SENATOR THE HON PENNY WONG
Minister for Finance and Deregulation
SENATOR THE HON MARK ARBIB
Assistant Treasurer
Minister for Small Business
Minister for Sport
JOINT MEDIA RELEASE
21 February 2012
GILLARD GOVERNMENT SUPPORTS SMALL BUSINESSES
New figures released today show the Gillard Government is continuing to support Australia’s more than 2 million small businesses, awarding almost $11 billion in contracts to SMEs in the last financial year.
The Commonwealth entered into nearly 80,000 contracts in 2010-11 with close to 60 per cent awarded to small businesses.
Minister for Finance and Deregulation Senator Penny Wong said today’s figures show the Government’s ongoing support of the small business sector in its procurement market.
“The Commonwealth’s procurement guidelines commit agencies to source at least 10 per cent of all contracts, by value, from small businesses. These figures show we well exceed the target,” Senator Wong said.
“The Government recognises the value small businesses bring to the economy and the procurement figures reflect this.”
Minister for Small Business Mark Arbib welcomed the increase in participation by small businesses and said the Gillard Government wanted to work with the sector to reduce red tape in the procurement process.
“The Government is committed to supporting small business and was the first federal government to introduce penalties for late payments by Government departments,” Senator Arbib said.
“Federal Labor is delivering on its promise to small business, boosting the on-time payment of their invoices and paying 97.7% of invoices received within 30 days.
“The Government will continue to engage and work with the small business community to make it easier for them to do business with the Government.”
More information can be found at: http://www.finance.gov.au/publications/statistics-on-commonwealth-purchasing-contracts/index.html.
For small businesses interested in becoming government suppliers, information can be found at http://www.finance.gov.au/procurement/procurement-policy-and-guidance/selling/index.html
