Procurement in WA: Government as ‘model client’
ACA – WA has co-authored a joint submission to the WA Commission of Inquiry into Government Programs and Projects, and looks forward to the development of healthier procurement processes within the state.
The submission is a collaboration between ACA – WA, Consult Australia, the Australian Institute of Architects and Master Builders, industry associations that together represent a vast array of multi-disciplinary professional service firms, individual professionals, builders and subcontractors working within the built environment.
ACA – WA is very pleased to be working together on this significant matter with our industry colleagues. Collectively our associations represent many firms and individuals that have a significant positive impact on the Western Australia economy and urban environment – including through project design, engineering, architecture, building, surveying, project management, community engagement, and planning services.
Approximately 40 per cent of our industry’s work is undertaken for public sector clients, and our members play vital roles in creating some of Australia’s iconic public infrastructure. This includes road, rail, hospital, airport, educational facilities, water and energy utilities, justice, aged care, sports stadia, and urban renewal projects.
Procurement of government infrastructure is an issue of particular importance to all our members, and the wider industry we collectively represent. ACA – WA supports the creation of a healthier procurement and risk management culture in WA by reviewing and improving the current Strategic Asset Management Framework (SAMF) and ensuring that all state government agencies and GTEs act as a ‘model client’ at all times.
Our submission makes 23 targeted recommendations over five areas – Policy, Fairer Contracting, Quality and Cost, Evaluation and Staging, and Monitoring, Researching and Reporting. These are areas of greatest challenge within the current system of state-led procurement in WA.
Policy reforms arising from this inquiry have the potential to dramatically assist our industry’s operations, while also achieving better infrastructure and value for money for the people of Western Australia. We hope that the inquiry will strengthen the resolve of the state to ensure a healthier procurement and risk management culture with a focus on fairer contracting and equitable allocations of risk.