Premier Roger Cook insists new Productivity Commission will give WA agility in a fast-changing world
Speaking at a breakfast on day three of the Resources Technology Showcase 2025 at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre on Tuesday, the Premier said the commission would give 'agility in a changing world'.
'Like any resources company worth their salt, an effective research and development program is a core part of remaining ahead of the pack,' he said.
'The Productivity Commission will be a version of that for the Government.
'It will be formed by merging the incredible capabilities of Infrastructure WA together with the Economic Regulatory Authority, and it will have a remit to provide advice and recommendations to government on how Western Australia can remain the best economy in the country.
'It will mean greater agility in a changing world. It will support continuous improvement for public sector, for the public and private sectors, and it will give us the innovative clout that we need to fully grasp the opportunities ahead of us.'
Mr Cook said that he expected legislation to be introduced to Parliament in the first half of 2026 to establish the commission's 'objectives, responsibilities and governance'.
The move was welcomed by Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA acting chief executive Aaron Morey.
'We're on the brink of a new era for our economy in WA with huge opportunities to diversify into areas like critical minerals, data centres, defence and advanced manufacturing,' he said.
'We're competing for that investment with the rest of the world. If we want to capture those opportunities, it's crucial that the settings are right to make sure we lure global investment to this State.'
Speaking to the conference, Mr Cook reiterated the importance of infrastructure spend to lower carbon emissions.
'Despite all these advancements in mining, despite having robots and automated gadgets operating in some of the toughest conditions known to humankind, we still don't have the necessary infrastructure required to power our mines on the latest and greatest energy systems,' he said.
'Poles and wires may not sound sexy, especially at a showcase about mining technology, poles and wires are hardly the best innovation, the latest, but the sexiness is in what they will achieve.
'The Pilbara's network of mines largely run on fossil fuels, as a result, the Pilbara contributes around 40 per cent of the state's emissions.
'Eliminating those emissions will not only make the Pilbara the most sustainable mining precinct in the world, it will also take out a huge chunk of state and national emissions.'
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