❓ The Minister for Ports discusses port capacity expansion, focusing on Geraldton and Port Hedland, highlighting a new marine pilotage training program in Port Hedland aimed at increasing diversity and ensuring 24/7 operations. The government emphasises the importance of port development for WA's economy and transition to net zero.
AnsweredQoN 859Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
PORTS
— CAPACITY EXPANSION
859. Ms L. DALTON to the Minister for Ports:
I refer to the Cook Labor government's record
investment in Western Australian ports.
(1) Can the minister outline to the house how this
government's expansion of capacity at our ports is supporting local jobs and allowing for further industry growth?
(2) Can the
ministry advise the house how this government is developing WA's
maritime workforce to meet this continued demand?
— CAPACITY EXPANSION
859. Ms L. DALTON to the Minister for Ports:
I refer to the Cook Labor government's record
investment in Western Australian ports.
(1) Can the minister outline to the house how this
government's expansion of capacity at our ports is supporting local jobs and allowing for further industry growth?
(2) Can the
ministry advise the house how this government is developing WA's
maritime workforce to meet this continued demand?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2)
I thank the member for the question. I have visited the port of Geraldton,
which is run by the very good Mid West Ports Authority. Some great work is
happening in Geraldton. I look forward to working with the member on the
expansion of the port of Geraldton in the upcoming years to support more trade
and economic diversity and development in Geraldton and the region. The member
will know about the importance of pilots to our ports. For those members who do
not know, pilots are those people who by boat
or helicopter head out to those big iron ore carriers and safely and
efficiently get them into port. They know all the little nuances at each
port. I am told that sometimes these iron ore carriers can have a mobile phone
height width between the bottom of the carrier and the seabed, so they do a very
specialised job.
I was up in Dampier and Port
Hedland with the member for Pilbara a couple of weeks ago to announce an
innovative new employment program at Port Hedland that will open the way for a younger
and more diverse pool of talent to enter the highly specialised career of
marine pilotage. The new program has been implemented
by the Pilbara Ports Authority in order to ensure that the port of Port Hedland
is able to support 24/7 operations. The training program uses on-water
training, simulators, prior experience recognition and technical competency
assessments to improve training efficiency without compromising high safety
standards. They had me on a simulator with lots of screens in front of me. They
clearly did not know that I am no good at Call
of Duty , but I was able to get past my lack of hand–eye
coordination when it comes to video
games to pilot a ship into port. Traditionally, marine pilots have required a master
mariner certificate, which is very difficult to obtain unless the person
is able to spend long periods at sea. By removing this barrier, the Pilbara
Ports Authority has been able to employ and utilise skilled maritime
professionals and provide them with an alternative career pathway.
Women currently account for only
two per cent of the global maritime workforce. Through this program, the port
of Port Hedland has been able to employ the first female pilot. By removing
barriers that have disproportionately impacted women, Pilbara Ports is
improving diversity and inclusion in the industry. As I said, marine pilots play a vital role in port operations, and I am
pleased to see the Pilbara Ports Authority growing its capability to provide these essential services. Hopefully in
the future, that will flow on to all Western Australian ports. The
program will keep the engine room of Western Australia, and indeed Australia's
economy, going.
Mr P.J. Rundle interjected.
The SPEAKER: Order, please.
Mr D.R. MICHAEL : I take this opportunity to discuss
the role of the Cook government in increasing the capacity of our ports in the Pilbara to ensure that WA's
economy remains strong. The continued development of the Pilbara Ports Authority is yet another
critical step in the diversification of Port Hedland and the Pilbara, with investment in continued works at Lumsden Point
further contributing to an increased capacity for the Pilbara to drive WA's economy forward. We all know that the Pilbara, like the midwest,
will play a critical part in WA's transition to net zero, and it is
important that this is done in a way that continues to create jobs, grow the
local economy and ensure that the Pilbara remains a cornerstone of the WA
economy.
I thank the member for the question. I have visited the port of Geraldton,
which is run by the very good Mid West Ports Authority. Some great work is
happening in Geraldton. I look forward to working with the member on the
expansion of the port of Geraldton in the upcoming years to support more trade
and economic diversity and development in Geraldton and the region. The member
will know about the importance of pilots to our ports. For those members who do
not know, pilots are those people who by boat
or helicopter head out to those big iron ore carriers and safely and
efficiently get them into port. They know all the little nuances at each
port. I am told that sometimes these iron ore carriers can have a mobile phone
height width between the bottom of the carrier and the seabed, so they do a very
specialised job.
I was up in Dampier and Port
Hedland with the member for Pilbara a couple of weeks ago to announce an
innovative new employment program at Port Hedland that will open the way for a younger
and more diverse pool of talent to enter the highly specialised career of
marine pilotage. The new program has been implemented
by the Pilbara Ports Authority in order to ensure that the port of Port Hedland
is able to support 24/7 operations. The training program uses on-water
training, simulators, prior experience recognition and technical competency
assessments to improve training efficiency without compromising high safety
standards. They had me on a simulator with lots of screens in front of me. They
clearly did not know that I am no good at Call
of Duty , but I was able to get past my lack of hand–eye
coordination when it comes to video
games to pilot a ship into port. Traditionally, marine pilots have required a master
mariner certificate, which is very difficult to obtain unless the person
is able to spend long periods at sea. By removing this barrier, the Pilbara
Ports Authority has been able to employ and utilise skilled maritime
professionals and provide them with an alternative career pathway.
Women currently account for only
two per cent of the global maritime workforce. Through this program, the port
of Port Hedland has been able to employ the first female pilot. By removing
barriers that have disproportionately impacted women, Pilbara Ports is
improving diversity and inclusion in the industry. As I said, marine pilots play a vital role in port operations, and I am
pleased to see the Pilbara Ports Authority growing its capability to provide these essential services. Hopefully in
the future, that will flow on to all Western Australian ports. The
program will keep the engine room of Western Australia, and indeed Australia's
economy, going.
Mr P.J. Rundle interjected.
The SPEAKER: Order, please.
Mr D.R. MICHAEL : I take this opportunity to discuss
the role of the Cook government in increasing the capacity of our ports in the Pilbara to ensure that WA's
economy remains strong. The continued development of the Pilbara Ports Authority is yet another
critical step in the diversification of Port Hedland and the Pilbara, with investment in continued works at Lumsden Point
further contributing to an increased capacity for the Pilbara to drive WA's economy forward. We all know that the Pilbara, like the midwest,
will play a critical part in WA's transition to net zero, and it is
important that this is done in a way that continues to create jobs, grow the
local economy and ensure that the Pilbara remains a cornerstone of the WA
economy.
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