Commonwealth agencies are losing millions of dollars due to avoidable procurement missteps, with experts pointing to repeated failures in planning, governance, and execution. According to industry insights, poorly designed procurement processes—such as unclear requirements, limited competition, and frequent tender cancellations—are leading to suboptimal outcomes and significant financial inefficiencies.

A federal policy aimed at reducing emissions in government office spaces may have unintended consequences, with property experts warning it could actually increase overall carbon output. The requirement for higher energy-efficiency ratings is pushing agencies towards new buildings, while overlooking “embodied carbon”—the significant emissions generated during construction and materials production.

The Are we witnessing the quiet death of the Canberra CBD? paints a sobering picture of a city centre grappling with structural change. Once sustained by a dense public sector workforce, Canberra’s CBD is now facing rising office vacancies, with “tens of thousands of square metres” of space sitting idle or soon to be vacated.

Commonwealth agencies could be missing out on hundreds of millions of dollars in savings due to ineffective property procurement practices. According to industry experts, outdated requirements, poor planning, and a lack of strategic procurement design are preventing government entities from taking advantage of favourable market conditions and evolving workplace trends.