Deputy Leader of The Nationals WA Peter Rundle MLA has called on the State Government to ensure its procurement policies support Western Australian manufacturing and regional jobs, by prioritising WA built buses for regional school transport services.
Mr Rundle said the Cook Government could not continue promoting its Made in WA agenda while procurement settings were driving operators toward cheaper, imported buses.
“The Premier regularly talks about supporting WA industry and local manufacturing but, when it comes to our regional school bus fleet, his Government’s procurement policies are helping imported buses replace vehicles built for Western Australian conditions,” Mr Rundle said.
“The iconic orange school buses that service our regional communities carry thousands of students every day, often across long distances and on challenging roads. If the Government is serious about backing WA industry, it should be ensuring procurement policies support buses built for the conditions they operate in and the communities they serve.”
Mr Rundle said changes to the way the Public Transport Authority awards School Bus Service contracts had placed greater emphasis on competitive tendering and upfront costs.
“Operators tell me it is becoming increasingly difficult to justify purchasing Australian-built buses when lower cost imported options provide a significant advantage during the tender process. While a cheaper purchase price may look attractive in the short term, there are legitimate questions about whether the current system properly considers durability, longevity and whole-of-life value.”
Mr Rundle said operators were concerned the procurement process was favouring the cheapest option at the expense of local manufacturing and vehicles designed for regional conditions.
“Western Australia has manufacturers capable of producing buses that meet the standards required for regional school transport and are designed to operate on the roads found throughout country WA,” he said.
“Every government procurement decision should consider not only the upfront cost, but also the economic benefits of supporting local jobs, local businesses and local manufacturing.”
Mr Rundle said the recent review of the State’s procurement framework provided the Government with an opportunity to align its actions with its rhetoric on supporting Western Australian industry.
“The Cook Government talks a lot about Made in WA. This is its chance to put those words into action,” Mr Rundle said.
“Regional school bus contracts should support Western Australian manufacturing and jobs, not encourage imported alternatives. Our iconic orange school buses should showcase local industry, yet while Perth’s green buses are locally built, country students are riding in cheaper, lower-quality buses made overseas.”
“If WA-built products are good enough for the Government’s media releases, they should be good enough for the orange school buses carrying our kids to and from school every day.”