At the national level, NSWICC engages with the Commonwealth's Indigenous Procurement Policy to promote opportunities for Indigenous businesses across Australia.
The Commonwealth Indigenous Procurement Policy (IPP), introduced in 2015, has created new opportunities for Indigenous businesses to access federal government contracts. NSWICC supports the intent of this policy and advocates for its expansion, regulation and integrity.
While the IPP has helped generate significant spend with Indigenous businesses nationally, barriers remain in both access and execution. NSWICC’s role is to ensure that:
- Indigenous suppliers in NSW are connected, capable and competitive
- Federal buyers understand and engage with the local Indigenous business sector
- Policy settings are informed by community experience and grounded in cultural context
We work closely with all levels of government and national stakeholders to push for:
- Stronger checks and balances to prevent black cladding
- Recognition of regionally based community-led Indigenous businesses
- More equitable access to contract pipelines for smaller and emerging enterprises
- Greater investment in supplier development and post-contract support
Through our work, we aim to support a pipeline of tender-ready Indigenous suppliers, help government agencies meet their IPP targets meaningfully and ensure that the Commonwealth’s efforts to Closing the Gap are driven by long-term Indigenous economic empowerment.
