Indigenous Business Procurement Hits $6.79 Billion

Spending with verified Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses grew by 16.5 percent during the 2025-2026 financial year.

Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in Native American

Indigenous Business Procurement Hits $6.79 Billion

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Should companies prioritize procurement from minority-owned businesses to support local economic development?

Supply Nation recorded a record $6.79 billion in procurement spend with verified Indigenous businesses throughout the 2025-2026 financial year. This total reflects a 16.5 percent increase compared to the previous year.

Why it matters

The growth in procurement spend signals a strengthening connection between corporate and government entities and the Indigenous business sector. By leveraging these partnerships, members are actively contributing to the economic development of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across Australia.

Supply Nation now tracks nearly 6,500 verified Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses, supported by a membership base of 900 organizations. Government procurement spending saw a significant 33 percent rise across federal, state and territory entities.

The players

Supply Nation

This organization connects Australian corporate and government buyers with verified Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses.

The details

Corporate buyers continue to drive the market, accounting for two-thirds of the total procurement spend, with the mining sector alone representing nearly one-quarter of the national total. Reporting remains robust across the membership, with 99 percent of eligible members confirming spending with Indigenous suppliers.

Supply Nation was established in 2009.
The record $6.79 billion spend was documented during the 2025-2026 financial year.

Culture Shift

The growth in procurement spend reflects a broader societal shift toward intentional support for Indigenous economic sovereignty. These figures indicate that engagement with the Australian Indigenous Procurement Policy has moved beyond compliance to become a standard business strategy.

For consumers and professionals, this trend translates into increased availability of services and products sourced from Indigenous suppliers within supply chains. Adopting these procurement practices often requires businesses to adjust their vendor management systems to ensure compliance with verified supplier standards.

The takeaway

The record-breaking spending levels illustrate a growing capacity for Indigenous businesses to meet the requirements of large-scale corporate and government contracts. Companies can further bolster this progress by reviewing their own supply chains for opportunities to partner with certified local providers.