FED Government Agencies Cannot Sign Consultancy Contracts Over $2 Million Without Parliament's Permission

Parliamentary Joint Committee on Public Consultancy and Services Contracts Bill 2025

Opposition Bill

30 Jul 2025: MPs in the first house are debating whether this bill is a good idea in principle.

Senate

House of Representatives

Assent

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Topics

government accountability government contracts government oversight government spending government transparency public accountability public consultancy public consultancy contracts

Introduced by: Senator Richard Colbeck (LIB)

Links to official parliament websites

Official page: progress through parliament

Effects of this bill

If this bill passes, it means that:

Commonwealth entities cannot sign public consultancy contracts worth more than $2 million without a Committee report and parliamentary approval.
The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Public Consultancy and Services Contracts must review and report on consultancy contracts referred to it by the Finance Minister or either House of Parliament.
The Finance Minister must give the Committee details for every referred contract, including what the contract is for, how long it will last, which entity is using it, and why a consultant is needed.
Parliament can block a contract by resolving to disapprove it within five sitting days of the report.
Both Houses can send a contract back to the Committee for further review before it is signed.
The Finance Minister can let a Commonwealth entity sign a contract worth more than $2 million without Committee review if the contract is urgent. To do this, the Finance Minister must tell the Committee in writing and get written consent from the Committee's Chair and Deputy Chair.
The Finance Minister must give Parliament a copy of any urgency declaration and the reasons for it within 5 sitting days.
Parliament can exempt a specific contract from these rules; the Finance Minister must then table a statement explaining why.
The Parliament will create the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Public Consultancy and Services Contracts.