Stronger government procurement rules needed

Stronger buy-local rules for government departments are welcome, but they would need to be strongly enforced, FIRST Union said.

Labour leader David Shearer yesterday outlined, in addition to policies on migration and work, proposals for government procurement policy.  It follows similar moves in the party’s election policy last year.

Changes to procurement rules would need to be actively implemented, as previous attempts at reform have been captured by officials, FIRST Union General Secretary Robert Reid said.

“Government procurement was reviewed twice under the last Labour government and again by National (at the 2009 Jobs Summit), but each time, officials have actively stymied any progress toward making procurement rules more favourable to local manufacturers,” Robert Reid said.

“Apprenticeship requirements, whole-of-life economic analysis and Australian-style Industry Participation Plans would benefit local manufacturers and workers, currently in the midst of a major jobs crisis.”

“Industries like textiles and wood should be firing up to meet the needs of the Canterbury rebuild but instead they are laying off staff.”

“Meanwhile the government last month published new principles for procurement, which contained only one line commenting on New Zealand suppliers, and only that they have a fair opportunity to compete.”

“New Zealand is out of step internationally on government procurement.  It is good news that Labour wants to address this, and a clear signal would need to be sent to officials to implement the policies fully,” Robert Reid said.