Queensland recruits new ICT jobs model

The Information Technology Contract and Recruitment Association (ITCRA) has praised the Queensland Government’s new ICT procurement model, calling it a win-win for the Government and ICT contractors.

ITCRA CEO Danika Bakalich said in a statement that the industry could have been decimated with the loss of up to 700 recruitment jobs if a previous proposal for the move to a single Master Vendor had been adopted by the Government.

“As a result [of the new policy], there will be efficiencies for the government through transparencies in pricing and performance and also the engagement process with the industry as well as the protection for contractors and their employers,” Bakalich said. “It ensures sustainability and growth of the ICT workforce in Queensland which supplies 39 per cent of the Government’s total ICT personnel.”

According to the industry organisation, had the Queensland government moved to a single Master Vendor model for ICT recruitment, a monopoly situation would have been created potentially costing thousands of jobs across the IT recruitment industry.

Under the new model, announced by the Queensland Government, government recruitment of ICT contractors will now be centrally coordinated as part of a new whole-of-Government agreement.

“The new model will provide a more transparent engagement process including simpler, standardised processes and contracts as well as making government spending on ICT contractors more transparent,” ICT minister Robert Schwarten said in a statement.

“It will reduce transaction costs of engaging ICT contractors as well as obtaining more competitive daily rates for contractors. It will make it easier for the local ICT industry– including small and medium enterprises – to work for the government provided they meet the established performance and capability criteria.”

Under the new plan, the Government will also not develop its own contractor resource pool but will continue to access the skills required from industry through the resource manager.

The Chief Procurement Office will be responsible for monitoring the success of the new model and will receive ongoing feedback on the model through a joint government/advisory group, Schwarten said.

In September last year, the Queensland Government launched a new strategy to promote more centralised and efficient use of ICT across the state.