Strengthening the IPP eligibility criteria
Indigenous businesses will have time to transition to the strengthened eligibility criteria under the Indigenous Procurement Policy (IPP).
As part of the changes to the IPP announced in February 2025, the IPP eligibility criteria is being strengthened requiring Indigenous businesses demonstrate they are 51 per cent or more owned and controlled by First Nations people. This will ensure First Nations business owners accessing the IPP are empowered to run their businesses and exercise their rights as majority owners.
Under the original criteria, an Indigenous business were required to be 50 per or more Indigenous owned to be eligible.
Businesses registered with the Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations (ORIC) will remain eligible under the strengthened IPP criteria.
There will be a transition period from 1 July 2026. This allows time for First Nations businesses to understand how the change may impact them and arrange verification under the strengthened IPP criteria if they choose to.
In the financial year 2026-27, First Nations businesses will be able to access the IPP if they meet either:
- the original eligibility criteria of 50% or more Indigenous ownership or
- the strengthened criteria of 51% or more Indigenous ownership and control.
This change will ensure the economic benefits of the IPP are genuinely flowing to First Nations people as intended.
To keep updated please visit NIAA’s IPP Changes website.