Mid-West Regional Buying Centre open for business

12/07/05
Treasurer Eric Ripper today announced that a new Regional Buying Centre at Geraldton - the first of its kind in Western Australia - is open for business.
The Mid-West Regional Buying Centre will be launched with a briefing to the executive of the local Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Thursday, July 14.
On the same day, staff from the Department of Treasury and Finance will host the inaugural meeting of the centre's Local Client Council.
Other regional buying centres will be established in Bunbury and Kalgoorlie later this year.
"There are currently 70 State Government agencies delivering services from regional offices throughout WA," Mr Ripper said.
"While about 50 of these undertake some purchasing from these regional offices, a substantial amount is undertaken by Perth head offices using suppliers located in Perth.
"A key objective of this new centre at Geraldton will be to shift more Government buying to the Mid-West region."
The Treasurer announced that Geoff Brown would head the Mid-West Regional Buying Centre.
Mr Brown has been a Geraldton resident for seven years and most recently worked for the Department of Housing and Works.
He will be supported by two local procurement officers in Geraldton, in addition to Department of Treasury and Finance procurement specialists based in Perth.
Mr Ripper said the development of regional buying centres was part of the Gallop Government's procurement reform program.
"Our aim is to improve how Government agencies with a regional presence go about purchasing the goods and services they need in order to deliver services to the community," he said.
The Treasurer said businesses from across the State were already benefiting from a variety of other initiatives associated with the procurement reform program, including:

• increasing the threshold for public tenders from $50,000 to $100,000;
• allowing agencies to undertake direct purchasing up to $1,000 without having to seek multiple quotes; and
• allowing verbal quotes for purchases under $10,000.

"These changes save time and resources for both Government agencies and the businesses they deal with," Mr Ripper said.
"Previously, many suppliers had expressed concern over the time and effort they were devoting to preparing tenders and quotations for low value work.
"Establishing regional buying centres is further evidence of the Gallop Government's commitment to regional WA, plus our desire to ensure that taxpayers' dollars are spent as efficiently and effectively as possible."
Treasurer's office: 9222 8788