As architects, we are committed to protecting the health, safety, and welfare of the public. The COVID-19 outbreak and the current health crisis strikes at the very core of our mission. In the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, Federal state and territory governments are considering additional measures to help those affected by this pandemic and to stimulate the economy.
If you would like to help in this outreach, please take a minute to send a letter to your local member urging them to provide additional resources to those affected by the virus and for our frontline responders. Please ask them to include measures:
- keeping construction running
- bringing forward infrastructure programs and projects
- looking after Australian business and jobs in all government procurement processes
- suspending design competitions.
We have included a prewritten letter for you to copy, paste and edit as you see fit.
Thanks for making your voice heard at this critical time.
Or copy and paste from below.
I write to you as a constituent and as a member of the Australian Institute of Architects – Australia’s peak architectural organisation. Our 12,000 members are committed to protecting the health, safety, and welfare of the public through their work across the built environment. Since 1930, this concern has been central to all that architects do.
The outbreak of COVID-19 and current health crisis strike at the very core of this mission. Those personally affected by the virus and our frontline responders need additional resources and they are top of mind for all of us.
As the Federal and state and territory government considers additional measures to stimulate the economy, I urge you to include significant the following measures:
- keeping construction running
- bringing forward infrastructure programs and projects
- looking after Australian business and jobs in all government procurement processes
- suspending design competitions.
Keeping construction running
Maintaining the construction sector as an essential service is a key component to ongoing economic stimulus measures. Keeping people in work and projects moving, as well as starting new projects, has never been more important.
Bring forward infrastructure projects
Bringing forward spending on infrastructure will be one of the key factors in boosting economic recovery. Areas of most need are rebuilding communities after the bushfires and affordable housing. Areas that set us up for the future include transport, infrastructure, health, education and housing.
Australian jobs and materials
At times like these, it is incumbent on all levels of government to support Australians through procurement policies that favour Australian providers. While overseas companies can and do bring value, governments must consider how Australian companies should be engaged to develop and maintain capability within Australia. Strong weightings must be attached to selection criteria for local companies.
Suspend design competitions
We would strongly recommend that the governments consider suspending any government design competitions that unnecessarily burden competing firms until we see signs of an economic recovery.
