Key industry groups involved in delivering the Australian Government’s record $110 billion investment in infrastructure projects are calling on public and private sectors to close live procurement processes over the end-of-year holiday period.

Writing to all government procurement agencies across the nation, industry leaders have raised the critical importance of giving everyone the opportunity at all levels of the industry to have a well-deserved, uninterrupted rest.

Consult Australia CEO Nicola Grayson said the industry is acutely aware of the ongoing impact that the pandemic together with the huge volume of projects is having on the wellbeing of our teams and people.

“Together, we have the power to provide a window for people across the industry to put aside work for this short period and recharge,” said Ms Grayson.

Australian Constructors Association CEO Jon Davies said the break is also vital to making our industry an attractive and mentally healthy place for everyone to work within.

“People are the industry’s most valuable asset, especially given the massive pipeline of infrastructure projects that we must deliver in the years ahead,” said Mr Davies.

Detailed in the joint letter is a request to close live procurement processes by Friday 17 December 2021 and commence new procurement processes on or after Wednesday 5 January 2022.

The signatories of the joint letter, comprising Consult Australia, Australian Constructors Association, Australasian Railway Association, Engineers Australia and Roads Australia, are running a social media campaign to acknowledge the support received from the request.

Last year Queensland’s Department of Transport and Main Roads led the charge implementing a 4-week tender blackout over Christmas.

Similarly, the Department of Defence has a policy that running a live tender process through Christmas will be a rare exception, not the rule.

As the industry tasked with rebuilding the economy, providing a break at year end is a must to maintain high levels of performance, productivity, and retention.