The Friday Brief – Edition 3

23 October 2026 | Issue 2 

Muscat Tanzer’s weekly update on developments affecting construction, infrastructure, procurement and government.

Queensland: industrial relations reform before Parliament

The Industrial Relations and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2026 was introduced on 14 October and referred to a parliamentary committee. It proposes changes to public sector bargaining and protected industrial action, and a fit-and-proper-person test for authorised officers of registered organisations. Queensland’s industrial relations framework principally covers State and local government employment.

Why it matters: State agencies and councils should review the proposed bargaining and site-access changes against current agreements and protocols. These are proposals, not current obligations; their effect depends on the Bill’s final form and commencement.

NSW: Local Jobs First Act receives assent

The Local Jobs First Act 2026 received assent on 19 October. It establishes a Local Jobs First Commissioner and provides for a policy addressing local goods and services, workers, skills and supplier conduct. The provisions requiring a local procurement policy and supplier plans await proclamation. The value or kind of procurement to which plans apply remains to be prescribed.

Why it matters: NSW State agencies and bidders should prepare to review tender schedules, evaluation criteria, supply-chain evidence and contract reporting when the policy and regulations are issued. Assent has not yet brought the policy and plan duties into force, and the Act itself does not fix a dollar threshold.

NSW: council labour hire proposal is now a Bill

The Local Government Amendment (Labour Hire) Bill 2026 was introduced on 14 October and remains before the Legislative Assembly. It would prohibit councils from entering into or amending a labour hire contract unless satisfied that supplied workers would receive at least the remuneration payable for comparable council employment. The proposed rule would extend to amendments of contracts entered before commencement.

Why it matters: Councils planning labour hire renewals or variations should consider what remuneration information they would need from suppliers and how to document their assessment. This advances the proposal noted in Issue 1, but no new requirement is yet in force.

WA: more time to comment on the Procurement Act

On 16 October, Western Australia extended the submission deadline for Part B of its Procurement Act 2020 review to 5 pm on 3 November. Part B examines the Act’s operation and effectiveness. Consultation on Part A, which concerned approach-to-market thresholds, has closed. The review has not changed the Act or the WA Procurement Rules.

Why it matters: Agencies and suppliers have more time to identify practical problems with the statutory framework, using examples from works and services procurements. Submissions should distinguish these from current tender-threshold questions.

Commonwealth: supplier ethics under renewed scrutiny

A Department of Finance policy note reminds Commonwealth officials to consider relevant supplier experience, past performance and unethical conduct when assessing value for money; document decisions; make proportionate enquiries; and monitor supplier behaviour during contracts. Finance also points to significant-event notification and Supplier Code clauses in Commonwealth contract resources. The note explains existing procurement obligations rather than creating a new exclusion rule.

Why it matters: Buyers should check that evaluation plans allow for fair, documented due diligence and that contract management addresses material conduct concerns. Suppliers should be ready to explain past performance and the controls behind their declarations.

Muscat Tanzer advises government and industry on construction, infrastructure, procurement, probity and local government matters. This update is general information; application depends on the facts and governing documents.