News Article

From 1 July 2026, changes to government buying aim to make it easier for SMEs, sole traders, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses to work with the ACT Government.

The changes aim to:

• help more businesses participate
• reduce paperwork
• simplify how the government buys some goods and services.

For smaller jobs, there will be fewer steps to take part. For purchases under $500, businesses will usually only need to give a verbal quote, and in most cases, they won’t need to sign a written contract.

For mid-tier purchases under $500,000, or under $1 million for construction, government buyers can ask for one written quote from a certified Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander business, or a local SME.

To make sure that your business is visible to government ahead of these changes:

• update your website, social media and promotional materials to clearly state if your business is a local SME or a certified Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander entity, and
• if your business is eligible, register on the Canberra Region Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Enterprise List.

More information about what the changes mean for your business can be found here.