Media Statements - New publication contains useful tips for Government suppliers

22/5/00

Suppliers interested in selling to Government will benefit from a new and expanded version of the State Supply Commission’s Who Buys What publication released today.

For the first time, the annual publication includes general information about the Government purchasing environment, tips for marketing products and services to individual agencies and assistance in using statistics for effective marketing programs.

Works and Services Minister Rob Johnson said Who Buys What provided annual purchasing statistics for 109 State Government agencies and detailed the scope of Government spending, the types of goods and services purchased and the top 10 agencies buying each category of good or service.

A list of purchasing officers and their contact details is also included.

“With annual expenditure of around $4.6 billion on goods and services, the WA Government sector represents considerable business opportunities for private businesses,” Mr Johnson said.

“And now, for the first time, this year’s Who Buys What also provides tips for suppliers interested in selling to Government.

“The new publication continues the Government’s aim to promote private sector involvement in Government contracting. The tips included are intended to provide suppliers with an overview of the procurement environment, with suggestions on how to sell to Government and a convenient list of contacts for each agency.”

Mr Johnson said the major areas of Government spending last year were in construction ($744 million) and building repairs and maintenance ($375 million) and the top agencies were Health and Main Roads.

In the last financial year, Government spending on services amounted to 80 per cent of total expenditure - the highest percentage since the statistics were first compiled in1994-95.

The Who Buys What publication is complemented by an Internet database that enables searches on individual agencies’ purchasing expenditure. The database will be accessible from June 1, at the State Supply Commission’s web site,
http://www.ssc.wa.gov.au

Media contact: Fran Hodge (08) 9481 3244