Local business snubbed with Tasmania Police uniforms now made in Fiji

A Tasmanian business which has been making Tasmania Police uniforms for 40 years has lost the contract, with clothes now made overseas.

Patricia Wood machinist, Bronwen Feachnie business owner and Uraiwan Sutthison machinist. The Sewing Room at Island Seamstress in Hobart has lost a local contract with garments now produced in Fiji. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

A Tasmanian business which lost a contract with Tasmania Police, who opted to use an interstate firm importing dress trousers made in Fiji, wants political parties to do more to support local manufacturers.

Owner of the Sewing Room in Hobart Bronwen Feachnie said her business lost thousands of dollars when, after 40 years, Tasmania Police awarded a contract to an interstate business to supply recruits with formal uniforms.

“The first I knew it had happened was when police started bringing in overseas-made uniforms to have them altered,” she said.

“We weren’t even told the uniform supply was being tendered despite our history.

“When I asked about the situation, I was told I was ‘too expensive’, even though I hadn’t tendered.

“I’m not cheap but given the number of overseas-made garments currently being brought into my business to be fixed or altered so that they actually fit, I think it’s fair to say taxpayers are not getting value for money, regardless of how cheap the original clothing may have been.

“We put money back into the local economy.”

Tasmania Police uniforms are now made in Fiji.

A police department spokesperson said after a review in 2022, a decision was made to purchase “off the shelf” police office uniform trousers with another Australian supplier “due to the capacity to deliver required volumes within required timeframes”.

“In addition these were provided at a substantially reduced cost,” she said.

Label with Made in Fiji visible on a pair of Tasmania Police uniform trousers which were previously made at The Sewing Room at Island Seamtress in Hobart before the contract was ended. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

“In more recent times the department has moved away from the issuing of office trousers to all recruits due to a greater emphasis on operational uniforms for all activities.

“Custom and ‘made to measure’ tunics, mess dress trousers and mess kits are still being procured by DPFEM through the business.”

Ms Feachnie said she was in a tender process to supply clothing to the State Emergency Service and the Tasmania Fire Service, and she hoped the incoming government would do more to help small manufacturers supply government agencies.

“I have the people with the skills to make high-quality, Tasmanian-made clothing, but I need to pay them the appropriate award and there’s no way we can compete with cheap labour overseas,” she said.

“I’m questioning whether government should only be concerned with a bottom-line dollar amount on a contract, rather than considering broader local business and broader economic benefits as well as ultimate value to the taxpayer.

“I think most Tasmanians would want their emergency services to be wearing uniforms and clothing that is made right here in Tasmania.”