The Minns Labor Government is inviting the community to have their say on the Local Jobs First Bill, which will establish the Local Jobs First Commission, support local jobs and apprentices and help grow local businesses.
Twelve years of privatisation and sending jobs offshore under the previous Liberal-National Government deprived NSW businesses of billions of dollars in contracts and thousands of jobs.
Research by the McKell Institute found that sending contracts overseas can lead to significant economic losses, with net costs estimated to be $3.5 billion higher than if local manufacturers had been used.
Establishing the Local Jobs First Commission and appointing a Commissioner will realise an election commitment and marks a turning point in the state's procurement practices.
By supporting the re-building of the state's manufacturing sector and putting local jobs front and centre, we are making sure that government spending benefits families, households and businesses by creating local jobs and strengthening our economy.
It also builds on the Minns Labor Government's ongoing procurement reforms, including 'If not, why not' rules, which require agencies to engage with NSW suppliers before awarding contracts worth more than $7.5 million, and raising the threshold at which government agencies can directly purchase from small businesses to $250,000.
Provisions in the Local Jobs First Bill include:
- Creating the NSW Local Jobs First Commission and a Local Jobs First Commissioner to champion local businesses, industry and jobs.
- Introducing a Local Procurement Policy that will include a 30% tender weighting for local content, job creation, small business participation, and ethical supply chains and embed training targets for apprentices and other workers learning new skills on major projects. The definition of 'local content' under the Jobs First Commission legislation will be any Australia or New Zealand-based enterprise.
- Establishing a Local Jobs First Advisory Board to guide policy and boost local supplier competitiveness.
- Requiring Local Procurement Plans for major contracts to secure commitments to local jobs and local content.
- Enabling a supplier debarment scheme to ensure accountability and remove suppliers found to have committed serious misconduct from the government supply chain.
The draft Local Jobs First Bill is now open for public comment. Submissions are invited from businesses, unions, industry groups, and the broader community.
- Consultation period: Opens on Monday 22 December 2025 and closes Friday 13 February 2026
- To read the draft Bill and make a submission, visit https://www.haveyoursay.nsw.gov.au/nsw-local-jobs-first-commissioner
This is your opportunity to help shape a policy that will drive investment in local industry, create jobs, and strengthen the NSW economy.
Minister for Domestic Manufacturing and Government Procurement Courtney Houssos said:
"This legislation is an important next step of procurement reform. We are delivering on our election commitment to establish the Local Jobs First Commission.
"We want the NSW Government to spend taxpayer dollars in a way that supports local businesses, creates jobs, and builds skills for the future.
"We want to hear from industry, workers and their unions, and the community to make sure this Bill delivers for NSW.
"By embedding local content requirements into procurement, we're not just creating jobs, we're building a resilient economy that benefits communities across the state."
Minister for Industry and Trade Anoulack Chanthivong said:
"NSW is home to some of the most innovative and dynamic businesses in the Southern Hemisphere, and we're proud to continue supporting them through legislation like this.
"The Local Jobs First Bill will help to grow local manufacturing and create more jobs in every corner of our state.
"This is all about backing local businesses and creating more economic opportunities for industry."
Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education Steve Whan said:
"We're working with industry and unions to create real opportunities for apprentices and trainees across NSW, while driving greater participation for women in construction. This is about building a workforce that reflects our community and ensuring every major project delivers skills for the future.
"This legislation builds on the success of the Infrastructure Skills Legacy Program by making sure we aren't just delivering roads, hospitals, and schools, but also securing the pipeline of skilled tradies we need to get the job done. It's about investing in people as much as projects."
