Chris Bowen (Prospect, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I want to ask the Special Minister of State about the Department of Finance and Administration guidelines on procurement, specifically as they relate to small business. The department of finance guidelines require all government agencies to pay small businesses their bills within 30 days of receiving a proper invoice and, of course, the goods. The department of finance, as I understand it from answers to me, does not keep those records for itself and certainly does not appear to enforce the keeping of the records or the compliance of other government departments with the policy. I do not expect the minister to be able to answer this immediately, but could he undertake with the department of finance to review the operation of the procurement guidelines and ensure that not only his own department complies with its own guidelines but other government departments comply with them as well?

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