Tasmania has introduced a single form tendering system for government contracts in a bid to cut red tape for local businesses.
Treasurer Eric Abetz said the changes had taken effect on April 16, around a fortnight before the formal announcement on May 4.
The reform means businesses should no longer have to fill out multiple forms with repeated information when bidding for government work across different agencies.
“These changes are a big win for local businesses,” Abetz said.
“They reduce duplication and red tape, particularly for small and medium businesses in Tasmania, while maintaining strong value for money outcomes.”
Dion Frame, president of the National Electrical & Communications Association (NECA) Tasmania, said the reform could be a significant step forward for small businesses that don’t have large tendering teams.
“That’s a significant saving and and efficiency into a lot of the smaller businesses,” Frame said.
He said it could open up participation and competition among a larger pool of businesses for government contracts.
Frame said even medium to large businesses like Contact Group, the family-owned electrical company hosting the announcement, stood to benefit on the high volume of smaller tenders under $500,000 that go to government each year.
He pointed to work for Housing Tasmania, local councils and minor projects at the Royal Hobart Hospital as examples of contracts that could be easier to bid for under the new system.
The changes include new request for quotation templates, refreshed guidance material for companies bidding on government work, a new supplier code of conduct and updated support for agencies applying the Buy Local Policy.
Abetz said cutting red tape should lower overheads for businesses, making them more competitive and allowing them to quote cheaper on government work, which could in turn save taxpayers money.
But Shadow Treasurer Dean Winter said the announcement fell short of broader promises the government had made.
“Anything to reduce red tape is welcome, but this is only a small part of what was promised a year ago,” Winter said.
He said the Liberals had promised that for every new law and regulation proposed, one would be removed, but that never happened.
Winter also said the government had pledged to create a single permit process for new start-up small businesses, and that didn’t happen either.
“Instead, they are shutting entire industries and putting a tax on the tourism sector,” he said.
Asked why the reform wasn’t done sooner, Abetz pointed to last year’s election and a lengthy consultation process.
“The good news is it’s done,” he said.
