Businesses that supply the Australian Government with computers, IT support, office machines and office furniture will have to wade through less red tape thanks to the cessation of the Endorsed Supplier Arrangement (ESA) announced by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance and Administration, Senator Richard Colbeck.

"Businesses will no longer have to jump through hoops to become endorsed government suppliers,� Senator Colbeck said.

"The cessation of the ESA will provide greater opportunities for more businesses to have the Australian Government as a customer, and bring to an end an old regime of red-tape and overregulation.
“Newer developments in assisting potential Australian Government suppliers such as the AusTender program - and the maturation of the firms supplying government in these sectors - have superseded the effectiveness of the ESA.�

Senator Colbeck stressed that currently endorsed suppliers would not be disadvantaged.

"In recognition of the effort suppliers made to achieve ESA endorsement, endorsed suppliers will be able to continue to use the ESA logo until the end of September 2007.�