Australia Post Vehicle Procurement

Question

1. Australia Post is a Commonwealth Government Business Enterprise. Concerns have been raised by Australian manufacturers about Australia Post procuring imported delivery vehicles in preference to Australian-made alternatives, including by manufacturers that took part in Australia Post procurement processes. a. Has the Department received any feedback, complaints, representations or other contact from Australian manufacturers regarding Australia Post's procurement of delivery vehicles? If so, how many, and over what period? b. Has the Department received any representations from an Australian manufacturer that participated in an Australia Post procurement process and was unsuccessful, including any concerns about the conduct of the process or the preference for imported vehicles? c. What action, if any, did the Department take in response to any such representations, and were any referred to the Minister or to Australia Post? 2. The Government's Future Made in Australia and Australian Made agendas are intended to support domestic manufacturing capability and jobs. a. Are Commonwealth Government Business Enterprises such as Australia Post subject to any Australian Industry Participation requirements, local-content rules, or Buy Australian procurement obligations? b. Does the Department have any role in advising on the application of Australian industry participation considerations to Government Business Enterprise procurement? If not, does the Department consider that a gap? c. Has the Department, or the Minister, made any representations to Australia Post, or to the Minister responsible for Australia Post, regarding the use of Australian-made vehicles in the Australia Post fleet? 3. The 2026-27 Budget provides $40.5 million in 2026-27 to accelerate the electrification of Australia Post's delivery fleet, announced as part of the Government's fuel resilience package. a. Was the Department consulted on this measure, and specifically on whether the funding would support Australian-made vehicles and Australian manufacturing jobs? b. Does the funding carry any condition, expectation or guidance regarding Australian content or the use of Australian-made vehicles? c. Can the Department confirm what proportion of Australia Post's electric delivery fleet is Australian-made, and what proportion is imported? 4. The Department has responsibilities for sovereign manufacturing capability under the Future Made in Australia agenda. a. Is the Department aware of any representations that an Australian manufacturer has entered administration or financial distress following participation in an Australia Post or other Commonwealth procurement process? 19 b. Has the Department assessed the impact on sovereign manufacturing capability of Commonwealth Government Business Enterprises sourcing vehicles from overseas suppliers rather than from Australian manufacturers? c. How does the Department reconcile the Future Made in Australia agenda with Commonwealth Government Business Enterprises procuring imported vehicles in preference to Australian-made alternatives? 5. Concerns have also been raised about other Commonwealth procurement disadvantaging Australian manufacturers of electric vehicles and bikes in favour of imported alternatives. a. Has the Department received any feedback, complaints or representations from Australian manufacturers regarding other Commonwealth procurement, including by Defence, favouring imported electric vehicles or bikes over Australian-made products? b. What is the Department's role in supporting Australian manufacturers to compete for, and participate in, Commonwealth procurement?

Answer

See attached response.

Documents

• Question with answer (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
• BI-041_Liddle_Australia Post Vehicle Procurement_DISR.pdf (opens in a new tab)