More than 200 contracts were awarded by the state government to Aboriginal-owned businesses this past financial year, with four entities earning more than half the value.
More than 200 contracts were awarded by the state government to Aboriginal-owned businesses this past financial year, with four entities earning more than half the value.
That represents a near-tripling in performance targets set by the state government’s Aboriginal procurement policy, which in its first year awarded $164 million worth of contracts to 92 businesses in WA.
The policy, now in its second year, requires the state government to award a certain percentage of contracts to Aboriginal-owned businesses, with the minimum requirement to be set at three per cent as of this financial year.
This year, 234 contracts worth $172 million were awarded to 104 businesses in WA.
Meta Maya Group, a wholly owned subsidiary of Pilbara Meta Maya Regional Aboriginal Corporation, was the biggest winner by value, being awarded about $40 million worth of contracts.
That was largely thanks to the value of two contracts with the Department of Communities, seperately worth $33 million and $7 million.
Accurate STP was the second largest winner by value, having earned a $24 million contract to deliver security services to Perth Cultural Centre.
That was followed by Carey Mining, which earned a $20 million contract from Main Roads Western Australia, Nirrumbuk Environmental Health and Services, which earned an $18 million contract from the Department of Communities, and Meta Maya Group, which earned a $7 million contract from the same department.
Together, those five contracts were worth about 60 per cent of the total value of all contracts awarded.
Main Roads Western Australia awarded the largest number of contracts of all state government agencies in that period, with 45 of its contracts awarded to Aboriginal-owned businesses.
That represents 16 per cent of contracts awarded by MRWA in the year to June.
Kimberley-based H&M Tracey Construction was the largest beneficiary by number of contracts awarded, winning 14 in total, while GBSC Yurra and Kardan Construction were both awarded more than 10 contracts each.
H&M Tracey Construction ranks 27th on Data & Insights' list of construction companies, holding contracts worth a cumulative $40 million.
Aboriginal Affairs Minister Ben Wyatt said the policy was exceeding targets and highlighting the breadth and capacity of Aboriginal-owned businesses in WA.
“The benefit of contracting with Aboriginal businesses extends beyond the successful delivery of contracts, by improving the economic prosperity of Aboriginal businesses but also the broader Aboriginal community,” he said.
“This policy challenges government to do more with its resources and I am extremely proud of the progress to date.
"Through the Department of Finance, we will continue to support the Aboriginal business sector and encourage their involvement in future government procurement opportunities.”
The state government’s policy compliments the federal government’s Indigenous procurement policy, which has awarded more than $3.5 billion worth of contracts to more than 2,000 businesses since it was implemented in 2015.
