J4 UES~ DAY, % JANUARkY 2, S
C) MC T'AIJT1 PtRCFEASINfl PRE7FT, 7NCF MOR AUS3TRAIIAjN INDUSTRY
The Cormonwetrlth has decided to cotablish Committee
of Viatere to overcee COnrnO1) W( calth purchasing in order
to improve the effectlvencrs~ of the Governmeut's policy
of g; iving prefencc to Auctralian industry in purchasing
by its Depart-: cntG and nuthor-Ities, in line with the
ithe fuinction of this CoLzrni ttec will be to overooc
decisions on purchaises by departmiontr. and authorS tics to
etisure that Australip-n firms ob tain the mxiinum bcnc fit
frora thope purchacon consistenrt withi revised guidelines.
The Corntitxe wrill be chaired by tar Andre,., Peacock, minister
for Industry and Comzicrcea Its otber ortiubc. ru ;,, ill be
1.1r INewrian lMini. ter' f or Admini str t ive Services Mr liodgoanri
linic-ter for the Capital Tcrri tory and IMirinter A. isttin8
the ) Wnis tcr for Industry arid Comnire; Mr Viner, Minis ter
For Defence Support and Acting 1Iiniotcr [ or Defcecs;
cnd Deame Margaret Guilfoyle, llinistcr for Finance.
The Mlinister for Admini-rtrative Services w~ ill be rceponsiblfe
for brin[ ging forward proposals for signiH! cT~ t individual
pmrcha scs The views of othier 14inisters will be obtained
when their port-folio interestn are involved. The criteria
*& nnounced by Mr 1Ncwmn on~ 15 Decelaber to provide
preference for Austrnllnr. industry are being liberalined.
Nr Newman had announced that at, Australian preference of
2per cent on price will apply to purchase& under $ 10,000;
a preference of 20 per cent of the value of the Australian
content willJ apply to purchases from $ 10,000 to $ 100, COO;
ond purchases of $ 100,000 or moe will be oubject to
ttirther exami nation whbere Auutralian indut~ try wotild have
failed to necuire the contract after applicetioit of the
per cent margin.
-2-
T'hreL aCdd it oi 0n aI cr te r Ina w1 nowW1 c Lakcn in to ccn31 AeratLion
b y the MIni q te xi ContI." t 1, pa t I ly n
these la-ttc-r crisct. Thesc ni-e
ntional interest;
national security considera tions; and
ainte-nance of inclustrij. capacit'y of inotional
iport an cjr.
These additonal critceri would assist in mcoting the
Intention of the Govcrnment'v policy in relation to
purchasing preferCnc for Austrlin industry.
The Covern:: cntL' pur chaiig policy is under detailed
examination and the 1. i nirterinl Comti ttea is expected to
report back on the cfectiveness of the new cite rin.
The Government it determinc d that Austrnliu indu& try
and Aus troiii ov~ plyrent % wñ 1l benefit directly fron
individual pur( chacing decincions by Dcpartmonts find
euthoritics and fron the Coronwvealth'' ovcroll
purchaoinp. cxpenditures.