Advocacy is a long game and it takes time to see results.  It was therefore very pleasing when the Productivity Commission announced that the terms of the Inquiry into Government Procurement were being extended to include capital works procurement based on the responses it had received arguing for this outcome. 

The Institute’s response, which was submitted in association with the ACA, comprehensively demonstrated that the issues being considered were equally applicable to capital works procurement.  It also put the case that capital works procurement has a significant impact on the South Australian economy, including the viability of many SMEs. 

Improved procurement practices should address issues including tendering costs, quality based tender selection and equity for local tenderers.  We will continue to engage with the inquiry and will update members regarding the outcomes. 

I was also pleased to be able to attend the Institute’s Parliamentary Breakfast on housing affordability and city development.  This event is part of the Institute’s national strategy in the lead up to the federal election, which will raise awareness of key issues and strategies to improve outcomes at a time when our cities and the environment are under increasing pressure.  An election platform will be provided to members to assist them in having these conversations with their local candidates and more widely with key stakeholders. 

As a profession, architects need to lead these conversations and inform the narrative if we are to achieve better built environment outcomes.  If we leave this to others, then the conversations will at best be ill informed and at worst will not occur at all. 

Bad design is an irritant and incites debate.  Good design works and therefore is often taken for granted.  Good design is also about much more than aesthetics.  However, as the majority of the public, including many politicians, do not understand the role of architects or the fact that architects are not responsible for the design of all buildings, it is not enough to leave architecture to speak for itself.  If the public perception is that all buildings, including the poorly designed ones, are the responsibility of architects, this is a damaging belief to support, even if only by omission.

It is the responsibility of architects to clearly articulate their capabilities and how they can be engaged to provide optimal outcomes.  The election provides a perfect opportunity to start these conversations.  As voters, your opinions matter to the candidates in your electorates.  Use this opportunity to engage with them and plant the seed.  It may take some time for germination to occur, but without this first step there will be limited progress.