APCC Council Post Meeting Communique

The Australasian Procurement & Construction Council influencing and leading long-term value creation through public sector procurement policy and practices.?

The Australasian Procurement & Construction Council (APCC) held its annual in-person meeting in Perth on 1-2 August 2024, hosted by the Department of Finance , Western Australia. Created by government for government, the APCC is the peak council whose members are responsible for procurement, construction, and asset and property management policy and delivery for Australian State and Territory governments, the Australian Government , and the New Zealand Government . ?

Day one of the meeting focused on governments’ prioritisation and integration of social value into procurement processes and, most importantly, outcomes.

“Measuring social value is crucial for understanding the broader impacts of our procurement activities through a culture of sophisticated and professional procurement,” said Teresa Scott, Executive Director, APCC. “As a strategic enabler, public procurement integrates environmental, social, and economic outcome criteria into purchasing decisions, thus driving sustainable development, fostering responsible business practices, and ensuring long-term value creation”.

Day one also furnished the release of Public Procurement’s Value Proposition. Teresa remarked that “having a well-defined and articulated value proposition allows procurement professionals to clearly communicate the unique value they bring to the table”. This helps with engagement across the organisation, including executive government and Ministers. “A procurement value proposition allows the profession to differentiate itself from other corporate functions and demonstrate unique value, including its alignment with the goals and objectives of the organisation’” said Teresa.??

As the meeting moved into Day Two, the discussions and nationally important publication releases gained momentum. Members endorsed the Defining the Procurement Profession – The Framework for public release. The absence of a collective and consistent movement means that efforts to advance the procurement profession are isolated and lack the necessary scale to drive significant improvement. A single jurisdiction alone is not large enough to mobilise change across the entire procurement ecosystem.

Teresa said, “By creating a cohesive procurement profession across government, we have a better chance of achieving the much-needed change and creating the procurement profession”.?

The Business Case for Public Sector Procurement Professionalisation, a key component of the APCC’s broader Procurement Professionalisation Strategy , was also endorsed for public release. “This Business Case is intended to provide a body of evidence for governments to utilise in their respective arguments for procurement professionalisation’” said Teresa. The Business Case covers a variety of topics that may prove useful in bolstering professionalisation arguments, including how current volatilities have driven an increased recognition and use of public procurement, the scale at which public procurement operates, gaps in Australasia’s professionalisation strategy, and international successes.?

The eagerly anticipated AI in Procurement was another publication to receive endorsement for release. “Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a powerful technology that has the potential to change various aspects of society, business, and the economy,” said Teresa. While AI offers potential enhancements in the efficiency and effectiveness of government procurement processes, its deployment is not without challenges. This publication will assist governments and procurement teams to navigate the opportunities and complexities of AI deployment in procurement.???

“It was a privilege to participate in these strategic and crucial discussions, observing the foremost procurement experts tackle complex challenges and devise innovative solutions. The APCC collective exemplifies GOVERNMENTS WORKING TOGETHER. Members collaborate to lead and improve government procurement and construction,” said Teresa.?

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Media inquiries:

Teresa Scott, Executive Director, APCC on 02 6285 2255. Refer to: www.APCC.gov.au