PM Transcripts

4
) PRIME MINISTER PRESS STATEMlET NO. 23
17 December 1972
PIREFERENCE TO AUSTRALIAN SUPPLIERS
The Prime inister, Mr. Whitlam, announced today a new
system of preference to Australian suppliers in purchases by
the Australian Government.
He has directed that Australian Government contracts should
be awarded to an Australian-owned company in cases where Australian
and overseas-owned firms submit tenders which meet specifications
and are equal in respect of price and availability.
This represents a change from present procedures for
selecting successful tendererso
The present practice in most cases in which equal tenders
are submitted is to accept the tenderer who has been the most
recent satisfactory supplier of identical supplies.
His decision follows discussions between Government
departments, held to ensure that future purchasing arrangements
for the Australian Government would take into account the question
of Australian ownership and control.
Mr. Thitlam1 has also ordered that a study be made of future
arrangements which might apply to the purchase of petroleum products
from Australian-owned and controlled companies.
Mr. '; Thitlam said current contracts for petroleum products
will not expire before the end of 1973.
In his election policy speech, Mr. Whitlam pledged that
the Labor Government will give a lead to maximising Australian
ownership and control of the oil industry by ensuring that where
price, availability and accessibility are as good, the Commonwealth
will make its purchases from Australian-owned and controlled
companies. CANBERRA. A. C. T.