From now, South-Australian manufactured products must be used on public housing construction and maintenance programs – including fencing.
Public houses built in South Australia must use products manufactured in this state, under ground-breaking mandates introduced by the SA Government.
It’s the first change announced as a result of sweeping and broad reforms to government procurement – which will benefit local businesses, manufacturers and workers.
From now, South-Australian manufactured products must be used on public housing construction and maintenance programs, where available.
The policy is to ensure local manufacturers and SA businesses benefit from the SA Government’s $177.5 million commitment to build 400 new affordable homes and refurbish a further 350, to help those most in need during a stressed housing market.
The South Australian Housing Authority will release tenders for construction of 103 homes, including the first six homes at Broadview this week, which will also require South Australian workers be used for a minimum of 90 per cent of labour hours, with 20 per cent of those being supplied by apprentices, trainees, Aboriginal workers or the long term unemployed.
Setting an example for the broader industry, the government will require core products used in construction to be manufactured here in SA, including bricks, timber frames, concrete, reinforcing steel, steel frames, windows, security doors and steel for roofing, fencing and rainwater tanks.
It’s estimated these products account for approximately 58 per cent of the cost of building an average dwelling.
Labor pledged to reform government procurement to help give South Australian businesses and workers a competitive edge when deciding where taxpayers’ dollars end up, creating more work and a stronger economy.
The government is targeting an increase of $425 million per year in work awarded to SA businesses.
Source: SA Govt.