Have your say on the Local Jobs First Bill 2025

The NSW Government is delivering on our commitment to reform procurement, legislating to establish the Local Jobs First Commission, creating New South Wales first Local Jobs First Commissioner. The Commissioner will oversee the implementation of measures that support the growth of local industry and create local jobs.

The Local Jobs First Bill 2025 is part of an ongoing process to reform government procurement to maximise the use of government spend to support local businesses, local jobs and the community.

This Bill is part of our ongoing work to improve how the government spends taxpayer dollars, to support local businesses, create local jobs, and benefit the community.

The Bill establishes the statutory functions of the Commissioner and introduces new expectations and minimum requirements for businesses supplying goods and services to the NSW Government.

The Local Jobs First Bill 2025 Explanatory Statement provides an overview of the proposed changes.

Detailed information can be found in the draft Local Jobs First Bill 2025 and the draft Local Jobs First Regulations.

The Bill is part of an ongoing process to reform government procurement to maximise the use of government spend to support local businesses, local jobs and the community.

Tell us what you think

To help shape the final Bill and the Commissioner's role, we are inviting interested stakeholders to have their say by uploading a written submission or completing the short survey by 11:59pm, 20 February 2026.

Local Jobs First Bill 2025

Explanatory statement for public consultation

The draft Bill and regulations:

  • authorise the Governor to appoint a Local Jobs First Commissioner to support local businesses and local jobs, advocate for fair opportunities for small businesses, and oversee implementation of local procurement reforms.
  • enable the Minister to appoint a Local Jobs First Advisory Board to advise on promoting local businesses, jobs, and industry.
  • require the Minister to issue a Local Procurement Policy that sets requirements for sourcing locally produced and supplied goods and services, as well as employing local workers.
  • mandate that for procurements valued at $25 million or more, tenders must use a minimum 30% weighting to assess local content, support small businesses, employment outcomes for local workers (including apprentices), and ethical supply chain practices.
  • require suppliers to submit a Local Procurement Plan for procurements valued at $25 million or more, showing how they meet policy requirements.
  • empower the Commissioner to request agency compliance information.
  • enable the Commissioner to require agencies to performance manage suppliers that do not comply with their Local Procurement Plans, and publish supplier and contract information if suppliers fail to comply with performance management.

The NSW Government spends over $40 billion on goods and services and construction each year. The government is committed to using this spend to promote local jobs and foster our local manufacturing industry.

Government contracts play a vital role in supporting businesses by providing revenue, enabling job creation, foster skills development and drive opportunities for growth. These benefits can remain local if procurement policies explicitly prioritise local businesses and workers.

Strengthening local procurement requirements will deliver economic, social and sustainability outcomes for NSW and support our manufacturers, small businesses and local industries.

You can provide feedback on the draft Local Jobs First Bill 2025 on Have your say, the NSW Government’s consultation website. You can either:

  • upload a written submission
  • complete a short survey.

Submissions close at 11.59pm on 20 February 2026.

Your feedback will shape the final Bill and the Commissioner's role.

We may publish or cite your feedback in aggregated form in public reports or documents. Please let us know in your response if you would like your submission to remain anonymous.

  • December 2025 to February 2026: draft Bill available for consultation.
  • Next steps: revise Bill based on feedback and introduce to NSW Parliament for debate and vote.

For more information or clarification, please visit the Local Jobs First Bill 2025 Have your say or contact NSW Procurement: