Some federal projects would need 30% local goods
Dai Le MP wants local factories to get first look at some government jobs. It would touch makers of goods, firms that bid for federal work, and the public servants who buy for the government.
Official name: Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Amendment (Local Industry Preference) Bill 2026
- On some federal projects, at least 30% of the value of goods used would have to be made in Australia.
- Australian makers would get a chance to be looked at before overseas makers when they bid.
- Any let-offs from the rule would have to be few and made public.
- It is a bill from a single MP. It is still waiting in the House of Representatives, the lower house of Parliament.
Who it affects
- Australian makers of goods: They would get a chance to be looked at first for some federal projects.
- Overseas makers of goods: They could be looked at after local makers on some federal projects.
- Firms that build federal projects: At least 30% of the value of goods they use would have to be made in Australia.
- The Finance Minister: The minister would have to write these rules into the government's buying rules.
Who the government buys from
The federal government buys goods and services every day. Public servants follow a set of rules when they do this. These are called the Commonwealth Procurement Rules. Procurement means buying. The Finance Minister writes those rules under a law called the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013. It is the main law on how federal agencies are run and spend money.
This bill would change that law. The rules would then favour things made in Australia on some projects. Dai Le MP brought it. She is a member of the House of Representatives. It is her own bill, which means the government did not write it.
The files for this bill include only the bill itself. There were no notes setting out its reasons or costs. So this article sticks to what the bill says.
A new buying goal
The Act has a list of goals at the start. The bill adds one more. It says government buying should support Australian industry. It should help the country stand on its own feet. It should support local factory jobs.
Standing on its own feet means the country can keep making what it needs, even if supplies from overseas are cut off. The bill calls this sovereign resilience.
Local makers considered first
The Finance Minister's rules would have to give local makers a chance to be looked at first. Overseas makers would come after them. This applies when they bid for some federal projects.
The bill does not list which projects. The minister's rules would name them.
The 30% Australian-made rule
On those same projects, at least 30% of the total value of the goods used must be made in Australia.
Say a government building project uses $10 million worth of steel, glass, cables and fittings. At least $3 million of that would have to be made in Australia.
Exceptions
The rules would have to allow some let-offs from both of these rules. The bill says the let-offs must be few and open to public view.
The bill does not say what the let-offs would be. That would be up to the minister's rules.
Waiting in the House
If passed, the law would start the day after it became law. A bill becomes law when the Governor-General signs it. The Governor-General stands in for the King.
Dai Le brought the bill into the House of Representatives on 29 June 2026. The debate on its main idea began that day.
It is still before the House. It would need to pass the House and then the Senate to become law. Bills from single MPs often wait a long time. Many never come to a vote.
Its journey through Parliament
| 29 Jun 2026 | House of Representatives: Introduced and read a first time |
| 29 Jun 2026 | House of Representatives: Second reading moved |