EP#156: From Paper Clips to Submarines: Why Procurement Matters in Government

How does the government actually buy the things that keep Australia running, from everyday supplies to major infrastructure?

In this episode of Work with Purpose, host Kate Driver speaks with Richard Windeyer, former Head of the APS Procurement and Contract Management Profession, and Deputy Secretary of the Department of Finance, along with Andrew Marsden and Kim Hunter, partners at O’Connor Marsden, to unpack something that quietly shapes almost every part of Australian life: government procurement.

From paper clips to submarines, every ambulance, bridge, hospital, IT system, and research project has to be bought, managed, and justified. Together, our guests explore how more than $100 billion of taxpayer money each year is turned into public value, why integrity and transparency matter as much as price, and how both public servants and suppliers can navigate this space with confidence – especially in light of the recent changes to the Commonwealth Procurement Rules.

Key Tips

1. Start early: the most important procurement decisions happen at the beginning, when defining the problem, engaging the market, and designing the right approach.

2. Talk to the market and do it well: early, transparent engagement helps agencies understand what is possible and leads to better outcomes while maintaining strong probity.

3. Integrity and transparency make decisions defensible: managing conflicts of interest, documenting decisions clearly, and ensuring fairness are essential to maintaining public trust.

4. Procurement is everyone’s business: if you design, approve, or manage work involving suppliers, you play a role in how public money delivers public value.

Show Notes

• 2025 Commonwealth Procurement Rules | Department of Finance
• Australian Government Contract Management Guide | Department of Finance
• Procurement | Department of Finance
• Commonwealth Procurement and Contract Management Training Suite | Australian Public Service Academy

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