Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Finance and Deregulation) Share this | Hansard source

Perhaps it might be useful if I provided the Senate with some facts about this matter. The Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency has not commissioned a new building. The department has signed an agreement to relocate to a new building development in Canberra to meet the department's need for office space. As a tenant the department does not have input into the awarding of contracts for the base building, which would be a matter for the developer. The department is a tenant and not the developer of the building, and obviously the developer makes its decisions about the contracts that are awarded.

There is a range of assertions, but I would make this point: as Senator Carr has previously outlined to the chamber, this government has a very strong record of providing support for Australian industry. It was Labor that introduced requirements for Australian Industry Participation Plans to be developed by companies bidding for major government procurements. Since January 2010 an approved Australian Industry Participation Plan has been required from companies bidding for major Australian government contracts. These plans outline how Australian industry would be given opportunities to supply goods and services. We have seen in the last 18 months approximately $2.5 billion worth of announced contracts that have required Australian Industry Participation Plans. The government has also tightened requirements for firms accessing the Enhanced Project By-Law Scheme. Under this program eligible public and private project proponents must submit and implement a similar plan—an Australian Industry Participation Plan—if they wish to access duty concessions for imported goods not available in Australia. (Time expired)