ACT Government Proposes a Women in Construction Procurement Policy

The ACT Government has released a discussion paper today on developing a Women in Construction Procurement Policy, which proposes certain targets for female workers on ACT Government projects.

MBA will be reviewing the discussion paper and making a submission prior to 17 May 2023. This, along with other industry advocacy issues, will be discussed at our upcoming sector meetings in May. To view the dates and register, please click here.

The ACT Government’s focus on encouraging more women to the building and construction industry is a welcome move, however, using Government’s procurement rules is only a first step.

Our experience shows that attracting more women into the construction industry starts at school. It requires a change in attitude amongst career advisors and parents to support young girls into trade careers. It also requires our Federal and Territory Governments to substantially increase funding for Vocational Education, including continued funding for pre-apprenticeship programs for women in construction. With workforce shortages in the construction industry at critical levels, employers should do everything they can to attract women to the industry, and train and support them throughout their career.

You can read the Discussion Paper here.

We also encourage our members to complete the survey on the ACT Government Your Say website here.