WA rolls out new Industry Reference Group

A new Industry Reference Group (IRG) will provide advice to government on the development of the Western Trade Coast (WTC) as Perth’s premier strategic industrial area continues to grow.

The group will inform the delivery of common-user infrastructure in the region and consider industry needs in government policy and decision-making.

The Western Trade Coast — which covers the Kwinana Industrial Area, Rockingham Industry Zone, Latitude 32 General Industrial Area and Australian Marine Complex —contributes $15b to the WA economy each year and supports around 42,000 direct and indirect jobs, according to the WA Chamber of Minerals and Energy (WA CME).

The region is home to major infrastructure initiatives including Westport and the Henderson Defence Precinct, as well as industrial processing and manufacturing, shipbuilding and defence industries which are critical to the government’s Made in WA plan.

Members will include a range of industry proponents that operate in the WTC, as well as the Kwinana Industries Council, the WA CME, the Henderson Alliance and the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union.

WA CME chief executive Rebecca Tomkinson welcomes the WA Government’s establishment of the IRG, which comes at a critical time for Perth’s heavy industrial sectors.

“The combination of AUKUS, the development of Westport and the global energy transition means Perth’s strategic industrial areas (SIAs) need to be completely reimagined over the next decade,” she said.

“CME has long advocated for the importance of project-ready SIAs to attract international investment and remove roadblocks to the development of new ventures, particularly for future-facing industries where speed to market is key.

“Our report on the readiness of WA’s 13 SIAs found Kwinana was the State’s most attractive — but it is also heavily constrained with little opportunity for new projects.

“We welcome the opportunity to shape the delivery of common-user infrastructure in the Western Trade Coast that will unlock jobs and investment opportunities for generations to come.”

Last August the WA Government released its Western Trade Coast Infrastructure Strategy, which identified the priority upgrades needed to futureproof the area while accommodating the new Westport outer harbour and a significant new defence precinct associated with AUKUS.

With US and UK nuclear-powered submarines expected to begin rotating through HMAS Stirling from 2027, before housing Australia’s own nuclear submarines from the early 2030s, Ms Tomkinson said there was no time to waste.

“Perth is already desperately short of well-located and well-serviced industrial land, so it is vital we work to quickly develop a suitable replacement for any we may lose to AUKUS,” Ms Tomkinson said.

“The global energy transition presents a generational opportunity to expand Perth’s industrial and manufacturing bases but it will pass us by if we can’t provide the land needed to house new businesses.”

WA Premier Roger Cook comments on the IRG.

“With significant projects already underway — from clean energy initiatives to defence industry growth through AUKUS — it’s vital we have the right structures in place to ensure planning is strategic, staged, and aligned with industry needs,” he said.

“WA’s economy is the strongest in the nation — but if we want to keep it that way, we need to invest in and support our industrial base.

“That’s why, as part of [the WA Government’s] Made in WA plan, we are committed to supporting strategic industrial areas throughout the State that will help decarbonise our energy systems, diversify our economy, and continue creating jobs that will sustain our future prosperity.

“Establishing this reference group is a critical step in delivering major infrastructure projects across the precinct.

“I’m committed to securing long-term economic growth, creating quality local jobs, and setting up the Western Trade Coast for success well into the future.”

WA Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier David Scaife says the Western Trade Coast is home to industries that support thousands of jobs and that are critical to our resources, agricultural and defence sectors.

“We have a once in a generation opportunity to build on that capability by diversifying the Western Trade Coast into additional downstream processing and manufacturing industries as part of the [WA] Government’s Made in WA plan,” he said.

“I look forward to working with industry to seize that opportunity as Parliamentary Secretary for the Western Trade Coast and chair of the IRG.

The group’s first meeting is set to be held this month.