Released 03/02/2026
The ACT Legislative Assembly has today passed the Government Procurement Amendment Bill 2025 which improves how the ACT Government undertakes procurements, making it easier for local businesses to do work for the Government.
This includes changes that will make it easier for the Government to engage with local small and medium enterprises and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses on limited tender procurements.
The legislation also simplifies how low-value, low-risk procurements are conducted while ensuring they remain transparent, evidence-based and achieve value for money.
Other changes include:
- Better protecting the privacy of people who have not been involved in procurement decision making but whose names appear on a notifiable contract (for example, someone witnessing a document).
- Clarifying the procurements that need to be reviewed by the Government Procurement Board, with a focus on procurements of a higher scale, scope and risk.
- Other minor changes to simplify or clarify existing legislation.
These amendments will commence from 1 July 2026 and build on substantial changes to the Act and the Regulation that into came effect in 2024.
Minister for Finance Rachel Stephen-Smith said the latest changes would ensure the ACT Government’s procurement practices continued to operate as intended.
“Currently, a disproportionate amount of administrative work is required by the Government and its suppliers for very low-value, low-risk procurements,” Minister Stephen-Smith said.
“This legislation removes the need for a written quote for procurements under $500, reducing the administrative burden and making it easier for suppliers to do business with the Government.
“Importantly, existing requirements that all procurements must be transparent, evidence-based and achieve value for money will continue to apply, regardless of their value.”
Minister Stephen-Smith said the legislation will also make it easier for the ACT Government to engage with local small and medium enterprises and certified Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses.
“This will help us continue to support Canberra businesses as well as meet our addressable spend targets under the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Procurement Policy, which aims to grow the economic participation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander enterprises in the ACT. It will also further support the important work of the ACT Public Service in Closing the Gap in economic outcomes for First Nations Canberrans,” the Minister said.
- Statement ends -
Rachel Stephen-Smith, MLA | Media Releases