GOVERNMENT MUST INITIATE PROCUREMENT INQUIRY
21-July-2011
The Victorian Government must urgently review a Police procurement decision which may place Victorian jobs at risk and add to concerns over the viability of the textile industry in Australia.
Wangaratta textile manufacturer Bruck has been shut out as a supplier of Victorian Police uniform fabric, despite the quality of their product never being questioned.
Bruck has been a long term supplier of fabric to an offshore maker of Victorian Police shirts, and has recently been told without warning that their contract, which expired on 30 June this year, would not be renewed, leaving the Wangaratta business with a warehouse full of special police shirt fabric.
I am advised Bruck was informed by Victorian Police Procurement as late as 6 July that no contract had been awarded. Either this was inaccurate information or it only took two weeks to sign, seal and deliver a contract to a Chinese fabric maker.
It is not acceptable that there was no public tender process which would have allowed a local business like Bruck to argue their case.
I have had communications with the Minister, Peter Ryan that this is only an interim contract and that further contracts will be open to local companies.
Whilst this is reassuring, answers are still needed to explain why Bruck was explicitly excluded from this interim procurement process.
Unlike the battle camouflage contract going to China, at least the Textile, Clothing and Footwear Union is on this occasion standing up for local jobs. I look forward to the Union being equally courageous in standing up for local jobs and fighting Julia Gillard’s toxic carbon tax.