{"id":28842,"date":"2024-09-03T22:09:22","date_gmt":"2024-09-03T22:09:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/?p=28842"},"modified":"2024-09-03T22:09:22","modified_gmt":"2024-09-03T22:09:22","slug":"supporting-local-jobs-boosting-local-businesses-with-jobs-first-commission-and-if-not-why-not-government-spending-rules","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/2024\/09\/03\/supporting-local-jobs-boosting-local-businesses-with-jobs-first-commission-and-if-not-why-not-government-spending-rules\/","title":{"rendered":"Supporting local jobs, boosting local businesses with Jobs First Commission and \u2018If not, why not\u2019 government spending rules"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The Minns Labor Government will introduce a series of new measures to support NSW jobs and businesses and encourage the development of local industries, removing barriers to local growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These policy changes have the backing of workers and industry and will transform the way the government spends its precious procurement dollars on goods and services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Working in partnership with local industry<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Minister for Domestic Manufacturing and Government Procurement Courtney Houssos will on Tuesday instruct the NSW Procurement Board to axe the previous Liberal-National Government\u2019s prohibitions on local content rules.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Those rules made it unlawful for NSW government agencies to seek, or even consider, local employment and business growth opportunities at any stage of the procurement process, harming local businesses at a time when they needed access to valuable procurement opportunities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>NSW government agencies can now consider local content and local development opportunities when suppliers bid for government contracts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>\u2018If not, why not\u2019 rules for local procurement<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To ensure agencies embrace the policy reversal, Minister Houssos has issued a new direction to the NSW Procurement Board called \u2018If not, why not\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Under this direction, the NSW Procurement Board will mandate that NSW Government agencies engage with local NSW suppliers before going to tender for projects worth more than $7.5 million.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The new rules also mandate that if a contract worth more than $7.5 million is awarded to a supplier outside of NSW, agencies will need to undergo a \u2018please explain\u2019 process prior to the contract being awarded, outlining why a local supplier was not successful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The definition of a \u2018local supplier\u2019 for the purposes of the \u2018If not, why not\u2019 direction is limited to NSW enterprises.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While upholding Australia\u2019s free trade obligations that prevent discriminating against suppliers because of where they\u2019re based or owned, this policy will refocus agencies on supporting jobs and local production in NSW.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This will assist with the Minns Labor Government\u2019s plans to boost the competitiveness of NSW industries and help rebuild the manufacturing sector decimated by the previous Liberal-National Government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>\u2018Value for money\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Purchasing the cheapest goods and services does not always equate to \u2018value for money\u2019 for the people of NSW.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Under the previous Liberal-National Government, thousands of jobs and billions of dollars of major contracts were sent abroad. What came back were delays, cost blowouts and, ultimately, inferior products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A more robust approach to \u2018value for money\u2019 considers factors like supporting employment opportunities and developing regional economies. With these changes, the NSW Government is delivering confidence to domestic and international investors and suppliers alike.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Establishing the Jobs First Commission<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Minns Labor Government will also legislate to create the Jobs First Commission to oversee the implementation and enforcement of local content measures. It will help grow domestic industries and jobs for local workers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This includes enacting key measures including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>A local content policy which will implement Labor\u2019s election commitment to apply a minimum 30% weighting to NSW Government tenders worth more than $7.5 million that captures local content, job creation, small business and ethical supply chains.<\/li><li>A Future Skills Guarantee with workforce targets, including that 20% of the trades workforce on NSW Government construction or infrastructure contracts valued above $7.5 million are apprentices.<\/li><li>An independent advisory board with representation from across industry, small business, unions, and the public sector to provide ongoing engagement with, and advice on, government procurement policies as well as local development and industry growth strategies.<\/li><li>Appointing a Job First Commissioner conferred with \u2018name and shame\u2019 and other compliance and enforcement powers. This will ensure all parties, including NSW agencies, adhere to the government\u2019s procurement rules and standards, in particular the new tender weightings rules and local content and skills requirements.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The definition of \u2018local content\u2019 under the Jobs First Commission legislation will be any Australia or New Zealand-based enterprise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the seven years since implementing its Local Jobs First policy, the Victorian government has supported 40,000 Victorian jobs and demonstrated the potential impact of policies like these.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Last year the NSW Government spent approximately $42 billion on goods and services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Together, these initiatives will also direct more work to the more than 100,000 apprentices and trainees currently registered in NSW and encourage even more to pick up a trade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This announcement complements the Minns Labor Government\u2019s ongoing procurement reforms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The revocation of the previous government\u2019s anti-local content provisions will take effect within 45 days, while the \u2018If not, why not\u2019 direction will come into effect on 1 January 2025. Consultation on an exposure draft of legislation to establish the Jobs First Commission is targeted to be released by the end of the year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Minister for Domestic Manufacturing and Government Procurement Courtney Houssos:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cBusinesses and workers in NSW have so much to offer \u2013 not just to government but to all consumers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThese changes will support our local industries and give them new opportunities to secure a larger slice of the NSW government\u2019s $42 billion procurement spend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cOur announcement today delivers the next step on an important election commitment we made to support local jobs and local businesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe former government\u2019s ideological zealotry harmed local industries, local businesses and local workers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Minister for Industry and Trade Anoulack Chanthivong:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cNSW has the most innovative and dynamic businesses in the nation. It makes sense for the NSW Government to invest in those companies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cOur state has all the ingredients to be a manufacturing powerhouse, but we need to pull all of the levers available to realise that ambition. Government procurement is a powerful tool to boost industry growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWhen boardrooms are making big investment decisions, they need to know that NSW has the skills and capabilities for manufacturing and these changes will send a powerful signal.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education Steve Whan:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cAlongside our commitment to deliver 1,000 additional apprentices and trainees across NSW Government agencies, this announcement demonstrates our commitment to developing the skilled workforce for the state\u2019s future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cLocal industry and business represent key players in workforce development across the state. Through this initiative we will open up more opportunities for young people to secure highly skilled, well-paid and secure jobs within their local area.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Business NSW CEO Dan Hunter:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cNot only will this decision supercharge our manufacturing base, it will also boost local skills development and drive innovation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cNSW has the biggest and most sophisticated private enterprise economy in the country, and this decision will go some way to ensuring we remain the best place to start and develop a business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cNSW\u2019s small and medium businesses have always been happy to compete with the big players when it comes to winning government contracts \u2013 they just need a level playing field.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Unions NSW Secretary Mark Morey:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cFor too long, we&#8217;ve seen valuable contracts and opportunities sent offshore, at the expense of local workers and industries. The new &#8216;Jobs First&#8217; approach, with its focus on local content policy and skills, will help ensure NSW public spending directly benefits our communities, workers, and apprentices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cUnions pushed hard for a Jobs First Commission with oversight and enforcement powers, because it&#8217;s vitally important that local industry is supported to create sustainable, skilled jobs for NSW workers. We particularly welcome the targets for apprentices and trainees on major projects, which will help build the skilled workforce of tomorrow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThis is a profoundly important policy shift which recognises that supporting local jobs and businesses sets us up for the future. This fosters innovation and stronger industrial capability, creating solid opportunities for the next generation of NSW workers.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Minns Labor Government will introduce a series of new measures to support NSW jobs and businesses and encourage the development of local industries, removing barriers to local growth. These policy changes have the backing of workers and industry and will transform the way the government spends its precious procurement dollars on goods and services. &hellip; <a href=\"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/2024\/09\/03\/supporting-local-jobs-boosting-local-businesses-with-jobs-first-commission-and-if-not-why-not-government-spending-rules\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;Supporting local jobs, boosting local businesses with Jobs First Commission and \u2018If not, why not\u2019 government spending rules&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-28842","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-nswnews"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28842","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=28842"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28842\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":28843,"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28842\/revisions\/28843"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=28842"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=28842"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=28842"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}