The Indigenous Opportunities Policy has been revised in line with the Commonwealth commitment, under the Council of Australian Government’s (COAG) National Partnership Agreement on Indigenous Economic Participation (the ‘Agreement’) to strengthen its procurement policies to maximise Indigenous employment and business opportunities.
As of 1 July 2011 the revised Indigenous Opportunities Policy has been implemented. The revised Policy has been designed to provide better opportunities through Commonwealth government contract arrangements for Indigenous people in Indigenous significant populated areas.
It should be noted that the Policy applies to procurement undertaken by Australian Government agencies subject to the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997.
The Indigenous Opportunities Policy
For the purpose of promoting employment and training opportunities for Indigenous Australians, where projects involve expenditure over $5 million ($6 million for construction) in regions where there are significant Indigenous populations, officials must:
- Consult with the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, the Commonwealth Indigenous Coordination Centres or equivalent Commonwealth Office, and community council or group, as appropriate, in the planning stages of those projects;
- In each procurement process under those projects, require each tenderer to submit as part of their tender a plan for providing training and employment opportunities to local Indigenous communities and for the use of Indigenous suppliers that are small and medium enterprises.
Changes to government procurement guidelines
New changes to the Federal Government’s procurement guidelines will strengthen business opportunities for small and medium Indigenous enterprises.
As of 19 May 2011 a new Commonwealth Procurement Guideline exemption to the Mandatory Procurement Procedures will be in place for small and medium enterprises that are 50% Indigenous owned. Under this new measure both Commonwealth Government agencies and Indigenous businesses will benefit from reduced administrative costs.
The exemption complements the Indigenous Opportunities Policy but operates separately and is administered by the Department of Finance and Deregulation.
Further information is available from the Department of Finance and Deregulation website.
Potential Suppliers
Potential suppliers responding to Approaches to Market where the expenditure is over $5 million ($6 million in construction) and work takes place in a region with a significant Indigenous Australian population may be required to have a DEEWR-approved Indigenous Australian Training, Employment and Supplier Plan. Approach to Market implementation will indicate whether a plan will be required.
See Support for Potential Suppliers and FAQ for more information, including lists of Indigenous businesses.
MyPlan
To facilitate the development of Indigenous Australian Training, Employment and Supplier Plans, DEEWR has developed an online management information system called MyPlan. Once an organisation has developed its Plan, it will need to submit the Plan to DEEWR for approval using MyPlan.
You should read the Guidelines below for the Indigenous Opportunities Policy before you visit this link.
Guidelines to support the Indigenous Opportunities Policy, including information about the requirements for developing an Indigenous Australian Training, Employment and Supplier Plan, are available below.
Australian Government Agencies
All Australian Government agencies subject to the Financial Management and Accountability Act, 1997 will need to strengthen their procurement policies and processes to accord with the enhanced Policy.
See Australian Government Agency FAQs for more information.
Further Information
Contact us
For further information and advice email iop@deewr.gov.au.