A new hub is set to be established in Canberra, which will aim to provide Western Australia and key industry bodies with a platform to collaborate and ensure the best strategic outcomes are being put in place for the state’s mining and resources sector.
The Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia (CME) Chief Executive, Rebecca Tomkinson, said that she had raised the importance of Western Australia having greater visibility in Canberra to influence the public policy and decisions for funding which could greatly impact the state.
“CME has always believed it is important to ensure a strong Western Australian voice in Canberra,” Ms Tomkinson said.
“We discussed with the State Government the benefits of establishing a shared space in Canberra to enable the government and Western Australia’s peak body industries to collaborate and work together to ensure the best strategic outcomes are delivered for the state.”
Ms Tomkinson also said that while there is widespread acceptance within the state of the significant economic contribution of its mining and resource sector, beyond the state’s borders there was limited awareness or appreciation of the vital role the sector played in underpinning the national economy.
“As revealed earlier this year, an analysis of 71 Western Australian resources sector companies found the state’s mining, energy and contractor industries contributed a direct $98.98 billion to Australia’s economy in 2021-22 and directly employed more than 69,000 full-time Australians.
“While Western Australians have a great awareness of the significant contribution of the Western Australian mining and resources sector, those in the eastern states don’t share the same level of appreciation for our contribution – which is risky when you consider the amount of reforms and decisions being made at a federal level.
“It is important for Western Australia’s voice to be heard loud and clear and for our interests to be further represented at a national level, and establishing a hub in the heart of our nation’s capital is a step in the right direction,” Ms Tomkinson said.
CME is expected to work closely with the Western Australian Government over the coming months to establish the hub in Canberra, ensuring the mining and resources sector is well represented.
