Tania Lawrence
Hasluck · Australian Labor Party · Australia
“There are no wild brumbies in Hasluck. We do, however, have a really fine equestrian community, including being home to the State Equestrian Centre, Yarrada Farm Riding School and Magic Millions. I grew up in York surrounded by animals, including horses, which I deeply love.”
“These programs use a vaccine known as PZP that is delivered to the mares, often by remote darting, and works by preventing fertilisation without affecting the animal's natural hormones or behaviour. It doesn't remove the horses from the landscape, and it doesn't break up the herds.”
“Every person in Hasluck who's ever been to one of our three fabulous urgent care clinics, in Morley, Ellenbrook and Midland, knows they have already demonstrated their value and worth—and just to give you a sense of the numbers, 38,000 have already visited the clinic in Morley, 32,000 in Midland, and just over 6,000 our recently opened cl…”
“Alpine peatlands, waterways and native species habitats are being degraded. These are places that simply cannot withstand that level of pressure. So, yes, action is required. Doing nothing is not an option, but how we act matters just as much as whether we act at all.”
“West of here is Hasluck, and what matters to my community in Hasluck is making sure that we deliver. I'm absolutely proud, under the Albanese Labor government, to be their representative and to deliver on what they need.”
“There are also ground based culling approaches that, where necessary, can be conducted under stricter welfare conditions and oversight, significantly reducing the distress associated with aerial methods. This is a complex challenge. It does require coordination.”
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“This includes the legal aid commissions, community legal centres, women's legal services, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander legal services and family violence prevention legal services. In my electorate of Hasluck, we are lucky to have many organisations providing these vital supports to our community. One of these is the Midlas community legal centre. Based in Midland, Midlas provides legal assistance to the north-eastern Perth region. I meet with Angie Perkins, the CEO, on a regular basis, to talk about their work and to learn about the pressures that they are seeing in our community. Midlas has been providing legal assistance to the people of Perth for over three decades, and they are in a unique position to judge the challenges and the needs of people under stress.”
“Legal assistance is essential to ensuring access to justice and equality before the law, especially for vulnerable people facing disadvantage. The Albanese Labor government understands this, and I'm really pleased that, through the advocacy of our Attorney-General, the Albanese government will be investing $3.9 billion in support for frontline legal services, to be delivered over the next five years through the National Access to Justice Partnership. This new partnership with the states and territories commenced on 1 July this year. I was delighted to learn that this is the biggest single Commonwealth investment in legal services ever. I was even more delighted to learn that every part of the legal assistance sector will benefit from this new agreement.”
“They're so busy draping themselves over car bonnets, daydreaming about their own nuclear fantasy, to acknowledge the task and the opportunity ahead of them. They're busy doubling down on their policy that is so incredibly unpopular and so incredibly unrealistic that it delivered a result for the coalition not seen in 70 years—the worst election result in history. In the meantime, Labor is getting on with it. We're delivering on real progress and sensible climate targets. This is what Australians want. This is what our Pacific neighbours want. This is what the world wants, and we're getting on with it.”
“Labor is getting on with the job of delivering a renewable clean energy future, but what's the member for Riverina doing? He's opposing renewables, talking down projects that create local jobs for his electors. In spite of this lousy representation for the locals in the Riverina, there was great news for the Riverina this week, which we heard even in Western Australia: the announcement of a wind farm to power 600,000 homes. This is a win-win-win for the region, delivering clean energy across the Riverina, improving local infrastructure and increasing jobs and investment—the very thing that the member for Riverina is looking to oppose. The coalition are seriously out of touch. The only policies we've actually even heard from them articulate social division, infighting and climate denial.”
“A further 500 direct jobs will also be related to the SRF-West over 2027-2032. I have another two pages to read, but I'm running out of time—there is just so much we are delivering on. So I will come to my question. Does the minister agree that the WA continuous naval shipbuilding program is an integral part of the government's plan for Defence?”
“Importantly, while the first three vessels will be built in Japan, the announcement is part of our commitment to continuous naval shipbuilding in WA; subject to the successful consolidation of the Henderson defence precinct, the remaining eight frigates will be built locally, in WA. This will, of course, involve important skills transfers and the development of local capacity, and no doubt an ongoing relationship between our industry and that of Japan. The Albanese government is investing up to $8 billion to upgrade HMAS Stirling and support the implementation of the Submarine Rotational Force-West, SRF-West, creating around 3,000 direct jobs. This investment includes wharf upgrades, operational maintenance and other infrastructure to support the increase in port visits by both UK and United States submarines as well as our own fleet.”
“Our government continues to invest in the capabilities our Defence Force needs now and into the future, of course, to meet those strategic circumstances. The Albanese government just announced the selection of the Japanese upgraded Mogami class frigate as the preferred platform for the Navy's future general-purpose frigate fleet, which is the most significant capability decision taken since the announcement of the AUKUS optimal pathway in 2023. The upgraded Mogami class frigate will also help shore up our maritime trade routes and Australia's northern approaches.”
“This early commitment of funding will provide certainty to industry and will underpin the delivery of the construction of surface vessels for the Australian Defence Force, starting with the Army's landing craft and, pending successful consolidation, the domestic build element of Australia's future general-purpose frigates; facilities to support the sustainment of Australia's surface combatant vessels; contingency docking capabilities for Australia's future conventionally-armed nuclear-powered submarine fleet from the early 2030s; and depot-level maintenance, including graving docks. Over the next two decades, our government's plan will see tens of billions of dollars invested in defence capabilities in the west, supporting in the order of 10,000 well-paid, high-skilled jobs.”
“The Albanese government is committing to developing a world-class shipbuilding and sustainment precinct at Henderson in Western Australia. The establishment of a consolidated defence precinct at Henderson is the critical next step in delivering continuous naval shipbuilding in WA. This will support the programs for submarines and frigates and for vessels like the Guardian class patrol boat, which I was honoured to represent the minister in handing over to the government of Samoa in a ceremony in 2023 at HMAS Stirling . As we announced last month, the Albanese government will provide the $12 billion towards delivering the defence precinct at Henderson, which is a significant downpayment.”
“Following that review, we have increased defence funding to record levels. Just last month, the Albanese Labor government announced it will provide an additional $12 billion for the defence precinct at Henderson in my home state of Western Australia. This welcome investment builds on our increase in defence funding, which will now see an additional $70 billion invested in defence capabilities over the next decade, compared with the coalition's projections. The coalition talks a big game in defence, as it does in many policy areas; however, Labor just gets on and delivers. In this term, delivery is fundamental to what we must achieve, and we have a laser focus on delivering the capabilities we do need to keep Australians safe.”
“The Albanese government is committed to ensuring that, in this strategic moment, our Defence Force has the equipment, the capability, the people and the funding it needs to keep Australians safe. I thank every person who is serving in our Defence Force, both current and former, for their service. We have ended the underfunding, we have ended the chaos, and we have ended the dysfunction under the coalition and, through providing stability and continuity, are able to focus on the things that matter. This is also true in the Defence portfolio. The government began by undertaking foundational strategic thinking, including through the 2023 Defence Strategic Review and the National Defence Strategy. This approach, long overdue, has allowed us to properly assess our defence capability needs and then resource them.”
“As their local member, I'm proud to stand alongside Midland Meals. They are one of 25 organisations in Hasluck that have received grant funding through the 2024-25 Hasluck Volunteer Grants. The Midland Meals volunteer grants went towards purchasing two laptops for volunteer coordinators to use to roster the more than 300 volunteers. This is money well spent. While today I focus on Midland Meals, each of the 25 organisations that received grants is serving our community in unique, creative and very impactful ways. (Time expired)”
“A local organisation in my electorate of Hasluck making a real difference is Midland Meals. Food insecurity is a reality faced by too many people across Australia. That's why the work of Midlands Meals is so vital. Every week, Midland Meals provides around 870 meals to those living in Midland, Ellenbrook and Bassendean—that is seven days a week, 365 days a year. That commitment is extraordinary. Last week, I had the honour of joining the team to serve dinner. What struck me was the sense of dignity, respect and care that every person received. It's not just about a meal; it's about community, compassion and hope. I would like to acknowledge the vision and compassion of Pastor Loren Pratt. Loren saw people in need, and he decided to act. From humble beginnings, Midland Meals has grown to the incredible organisation that it is today.”
“It's always nice to look the biz, and it was wonderful to be in the company of such diverse and extraordinary businesses in the Swan community, who employ so many people. A highlight of the night was hearing from the House of Honey, which is a unique family farm right in the heart of the Swan Valley. They took home the award for Tourism Excellence and Excellence in Access and Inclusion. Kim and Rupert Phillips founded the business in 2010 with a bold vision to create a revolutionary honey showroom. It offers not just exceptional food experiences, gifts and wonderful things, and a sanctuary to 50 million bees, but also a hub of education. As a fellow apiarist, I am deeply proud of what they've achieved, and being recognised for it is exceptional. I'm very proud of them.”
“For local families, this is about the secure pathways into jobs of the future; for business, it means a stronger pipeline of skilled Australians they can count on and rely on, who will be there today and tomorrow; and, for our community, it means a brighter future based on fairness, opportunity and skills for all. I'm deeply proud of the commitment we're delivering on for fee-free TAFE. I'm seeing the difference it's making in my community and for people like Hudson. Recently, I attended the 2025 Swan Chamber of Commerce Business Awards. Thank you to the Swan Chamber of Commerce and the City of Swan for hosting this event. It was an extraordinary event—it was very flash—at the Sandalford winery.”
“It's made a real difference in my life, and I'm incredibly grateful for the chance to learn and grow. I truly appreciate your continued work and advocacy on behalf of our community. This kind of policy is a great example of how government can make a tangible, positive impact on everyday Australians. This is exactly why fee-free TAFE matters. For Hudson, it has removed the financial stress, and it's done that for literally tens of thousands of people across the country. It's creating opportunity and changing lives. We're seeing those results. We're seeing more people move into new jobs, upskilling and making career changes into jobs that are in demand right now, whether it be in the care and health sectors or construction, technology and clean energy.”
“TAFE is at the heard of skills and training in Australia, and in the parliament this week we've been celebrating our vocational education and the people who succeed in life as a consequence of their training and dedication in our vocational education institutions. Making it free has been a game-changer for so many more people who might otherwise have been locked out of further study. I want to share a message I received from a local constituent, Hudson Caust, who wrote to me: Dear Tania Lawrence, I hope you're well— Yes, I'm well, thank you, Hudson— I'm writing to sincerely thank you and the Australian Labor Party for your support in making fee-free TAFE available. Thanks to this initiative, I've been given the opportunity to pursue further education and build my skills without the financial stress that would normally come with it.”
“How is the Albanese Labor government supporting Australian defence industry and our Australian Defence Force through AUKUS and the government's landmark export reforms and investments in defence? What barriers has the government had to overcome to achieve this?”
“If we can just get a fraction of those phones donated, that will obviously make a world of difference to those in need. Working with local partner organisations, like Indigo Junction, a local accommodation, crisis-support service, these phones will then get repaired, if need be, cleaned up and provided to these service providers to give to people in need. For survivors like Akita, who has bravely shared with me the difference these phones make when someone's stalking them or trying to track them by tapping into their Facebook account and so forth, this is a way that gives them freedom and control back over their lives. So I encourage every single federal and state member of parliament to become a DV Safe Phone drop box location.”
“Since it began in 2020, DV Safe Phone has already delivered more than 14,700 safe phones across Australia, including about 1,600 in Western Australia. That means more than 1,600 people in our state now have a secure way to call for help, organise safe accommodation and stay connected at the most dangerous and vulnerable point in their lives. When I discovered that 14 per cent of phones distributed nationally by DV Safe Phone are given to victims in Western Australia but only four per cent of phones are donated from Western Australia, I knew this was a gap that I could fill. Together with the fabulous team at DV Safe Phone—Nikki Firmin and Anna Gilbert—my office has now become a DV Safe Phone drop box location. Some 22 million phones are in desks and drawers around the country.”
“While this important work is being delivered by dedicated professionals around the country, I was concerned to learn that, too often still, survivors are left feeling isolated, without safe ways to reach out for help or connect with their loved ones. To this end, I looked for a way in which I could help to make a tangible difference, and I'm proud to be championing the work of DV Safe Phone's initiative in Western Australia. DV Safe Phone is a national charity founded by the extraordinary Ashton Wood. It takes donated mobile phones, repurposes them into safe, untraceable devices and equips them with new SIM cards. These phones are then distributed free of charge through frontline services such as shelters, hospitals, police stations and community organisations, giving survivors a lifeline when they need it most.”
“Domestic and family violence remains one of the most pressing concerns in our community. Recently a young woman's life was tragically lost in my electorate of Hasluck in an alleged incident of domestic violence at the hands of her fiance. Today my thoughts are with her family and her friends and loved ones and with all those affected by domestic and family violence. Ending gender-based violence remains a national priority for this government. The Albanese Labor government has invested more in this than any previous government. Over $4 billion, in fact, has been delivered through prevention programs and frontline services.”
“I call on every single MP in this place and at state level to become a DV Safe Phone location. People know where we are. They can easily find us to drop off a phone. It is then cleared and repaired, if needed, and, importantly, provided with a SIM card so people can't be traced. Akita Princi, a survivor, spoke to me about having her phone hacked and her Facebook page and everything else being tracked and followed. Let's put an end to this. Let's get those unused phones into drop box locations and support people in need.”
“Every 44 minutes, a restraining order is breached in Western Australia. That is how serious domestic violence is. Equipping victims with safe, untraceable phones provides an instant, secure lifeline when they need it most. That is why I'm proud to support DV Safe Phone, which is a national charity providing victims with a vital lifeline—a safe, untraceable phone to call for help, to stay connected with loved ones and to work with the police and frontline services when they are in danger. Already more than 1,600 Western Australians have received a DV Safe Phone. Here's the thing: I call on every Western Australian to find one of the 22 million phones that are in everyone's drawers, get it out and donate it to DV Safe Phone. You can do that now, because my office is a drop box location.”
“Members opposite have had the temerity to stand up and talk about housing policy, when they failed to even have a housing minister over most of their time in office. This bald fact says all Australians need to know about their failure to prioritise housing. They also voted against Help to Buy and promised to abolish the scheme. They didn't even support 100,000 homes for first home buyers. The housing neglect by those opposite is the reason why 83 per cent of my community identified it as the most pressing need, and it is no wonder that the coalition is staring down the void of electoral irrelevancy. But we're not ignoring it. We're not ignoring this problem. It won't be fixed overnight, but this housing policy is one more step in the right direction, which will immediately benefit many in Hasluck and around the nation.”
“The policy is also being welcomed by the Customer Owned Banking Association, COBA, and the government has instructed Housing Australia to promote greater diversity among lenders. We expect that this will see more mutual banks and credit unions added to the lender panel, increasing competition and creating an environment where there is a better deal for customers. COBA Chief Executive Officer Michael Lawrence agrees, saying: More customer-owned banks on the HGS panel will create a more dynamic, inclusive, and competitive market. Those opposite would have Australians believe that the housing crisis has suddenly appeared, but this is simply not the case. It has festered and grown through decades of neglect and lack of attention to even acknowledge the problem let alone address it.”
“HIA Chief Economist, Tim Reardon, has stated that the government should be commended for 'taking a view of housing policy that extends beyond the next election'. He said: More new home construction, fewer households renting and increased home ownership will all occur because of this policy announcement, eventually. As we know, rents are currently at a high mark historically right around the country. In many places, it's less economical to pay rent than to pay a mortgage, but a 20 per cent deposit remains an obstacle to making a shift. Now this government will make it significantly easier to make the shift. The scheme, aimed at assisting people to get into homeownership, is also predicted by the HIA and others to have the effect of taking pressure off rents in the medium and long term. It's good for renters too.”
“It saves the stress of having to overextend to get in the housing market in the first place, for those who are able to. Saving people money is a good thing. Saving money and time and stress is even better and is a hallmark of this government across many areas of policy, including health, where we've made medicines cheaper; and education, where we've provided free TAFE as well as reduced the HECS debt. Let's look at what industry voices are saying. According to the HIA, since 2000, the insurance requirement for first home buyers with deposits under 20 per cent has added heavy costs, delayed ownership, driven up rents and worsened housing affordability. This policy works to address these things.”
“It will save them years of interest and save them the rent that they would have been paying if they hadn't bought a home—tens of thousands of dollars of rent, according to Treasury modelling. So, for a home costing $500,000 which, in the election of Hasluck, is a unit in Midland or an apartment in Ellenbrook, Treasury estimates it would take about two years to save a five per cent deposit, rather than the seven years it would have taken for a 20 per cent deposit. That would also save rent of around $87,000. In Bassendean, first home buyers can buy a home for about $850,000 with a $42,000 deposit. That saves up to 10 years of 'saving time' and $42,000 in mortgage insurance—money better used to pay down their mortgage instead. Getting into their own home sooner saves time and stress.”
“They can live close to the train line now that we've completed the train line in Ellenbrook, and takes them all the way into the city, if that's where they choose to work. They live close to the shopping centres and the new Ellenbrook pool that this government is co-funding. For women returning to work after raising children, tradespeople and young couples, this plan lowers the barrier at the most critical step: the deposit. It also and expands eligibility. There are no income caps and no place limits, so modest income earners and frontline workers—everyone gets a fair go. And it's important to understand that this policy change is not merely about saving people money, although it will save first home buyers a lot of money.”
“Particularly for the new Ellenbrook line, this will create even more heart to our community there, because housing is more than just a roof over their head. It is about quality of life. It's access to employment, shops, schools, gyms and, of course, the community. Let me paint a picture of the real difference this will make in Hasluck. Consider Marie and John, young professionals living out in Ellenbrook. Under the expanded scheme, they can now save up a five per cent deposit in years—not decades—and avoid tens of thousands of dollars in lenders' mortgage insurance and then apply that money directly into their own home instead of paying rent into the hands of a landlord.”
“In practical terms for Hasluck, a rapidly growing electorate of the outer metropolitan corridor, this means genuinely real opportunities for the people that I meet every day. These homes will be delivered in partnership with the state government and industry, using fast-tracking strategies, repurposed land and planning reforms. In fact, work has already begun on social and affordable apartments in Hasluck. Stage 1 of the developments is delivering 197 social and affordable homes in Ellenbrook and 56 in Woodbridge. Stage 2 will deliver another 120 social and affordable apartments in Midland and, across the railway line, 73 in Bassendean. These developments are all located by the train lines.”
“Starting from 1 October, every Australian first home buyer, no matter their income, can purchase a home with just a five per cent deposit and avoid paying the lenders mortgage insurance. Here's what that means in practice: first home buyers will need just a five per cent deposit; single parents will only need two per cent deposit. Housing Australia provides the guarantee to the buyer's bank to enable a home buyer to borrow up to 95 per cent, or 98 per cent for single parents, of that property's value. We know that deposit relief isn't enough. We are also increasing housing supply, especially in fast growing electorates like Hasluck. That's why our Homes for Australia plan includes a dedicated $10 billion investment to build up to a hundred thousand new homes, exclusively for first home buyers across Australia.”
“At the national level, our Albanese Labor government understands that real change requires bold and practical solutions. That is why we delivered on the $43 billion Homes for Australia plan. It's an historic achievement—the biggest housing initiative since the postwar boom. Under the existing Home Guarantee Scheme, since May 2022, 1,890 people have already signed up and are benefitting from the low deposits. That's 1,260 households in Hasluck that are already benefitting. I look forward to seeing the numbers continue to grow. The Labor Albanese government are making it easier to buy but also better to rent, and we're building more homes. We went to the election in May with the expanded five per cent deposit scheme.”
“And you won't have to pay a single dollar in mortgage insurance. Australia's housing crisis was obviously decades in the making, and it won't be fixed overnight. There's a lot of work to do, but we are making real progress right across the country. In Hasluck, the housing crisis isn't abstract; it's deeply felt. Before the election, the Salvation Army reported that 83 per cent of the community said that housing affordability and homelessness are the most pressing issues in the electorate, and nearly 43 per cent said that it affects them personally. This certainly aligns with my experience of meeting with constituents throughout the year. The Salvation Army has stated that there is an unmet need for more than 2,900 dwellings in our area.”
“Housing is more than just shelter; it's about security, opportunity and community. Affordable accessible housing should not be a privilege. In Australia, it is a right. That's why the Albanese Labor government is taking this bold action—to make homeownership more accessible, more affordable and more achievable. Too many people are working hard and trying to save but feel like the dream of homeownership has never been further out of reach. Labor is making it easier for you to buy your own home. From 1 October, every first home buyer will only need a five per cent deposit. We're delivering this commitment three months early, so more Australians can benefit from the program sooner. This will cut years off the time it takes to save for a deposit, helping Australians into their own homes sooner.”
“This is a historic moment for Hofmann Engineering but also for the country, as it's the beginning of Australian companies directly contributing to the global supply chain and preparing our country to make the parts necessary for submarines here and for the sustainment of submarines into the future.”
“I encourage the member for New England to come and visit Hasluck, because, if he had joined me, even just last week, to visit Hofmann Engineering with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, the Minister for Defence Industry and also our WA colleague the Hon. Paul Papalia, the state minister for defence industries, along with Vice Admiral Jonathan Mead and many others, he would have been there to hear the announcement that Hofmann Engineering is now the first qualified Australian company to receive a request for quote to supply its parts into the US supply chain.”
“They're gaining practical experience by being deployed at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard in the US and will be returning to Henderson in due course to apply that new expertise and knowledge. Many of the new WA defence related activities and industries are, in fact, close to the coast, but Hasluck has not been overlooked. In addition to announcing the recent Geelong treaty between Australia and the UK, which will underpin bilateral cooperation to deliver the SSN-AUKUS, and the $480 million investment in the shipbuilding and submarine workforce in SA, there's also a new industry led supplier qualification program with Huntington Ingalls Industries, or HII, the largest military shipbuilder in the US. What this means in a practical sense is that, for the first time, Australian companies are now qualified and are entering the pipeline.”
“By contrast, for Western Australia we now have a sector that will be second only to the resources sector in terms of the billions—tens of billions, in fact—that will be spent on defence capabilities, creating nearly 5,000 direct jobs at the shipyards and 6,000 more for small to medium-sized businesses in support of the primes. In addition to this, we will also see the establishment of the Defence Industry Skills Centre of Excellence at the south metro TAFE in Perth, which is underpinning the skill development needed to ensure that we have that sovereign capability to meet our defence industry needs. While at present a lot of the workers in the sector are in professional scientific and technical areas, we have now got a growing number of graduating skilled trades workers.”
“Last financial year, Defence had spent $16.6 billion on acquisition, which is the highest on record by over $2 billion, and this financial year, 2024-25, we're on track to spend more than $17.4 billion on acquisition. For reference: during the election, in particular, we heard those opposite talking about their own position looking like an afterthought. The member for Canning, at the time, said it was difficult to talk about defence at all during the campaign, because they had no policy. That is evidenced by their own MPI today, which they've had a good half an hour or more to speak on. There's probably been only one or two minutes actually on topic because they simply have nothing—no detail, no timelines and no idea of where their ideas for money will come from or where the money will be spent.”
“The Center for Strategic and International Studies has described the AUKUS agreement as the 'boldest strategic declaration of the 21st century'. To deliver on this declaration, the Albanese government has increased defence funding to record levels, and that includes record levels towards acquiring new capabilities for the ADF. This is the biggest peace-time increase in defence spending in Australia's history. Labor's 2025-26 budget included an additional $10.6 billion over the forward estimates and $57.6 billion over the decade in defence funding. Defence funding is currently at 2.04 per cent of GDP and will reach 2.36 per cent by 2033-34.”
“One of the very first things that the Albanese Labor government did in its last term of office was the commissioning of the Defence Strategic Review by the Hon. Stephen Smith, himself a former defence minister, and Air Chief Marshal Sir Angus Houston. The defence minister received that review in 2023 and described it, quite rightly, as the most ambitious review of our Defence Force and structure since the Second World War. Everything that has followed, including the surface fleet review, the National Defence Strategy and the Defence Industry Development Strategy, has pivoted from the Defence Strategic Review. As that National Defence Strategy reconfirms, we confront the most challenging strategic circumstances since the Second World War, and we do so at a time when Australia's economic connection with the world has never been greater.”
“I wish to place on the record my heartfelt thanks to all those who gave their time and valuable expertise at the WA economic reform roundtable ahead of the summit. We hope that our collective deliberations will contribute to more practical reform both in this and future terms of office, because the reality is that the feedback we heard, both from the participants at the national and at the state roundtable, was that this is a collective effort to lift our national productivity—small, medium and large enterprises alike. Everyone has a role to play to lift the living standards for all. House adjourned at 20 : 00”
“The Treasurer also identified the fact that we can attract better capital and investment, and our WA group noted the need to provide regional and local governments with more flexible infrastructure spending, to upgrade road and freight corridors, to adopt more whole-of-government approaches to industry precincts, and to encourage viewing net zero and CBAM as opportunities to position ourselves in the international green supply chain. The Treasurer further identified better regulation and speedier approvals in housing and other areas of development. The WA roundtable looked at interfaces between portfolio areas, such as health, aged care and the NDIS, and saw the need to create cross-sector taskforces involving industry, universities and governments to plan workforce transitions.”
“The WA meeting supported labour mobility agreements to address gaps and the need to value skilled older workers, greater focus on regional skill development, more industry VET partnerships, better recognition of qualifications and an increased focus on learning languages within our region. Deputy Premier Saffioti has already spoken, following the roundtable in the WA parliament, about the importance of training and the great strides that both our Albanese Labor government and the Cook government have already taken together, particularly since our introduction of fee-free TAFE.”
“The Treasurer identified international trade and tariffs. The WA roundtable wanted the east, including Canberra, to capitalise on WA being the springboard to our major trading partners in Asia. After all, WA is in the same time zone as 60 per cent of the world's population. Participants spoke about leveraging our strategic advantage for fresh food trade, exporting our skills and training in the sectors we know best—resources and agriculture—and, in turn, actively seeking out companies that bring new technology and processing capabilities to base their operations here in WA. The Treasurer identified the need to both attract and develop skills.”
“While consensus was not the aim, the perspectives shared were broadly aligned. Participants agreed that Western Australia and the nation have the ability to seize opportunities through economic reform and, with a concerted effort to foster the industries of the future, lift living standards for all. Feedback on current government policies that reduce the barriers to economic participation—such as free TAFE, cheaper child care and the construction of cheaper homes—was highly positive. Following the summit, Treasurer Chalmers outlined a number of areas where he believed there was a strong consensus for reform, and these aligned well with the submissions we made following the WA roundtable. The summit and the WA roundtable were too extensive to cover fully here, so I'm just going to highlight a few points.”
“I want to place my thanks on the record to all the WA participants, including Nicole Matthews from WALGA, Dr Tarun Weeramanthri from UWA, Shannon O'Rourke from Powering Australia, Kathleen Wallace from TAFE, Philip Cardaci from the CFC Group, Alyce Hofmann-Fritz from Hofmann Engineering, Harry Burrows from the AWU, Brett Peek from Austal, Dr Andrew Ross from the CSIRO, Scott Woodward from Perth Airport, Nicholas Gan from PRL Group, Anita Logiudice from the WA Chamber of Mines and Energy, Paula Rogers and Matt Judkins from the Committee for Perth, Dr Alex Jenkins from the WA Data Science Innovation Hub, Danika Adams from CEDA, Rob Grant from the Pollination Group, Ross Kelly from the Department of Training and Workforce Development, Mitchell O'Dwyer from Thales, Diedre Willmott and Astrid Seventry from Fortescue, and Mark Bridges from Multiplex.”
“To complement and contribute to the government's productivity summit, I had the privilege of hosting the Western Australian Economic Roundtable on 12 August, together with the WA Deputy Premier, Rita Saffioti, and Assistant Minister Andrew Leigh. We had representatives from defence, science, TAFE, transport, local government, industry, community, manufacturing, health, AI, renewable energy, economics, mining, construction, universities, unions and agri-tech. We had a wealth of knowledge in the room, and their ideas and experiences were all brought to bear.”