Where to after COVID-19: Infrastructure opportunities & grants in Australia

In June 2020, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced $72 billion worth of infrastructure projects in both the public and private sectors will be fast-tracked. This decision was made to help infrastructure recover and stimulate the economy amid COVID-19.

The plan is called the JobMaker Scheme.

As well as creating more than 66,000 jobs across Australia, it is projected there will be a 50% reduction in Commonwealth assessment and approval times for major projects from an average of 3.5 years to 21 months.

So what does this mean for you?

It means there are high profile infrastructure projects in the pipeline which offer government funding and guaranteed work for months (even years) to come. In this article, we explore the industries that will benefit from the JobMaker Scheme and how you can put your best foot forward to win a government contract.

Industries who will benefit from the infrastructure boom 

So far, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced 15 projects which have been fast-tracked under the JobMaker Scheme. These include:

• The $10 billion inland rail project from Melbourne to Brisbane
• The Marinus Link between Tasmania and Victoria
• The expansion of Olympic Dam in South Australia
• Emergency town water projects in New South Wales
• Road, rail and iron ore projects in Western Australia

The Prime Minister also suggested the following industries will benefit from shorter project approval times:

• Agriculture
• Telecommunications
• Transport
• Water
• Electrical
• Manufacturing (moreso in regional areas)

If you provide goods and services related to these industries, this is a huge opportunity. Infrastructure projects can last months – even years – meaning you will have work and income for the foreseeable future. Plus, if the project is completed on time and to a high standard, there’s a good chance the government will choose your business for future projects as well.

However, winning a government contract isn’t as simple as submitting an application. You will need to prove why your business is the best choice for the project at hand.

How to put yourself in the best position to receive a government contract 

Before submitting an application for a government project, it’s essential to have the required certifications for your business or industry. Without certification, the government might not consider the application.

For example, a rail corridor protection specialist might want to help with one of the rail projects in Western Australia. Without quality management, environmental management, and safety certification, their application could be turned down due to the inherent risk associated with business management systems that are not independently assessed.

The government is fast-tracking a wide range of projects, but this will not last forever. It’s crucial to achieve certification now for a competitive edge and increase your chances of winning a government contract.

At QMS, we’re committed to making ISO certification simple. Our team of compliance and certification experts will take a deep-dive into your business, then provide an assessment report outlining areas for improvement. Meanwhile, you can focus on the more important things, like running the business and completing projects to a high standard.

Let us make the certification process quick and simple 

With the right certifications and proof of compliance, the window of opportunity will open to bigger and better projects, government contracts, and funding to keep the business thriving for years to come.

Allow us to make the certification process simple.

Get in touch with our team – we offer certification services for the Australian Defence Force, the construction and engineering industries, manufacturing, and transport and logistics sectors. No business is too big or too small.

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