Express Virtual Meetings successfully hosted a virtual press conference with Shadow Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Shadow Minister for Small Business Bruce Billson.
The key message for the virtual press conference was a short media announcement regarding evidence that local small businesses which provide quality teleconferencing services are being overlooked by the Gillard Government in favour of high cost travel and overseas owned companies.
An excerpt from the welcome address by Simon Ross, CEO, Express Virtual Meetings:
"We are here today to highlight the lack of support the Federal Government is giving Australian Small-to-Medium business such as Express Virtual Meetings.
The Federal Government’s own procurement guidelines state:
- Procurement methods should not unfairly discriminate against SMEs
- Telecommunications carriage service providers must sign an AGTA Head Agreement with the Commonwealth before they can provide such services to Australian Government Agencies
- The Government is committed to Government Agencies sourcing at least 10% of their purchases from SMEs
Over the past 9 months the government has also made over half a million airline flights, many of which could have been avoided using conferencing service providers like Express Virtual Meetings.
We believe Government tenders are biased towards large companies who can provide a complete range of telecommunications services thus discriminating against SMEs.
Many government departments and agencies are using overseas companies for their teleconferencing services, who are not approved under the AGTA.
The AusTender website shows Government Agencies purchase only 5% of their conferencing services from Australian owned SMEs.
We hope that after today the Federal Government will utilise more virtual meeting services to save tax payer’s money, reduce carbon emissions and provide opportunities for Australian SMEs to compete for this government business.”
