Submitted to the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit inquiry into Australian Government Procurement Contract Reporting, Monday 5 March
More needs to be done to ensure Australians get value for money from government contracts with external providers of goods and services. The Commonwealth Government entered into $47.4 billion of such contacts (including consulting services) in 2016-17, yet the effectiveness and efficiency of this spending rarely receives public scrutiny. In this submission to a Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit inquiry, Grattan Institute’s Budget Policy Program Director Danielle Wood and Associate Lucy Percival raise several red flags regarding public sector compliance with the spirit and letter of Commonwealth procurement guidelines, and recommend changes to ensure a more rigorous and consistent approach.