Indigenous procurement targets applauded

According to figures from the National Indigenous Australians Agency, over 900 Indigenous businesses won 7,749 Commonwealth contracts valued at $857 million in total during the 2019-20 financial year.

“The federal government has exceeded its annual Indigenous procurement targets, which is helping to support this fast-growing sector,” Kate Carnell said.

“According to data from Supply Nation, the number of Indigenous businesses is growing by 12.5 per cent each year, which goes to show how effective procurement targets can be when adopted by governments.

“Encouragingly, the number of Indigenous-owned businesses is projected to grow from 16,000 to 18,000 by 2026. This is good for the sector and good for our economy more broadly.”

She noted that every dollar spent with an Indigenous business goes a long way. According to Supply Nation, for every $1 of revenue, certified Indigenous suppliers generate $4.41 of social return.

“Procuring from Indigenous businesses is an investment in both Indigenous employment and economic development, with Indigenous businesses 100 times more likely to employ other indigenous staff,” Ms Carnell said.

“NAIDOC Week is a time when we celebrate Indigenous culture, but we should also be recognising the significant contribution indigenous people make to the Australian business community and to our economy.”