Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Procurement Strategy

This Strategy represents PM&C’s commitment and approach to delivering Indigenous Procurement Policy outcomes as well as contributing to achieving procurement related deliverables under the PM&C’s Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) Innovate 2024-27.

Message from PM&C Reconciliation Champion and First Nations Champion

Lisa Elliston
Lisa Elliston
Reconciliation Champion

At PM&C it is our mission to improve the lives of all Australians. To do this we must ensure our policy development and advice is informed by the diverse perspectives and experiences of people across our vast country. We strive to create a culturally safe and inclusive workplace that fosters mutual respect, understanding and partnership, empowering Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities to influence decisions on matters that impact their lives. 

We provide procurement opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to advance their businesses, by creating opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples that will stimulate increased supplier diversity and support improved economic and social outcomes.

Kate Thomann
Kate Thomann
First Nations Champion 

The primary purpose of the Government’s Indigenous Procurement Policy (IPP) is to stimulate Indigenous entrepreneurship and business development, providing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples with more opportunities to participate in the economy. The PM&C portfolio consistently exceeds the annual IPP targets demonstrating our commitment to helping realise the growth potential of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander business and increasing their representation in Australia’s economic landscape. PM&C is well positioned to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander business growth in its role to drive the Government’s agenda to grow our economy, incomes and jobs. 

The PM&C Reconciliation Action Plan 2024-27 (RAP) sets out our commitment to increase business opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander suppliers. This can be achieved through strong leadership, positive behaviours, increased opportunities, awareness raising, communications and procurement goals to increase engagement and contracts awarded to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses. 

This Strategy represents PM&C’s commitment and approach to delivering IPP outcomes as well as contributing to achieving procurement related deliverables under the PM&C’s Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) Innovate 2024-27.

Delivering the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Procurement Strategy

1. Leadership

Proactive leadership and support for IPP initiatives across the department to increase engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses by:

  • raising awareness among senior executive and decision makers to understand, support and encourage application of the IPP and performance against annual targets
  • continuing Supply Nation Government membership
  • encouraging attendance at Supply Nation events and attending leadership roundtable when invited
  • contributing to RAP working group meetings and events as an avenue to promote the IPP and best practice for procuring from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses.

2. Behaviours

Increasing awareness of the IPP and building capabilities to enable increased Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander business engagement by:

  • maintaining fit for purpose guidance and training materials for effectively sourcing and engaging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses including how to search for and choose suitable and diverse suppliers
  • educating and encouraging procurers on effective application of the IPP and recording in the internal compliance management system where non-compliance with the IPP occurs
  • engaging Supply Nation to provide information sessions for staff on Supply Nation initiatives and search tools, at least annually.

3. Communications

Sharing IPP performance outcomes, obligations and good news stories to raise awareness and increase support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses by:

  • using internal communication channels to regularly communicate IPP requirements including the mandatory set-aside and Mandatory Minimum Requirements
  • promoting and maintaining an Indigenous Procurement page on the staff intranet as a one-stop shop for Aboriginal and Torres Islander procurement matters
  • implementing internal news items to raise staff awareness of Supply Nation initiatives and events including highlighting Indigenous supplier success stories where relevant. 

4. Procurement goals

Raising awareness of the Government’s commitment to supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to support the growth of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses by:

  • encouraging and promoting procurement approaches to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander SMEs for procurements valued between $10,000 - $80,000 to broaden the scope of the IPP mandatory set-aside ($80,000 - $200,000)
  • meeting and reporting six-monthly on annual PM&C portfolio targets under the IPP
  • encouraging use of the Commonwealth Procurement Rules Appendix A Exemption 16 to facilitate limited tender approaches to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander SMEs where appropriate.