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The Veteran Business Community has supported and welcomed the Queensland government’s updated changes to the Queensland Procurement Policy.
The revised policy will be the first policy in Australia to formally prioritise businesses that are run, owned or created in support of Australian veterans, through the $35 billion procurement program under the policy.
“This policy recognises the significant contributions of our veteran community, acknowledges the barriers many face when transitioning to civilian careers and, most importantly, provides a clear and meaningful pathway for veterans to continue serving their communities beyond Defence,” Gallipoli Medical Research CEO Miriam Kent said.
The Veteran Business Community (VBC) was founded to promote veteran-owned and veteran-supported businesses to build commercial capacity, access procurement and collaborate with industry, government and supply chains.
“The Queensland government has recognised something we’ve known for years – veterans bring discipline, mission focus and operational excellence to business. This policy finally gives veteran-led companies the visibility and opportunity they deserve,” VBC founder Pete Liston said.
“Veterans understand process, accountability and performance – what they’ve lacked is access. This policy opens the door and VBC is ready to help both government and industry find capable veteran-led businesses to step through it.”
Liston said this policy from the Sunshine State, which has 28 per cent of Australia’s veteran population, is setting a positive precedent for other Australian states to support their veterans in a range of industries and fields.
“We strongly urge other states and territories and the federal government to follow Queensland’s lead. A national veteran procurement framework would unlock significant economic participation, regional growth and job creation – all while recognising the talent we already have in our veteran community,” Liston said.
The 2026 Queensland Procurement Policy is a statewide initiative that aims to amplify small and medium enterprise growth, with dedication to increasing investment in female-led, Indigenous and people with disability owned and operated businesses.
“This policy serves veterans just as veterans have served our country. It is well and truly overdue for Australia to give back in a meaningful, practical way – supporting veterans who want to continue contributing after service through business and enterprise. That is exactly what this Queensland government initiative delivers.”
