Driving responsible intergenerational value through social outcomes

The Buy Queensland approach to government procurement continues to successfully deliver significant benefits for Queenslanders, supporting quality , secure ongoing local jobs, and driving economic, ethical, social and environmental outcomes for the long-term well-being of communities.

Buy Queensland 2023 is the latest evolution of Buy Queensland, with a firm focus on building on the achievements of Buy Queensland, boosting the Queensland economy and leaving a lasting positive legacy for current and future generations of Queenslanders.

We will drive responsible intergenerational value by embedding a responsible public procurement approach, which includes delivering improved social outcomes as outlined in Principle 2 of the Queensland Procurement Policy 2023.

This ensures we lead by example in preventing harm through our procurement, and our actions are aligned with community expectations on key focus areas such as:

• embracing social wellbeing opportunities such as the training and employment of disadvantaged and marginalised job seekers
• eradicating modern slavery from government supply chains
• protecting workers in vulnerable industries (for example, textiles, clothing and footwear)
• ensuring fair wages for workers with disability
• reinforcing animal welfare laws, regulations, codes, standards and guidelines in relation to food and beverages procured by the Queensland Government

The government’s social procurement commitment to increase spend with genuine, quality, social enterprises providing award based wages (using the Supported Wage System where appropriate) and pathways to mainstream employment for disadvantaged Queenslanders helps to:

• promote more diverse and inclusive workforces
• create training and employment opportunities
• encourage local economic development and growth
• help people to participate in the wider community and contribute to the economy.

Creating more accessible workplaces

Our pursuit of social outcomes includes full accessibility for people with disability.

Furthering this commitment, and as part of our engagement with industry, the Queensland Procurement Policy 2023 requires that each industry reference group must include representation from industry and unions, along with at least one member who represents the interests of people with disability. Industry membership should also ensure that the interests of diverse supplier types are represented .

Dedicated social procurement support

Our social procurement advisor works with:

• government buyers to support their social procurement activities, including advice on how to engage with social enterprises, and Aboriginal and / or Torres Strait Islander businesses
• social enterprises, and Aboriginal and / or Torres Strait Islander businesses and industry to build the sector’s capacity as valued suppliers to the Queensland Government.