Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Now we know that some changes are on the way
that could mean real benefits for local territory businesses. The
government it's just appointed Tom Harris as the very first
Territory Procurement Champion. It is a new role and it
seemed at making it easier and fairer for local businesses
to work with government. And with these pecurement reforms kicking in,
(00:21):
there are promises to cut red tape, boost transparency and
most importantly give our local businesses a better shot at
winning government work. Now, Tom is a long term territory
and multi generational territory and I think you'd say, and
he joins me in the studio right now, good.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
Morning, good morning, great to be here, Great.
Speaker 1 (00:41):
To have you on the show. What a title champion.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
I know it's not often you get that, is it.
I love it. People sort of taking the mickey out
of me a little bit about it, but very very
proud to have the opportunity.
Speaker 1 (00:51):
Well, mate, I've worked with you obviously through your previous
role with the Civil Contractors Federation, and you know you
you are a long term territory and you have worked
here in the Northern Territory for a very long time
and lived in the territory for a very long time.
I mean, how exciting is it, I suppose for you
to take on a role like this where you'll continue
to sort of hopefully better things for other territories.
Speaker 2 (01:14):
Absolutely, I think it's a I just see it as
such a positive role and not often in life you
get those opportunities, you know, and I know there's going
to be challenges with it. There as certain components of
the role that will present challenges to me and will
be relatively difficult. But the fantastic bit about this, it's
about getting out and engaging with businesses right throughout the
Northern Territory, taken on board issues they might have ways
(01:36):
that we can improve the system. I've got the opportunity
to deal both internally within government agencies as well, so
it's not just an industry focus or a business focus.
It's certainly looking at within agencies how we can improve
things to give better opportunities to Northern Territory businesses to
partake in what Northern Territory cover with procurement activities.
Speaker 1 (01:54):
And I would imagine that throughout, you know, the different
jobs that you've had in the Northern Territory as well
over the years, you would have seen the way in
which some things work really well, you know, the way
in which we might be able to improve things to
some degree. And you know it is about sort of
cutting some of that red tape and giving locals more opportunities,
isn't it.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
Yeah, it's opportunity for sure, and also then trying to
provide more certainty in the way that those particular procurements
attended out of the market. So it's about a business confidence.
It's about understanding of the way I guess the government
does business understanding. I think government understanding how business is
about their day to day activities and what they need
that surety and opportunity. And it's just a lot of
(02:36):
different facets molded under one. And that's why it's such
a fantastic role. And as I said, I get I've
got a direct feedback through government, both through the see
of the Department of Trade, Business and Asian Relations Hailee Richards,
who in my direct report. So you know what, anything
that I find feel needs to be changed, some adjustments,
I'm able to make those. I guess it'll be advice
(02:59):
government don't necessarily have, but at least I've got that
direct feedback and I am tasked with engaging widely across
the Northern Territory.
Speaker 1 (03:06):
Yeah, and Tom, I mean in terms of obviously have
not stepped into the role yet. But you know, when
you look at and when you kind of you know,
you take a look at some of the discussions that
you've had with local businesses already, with different territorians already
before stepping into the role, can you see some areas
where we need some improvement already?
Speaker 2 (03:27):
I think, look, I'm not going to be I've certainly
obviously had a great focus on construction, in particular civil construction,
so I certainly will take that experience in. But now
I'm going to go in I think fairly open on it. Initially,
I look to engage pretty actively throughout November. I'm hoping
to work with the department fairly swiftly to block and
(03:47):
load some dates throughout the Northern Territory to get in
front of people and then you know, and I'll take
on board that that feedback. But look, of course, there
are definitely things that I've gained through with the construction,
and a big part of that's just that the quality
of information up front at tender time is really important,
Like the better quality information you can provide to tenders. Obviously,
(04:08):
the better quality of the tender they're able to businesses,
better able to understand the particular risks involved with certain
tender activities. So if risks are known, yeah, price will
often be you know, you'll get better pricing opportunities, and
hopefully we'll get better value for territory opportunities falling out
of that as well, which is what this is all about.
Speaker 1 (04:27):
I know that there'd been some certainly the government had
said that they are going to you know, they've got
some reforms that they want delivered in terms of that
cutting red tape and giving locals more opportunities. But also
I understand that they've changed some of those some of
the tiers as well, you know, the Tier one purchases
jumping from fifteen to fifty thousand. I guess you're going
to have to get your head around all this stuff,
(04:48):
but you probably already do to some degree.
Speaker 2 (04:51):
And look and even from the civil construction, So we
were very supportive of those raising those tiers. They had
moved for a long long period of time. As you know,
a lot of costs and everything has gone up, So yeah,
moving the tier one up to fifty made sense. The
fifty to two hundred for Tier two, and I think
engaging in more direct procurement for what they're deeming day
to day in the fairly stand that activities is probably
(05:12):
a smart move. It will ensure that those I think
a lot of transactions will be able to move fairly
quickly through the government system and get more money flowing
out of the local economy.
Speaker 1 (05:21):
So, Tom, how do you plan to hit the ground running, mate,
I'm guessing it's by the sounds that you're going to
be trying to get out there and meet with as
many people as you can.
Speaker 2 (05:28):
Yeah, that's the that's the first part of this project.
It's literally just get out on the ground, be engaged,
big front facing, Yeah, be able to I mean think
that's what the Minister Carl wanted. You know, I've got
to be out there basically on their vehicle if you like,
to not only be able to recommend and hopefully make
some tweaks to the way things are done, but also
(05:48):
be that front facing. And if there's it's positive and
this also maybe negative, there's going to be potentially complaints
that might come through us. But of any pecurement that
the Northern Territory government carries out. That's also another part
of this role where I will be that I guess
arm's length review person that will look at that the
outcomes of those tenders and see if there's been you know,
(06:11):
the correct process have been followed and you know, look
at potential tweaks if needed.
Speaker 1 (06:16):
Now, one thing I mean I mentioned this before. Obviously
you grew up here in the Northern Territory. You know,
your family born and raised here in the Northern Territory,
You've raised your kids here. If there's one thing I
know about you, you want to see the Northern Territory thrive,
if you want to see this place do really well.
And you know, I think that that's a positive thing.
That's what we all want, right you know, how do
(06:40):
you hope working in this role you might sort of
be able to do that.
Speaker 2 (06:43):
I just look, I'm taking on board at the moment.
It's an amazing positive opportunity. It's a great role up.
Just as said, I'm honored to be given the change.
I actually think you can really make a difference a
lot of things. You go into roles and you're active
and you know you're doing things and you think you
know you're making a difference this one. I actually do,
I genuinely in the bottom of my heart that this
will be a It's a great opportunity. So yeah, I'm
(07:04):
very positive about it. As you said, A long term territory.
And one of my great grandfathers first came through the
top end of the Northern Territory in the eighteen nineties.
They settled in in Darwin was Palmeston back then in
nineteen oh six. One of my grandmothers was born here
in ninety and oh eight. Yeah, I've had We've got
(07:26):
twin arties who were born in Alice Springs in forty five.
They've just had their eightieth birthday up here, not long ago.
My dad unfortunately through war years nineteen forty you had
to be born in Brisbane. That's why my grandmother made
sure she didn't make that mistake again. She brought the
family back to Alice for my aunties to be born.
But yeah, I was born here, my kids are here,
so now I'm invested. I'm in and yeah, I generally
(07:48):
I love local business. It's a massive engine room for
the economy and every dollar that we can get into
those businesses that then moves around the economy two or
three times, and that's a great benefit for the North
of two.
Speaker 1 (08:00):
Because this is the thing. We always look at the
big major projects as we should, right, we absolutely need
to look at those major projects. But do you think
that if we can sort of you know, if we
can get things working more efficiently across the board, you know,
with all of the other stuff and with our smaller businesses,
with procurement, et cetera, what kind of impact do you
think that that could have on our economy.
Speaker 2 (08:21):
It's massive. Often get a little bit frustrated that I
know is Look, it's that you've got to be doing
all things to get the economy going. But we have
a large engine room sitting here. If we can just
make some slight tweaks around the edges and we get
a little bit of an improvement here, another percent spent locally,
we get those multipliers a little bit before. If you
can get there that money going around the economy two three,
four times, all of a sudden, an inte government spend
(08:42):
you know, the annually procure It varies year to year,
but so it's about one point five billion dollars they
procure annually. All of a sudden if you're going around
the economy, you know, three and four times doing at
four point five billion, six billion dollars, it's a significant
driver that's benefiting all of us. It's leading you to
local employment, then people buying houses, settling in the territory.
(09:03):
You know, obviously their kids going to school, am using hospitals, shopping,
all those sort of things. Then all something economy grows.
So yeah, look, I'm a fan, I really I just
think those businesses that we've got to give them support,
give them opportunities, and said, if I can do my
little bit in this new champion role, absolutely we'll give
it everything I've got and really positive about potentially getting
(09:25):
some good outcomes.
Speaker 1 (09:26):
What date do you hit the ground running as the
territories first Procurement Champion? Well, it did?
Speaker 2 (09:31):
I think the press release happen as November one, which
I do not. It's a Saturday, so I guess that's
my day, but I'll probably go with Monday, the Monday
the third. Yeah, and I'd like to said, I'll recently
engaging with the department immediately to try and get some
dates locked in for a top end Catherine Tenant Alice
and then a sort of Anula Boy forum. I like
(09:54):
to get in front of people. I'd like to get
them locked in now for early November, get out and
about and then really I'll be trying I engage with
industry groups like my previous role CCFS, with Master Builders,
with Chamber of Commerce, all those sort of bodies around
the Northern Territory and have opportunities to speak with their
members and engage with individuals right across the Northern Territory.
Speaker 1 (10:14):
Well, Tom Harris, the Northern Territories first Procurement Champion, good
to have you in the studio and let us know
when those forums and things are happening, and we'll make
sure that our listeners know. I know that there are
plenty of businesses that listen and they be keen to
find out more.
Speaker 2 (10:28):
Absolutely, thanks for the opportunity anytime.
Speaker 1 (10:30):
Good on your Tom, Thank you
Now we know that some changes are on the way
that could mean real benefits for local territory businesses. The
government it's just appointed Tom Harris as the very first
Territory Procurement Champion. It is a new role and it
seemed at making it easier and fairer for local businesses
to work with government. And with these pecurement reforms kicking in,
(00:21):
there are promises to cut red tape, boost transparency and
most importantly give our local businesses a better shot at
winning government work. Now, Tom is a long term territory
and multi generational territory and I think you'd say, and
he joins me in the studio right now, good.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
Morning, good morning, great to be here, Great.
Speaker 1 (00:41):
To have you on the show. What a title champion.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
I know it's not often you get that, is it.
I love it. People sort of taking the mickey out
of me a little bit about it, but very very
proud to have the opportunity.
Speaker 1 (00:51):
Well, mate, I've worked with you obviously through your previous
role with the Civil Contractors Federation, and you know you
you are a long term territory and you have worked
here in the Northern Territory for a very long time
and lived in the territory for a very long time.
I mean, how exciting is it, I suppose for you
to take on a role like this where you'll continue
to sort of hopefully better things for other territories.
Speaker 2 (01:14):
Absolutely, I think it's a I just see it as
such a positive role and not often in life you
get those opportunities, you know, and I know there's going
to be challenges with it. There as certain components of
the role that will present challenges to me and will
be relatively difficult. But the fantastic bit about this, it's
about getting out and engaging with businesses right throughout the
Northern Territory, taken on board issues they might have ways
(01:36):
that we can improve the system. I've got the opportunity
to deal both internally within government agencies as well, so
it's not just an industry focus or a business focus.
It's certainly looking at within agencies how we can improve
things to give better opportunities to Northern Territory businesses to
partake in what Northern Territory cover with procurement activities.
Speaker 1 (01:54):
And I would imagine that throughout, you know, the different
jobs that you've had in the Northern Territory as well
over the years, you would have seen the way in
which some things work really well, you know, the way
in which we might be able to improve things to
some degree. And you know it is about sort of
cutting some of that red tape and giving locals more opportunities,
isn't it.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
Yeah, it's opportunity for sure, and also then trying to
provide more certainty in the way that those particular procurements
attended out of the market. So it's about a business confidence.
It's about understanding of the way I guess the government
does business understanding. I think government understanding how business is
about their day to day activities and what they need
that surety and opportunity. And it's just a lot of
(02:36):
different facets molded under one. And that's why it's such
a fantastic role. And as I said, I get I've
got a direct feedback through government, both through the see
of the Department of Trade, Business and Asian Relations Hailee Richards,
who in my direct report. So you know what, anything
that I find feel needs to be changed, some adjustments,
I'm able to make those. I guess it'll be advice
(02:59):
government don't necessarily have, but at least I've got that
direct feedback and I am tasked with engaging widely across
the Northern Territory.
Speaker 1 (03:06):
Yeah, and Tom, I mean in terms of obviously have
not stepped into the role yet. But you know, when
you look at and when you kind of you know,
you take a look at some of the discussions that
you've had with local businesses already, with different territorians already
before stepping into the role, can you see some areas
where we need some improvement already?
Speaker 2 (03:27):
I think, look, I'm not going to be I've certainly
obviously had a great focus on construction, in particular civil construction,
so I certainly will take that experience in. But now
I'm going to go in I think fairly open on it. Initially,
I look to engage pretty actively throughout November. I'm hoping
to work with the department fairly swiftly to block and
(03:47):
load some dates throughout the Northern Territory to get in
front of people and then you know, and I'll take
on board that that feedback. But look, of course, there
are definitely things that I've gained through with the construction,
and a big part of that's just that the quality
of information up front at tender time is really important,
Like the better quality information you can provide to tenders. Obviously,
(04:08):
the better quality of the tender they're able to businesses,
better able to understand the particular risks involved with certain
tender activities. So if risks are known, yeah, price will
often be you know, you'll get better pricing opportunities, and
hopefully we'll get better value for territory opportunities falling out
of that as well, which is what this is all about.
Speaker 1 (04:27):
I know that there'd been some certainly the government had
said that they are going to you know, they've got
some reforms that they want delivered in terms of that
cutting red tape and giving locals more opportunities. But also
I understand that they've changed some of those some of
the tiers as well, you know, the Tier one purchases
jumping from fifteen to fifty thousand. I guess you're going
to have to get your head around all this stuff,
(04:48):
but you probably already do to some degree.
Speaker 2 (04:51):
And look and even from the civil construction, So we
were very supportive of those raising those tiers. They had
moved for a long long period of time. As you know,
a lot of costs and everything has gone up, So yeah,
moving the tier one up to fifty made sense. The
fifty to two hundred for Tier two, and I think
engaging in more direct procurement for what they're deeming day
to day in the fairly stand that activities is probably
(05:12):
a smart move. It will ensure that those I think
a lot of transactions will be able to move fairly
quickly through the government system and get more money flowing
out of the local economy.
Speaker 1 (05:21):
So, Tom, how do you plan to hit the ground running, mate,
I'm guessing it's by the sounds that you're going to
be trying to get out there and meet with as
many people as you can.
Speaker 2 (05:28):
Yeah, that's the that's the first part of this project.
It's literally just get out on the ground, be engaged,
big front facing, Yeah, be able to I mean think
that's what the Minister Carl wanted. You know, I've got
to be out there basically on their vehicle if you like,
to not only be able to recommend and hopefully make
some tweaks to the way things are done, but also
(05:48):
be that front facing. And if there's it's positive and
this also maybe negative, there's going to be potentially complaints
that might come through us. But of any pecurement that
the Northern Territory government carries out. That's also another part
of this role where I will be that I guess
arm's length review person that will look at that the
outcomes of those tenders and see if there's been you know,
(06:11):
the correct process have been followed and you know, look
at potential tweaks if needed.
Speaker 1 (06:16):
Now, one thing I mean I mentioned this before. Obviously
you grew up here in the Northern Territory. You know,
your family born and raised here in the Northern Territory,
You've raised your kids here. If there's one thing I
know about you, you want to see the Northern Territory thrive,
if you want to see this place do really well.
And you know, I think that that's a positive thing.
That's what we all want, right you know, how do
(06:40):
you hope working in this role you might sort of
be able to do that.
Speaker 2 (06:43):
I just look, I'm taking on board at the moment.
It's an amazing positive opportunity. It's a great role up.
Just as said, I'm honored to be given the change.
I actually think you can really make a difference a
lot of things. You go into roles and you're active
and you know you're doing things and you think you
know you're making a difference this one. I actually do,
I genuinely in the bottom of my heart that this
will be a It's a great opportunity. So yeah, I'm
(07:04):
very positive about it. As you said, A long term territory.
And one of my great grandfathers first came through the
top end of the Northern Territory in the eighteen nineties.
They settled in in Darwin was Palmeston back then in
nineteen oh six. One of my grandmothers was born here
in ninety and oh eight. Yeah, I've had We've got
(07:26):
twin arties who were born in Alice Springs in forty five.
They've just had their eightieth birthday up here, not long ago.
My dad unfortunately through war years nineteen forty you had
to be born in Brisbane. That's why my grandmother made
sure she didn't make that mistake again. She brought the
family back to Alice for my aunties to be born.
But yeah, I was born here, my kids are here,
so now I'm invested. I'm in and yeah, I generally
(07:48):
I love local business. It's a massive engine room for
the economy and every dollar that we can get into
those businesses that then moves around the economy two or
three times, and that's a great benefit for the North
of two.
Speaker 1 (08:00):
Because this is the thing. We always look at the
big major projects as we should, right, we absolutely need
to look at those major projects. But do you think
that if we can sort of you know, if we
can get things working more efficiently across the board, you know,
with all of the other stuff and with our smaller businesses,
with procurement, et cetera, what kind of impact do you
think that that could have on our economy.
Speaker 2 (08:21):
It's massive. Often get a little bit frustrated that I
know is Look, it's that you've got to be doing
all things to get the economy going. But we have
a large engine room sitting here. If we can just
make some slight tweaks around the edges and we get
a little bit of an improvement here, another percent spent locally,
we get those multipliers a little bit before. If you
can get there that money going around the economy two three,
four times, all of a sudden, an inte government spend
(08:42):
you know, the annually procure It varies year to year,
but so it's about one point five billion dollars they
procure annually. All of a sudden if you're going around
the economy, you know, three and four times doing at
four point five billion, six billion dollars, it's a significant
driver that's benefiting all of us. It's leading you to
local employment, then people buying houses, settling in the territory.
(09:03):
You know, obviously their kids going to school, am using hospitals, shopping,
all those sort of things. Then all something economy grows.
So yeah, look, I'm a fan, I really I just
think those businesses that we've got to give them support,
give them opportunities, and said, if I can do my
little bit in this new champion role, absolutely we'll give
it everything I've got and really positive about potentially getting
(09:25):
some good outcomes.
Speaker 1 (09:26):
What date do you hit the ground running as the
territories first Procurement Champion? Well, it did?
Speaker 2 (09:31):
I think the press release happen as November one, which
I do not. It's a Saturday, so I guess that's
my day, but I'll probably go with Monday, the Monday
the third. Yeah, and I'd like to said, I'll recently
engaging with the department immediately to try and get some
dates locked in for a top end Catherine Tenant Alice
and then a sort of Anula Boy forum. I like
(09:54):
to get in front of people. I'd like to get
them locked in now for early November, get out and
about and then really I'll be trying I engage with
industry groups like my previous role CCFS, with Master Builders,
with Chamber of Commerce, all those sort of bodies around
the Northern Territory and have opportunities to speak with their
members and engage with individuals right across the Northern Territory.
Speaker 1 (10:14):
Well, Tom Harris, the Northern Territories first Procurement Champion, good
to have you in the studio and let us know
when those forums and things are happening, and we'll make
sure that our listeners know. I know that there are
plenty of businesses that listen and they be keen to
find out more.
Speaker 2 (10:28):
Absolutely, thanks for the opportunity anytime.
Speaker 1 (10:30):
Good on your Tom, Thank you
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