Code and the Charter and Standards for the Construction Industry, and believes these frameworks should aim to support a competitive, productive, and sustainable construction sector.

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