CLP promises to increase chances of businesses winning government contracts

A NEW CLP Government would increase the opportunity for Territory businesses to tender and win government contracts

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A NEW Country Liberal Government would increase the opportunity for NT businesses to tender and win government construction, procurement and service contracts if elected, leader Lia Finocchiaro has pledged.

Ms Finocchiaro has pitched a suite of priority changes aimed at strengthening the power of the Territory’s Buy Local policy.

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A key plank is to give the Buy Local Industry Advocate position “real teeth” by making it a statutory office.

“The Procurement Review Board (PRB) Buy Local Industry Advocate position is intended to be an independent link between local business and the NT Government. and a new CLP Government will strengthen it by making it a statutory office,” Ms Finocchiaro said.

Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro said a Country Liberal Government would increase the opportunity for NT businesses to tender and win government construction, procurement and service contracts if elected Picture: GLENN CAMPBELL

“The Territory Government should be geared as much as possible towards using local products and services and supporting Territory businesses. Strengthening the Buy Local policy will make sure government spending is invested in local businesses, resulting in more benefits for the Territory.”

As part of this, Ms Finocchiaro promised an independent statutory office of the Buy Local Advocate, as well as legislating the power of the Buy Local Advocate to require the responsible Minister to either: (a) accept recommendations made by the Advocate; or (b) table a response to recommendations made by the Advocate in parliament within three sitting days of receiving the report on why recommendations will not be accepted.

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She said a CLP government would standardise criteria for deciding “local content” to make the process more objecting, while keeping the 30 per cent local content weighting.

The party also plans to reinstate the Local Benefit Advisory Panel to review tenders bigger than $5 million and retain the current Procurement Review Board.