❓ The Minister outlines the government's commitment to investing in advanced manufacturing to support WA's energy transition, create local jobs, and move beyond exporting raw materials, focusing on sectors like green iron, steel, batteries, and critical minerals processing. The Kalgoorlie vanadium battery energy storage system is highlighted as a concrete example.
AnsweredQoN 708Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Advanced manufacturing—Investment708.Ms Ali Kentto theMinister for Energy and Decarbonisation:I refer to the Cook
Labor government's commitment to diversifying the Western Australian economy so
that it remains the strongest in the nation.(1) Can the minister update the house on the
government's plans to invest in advanced manufacturing?(2) Can the minister also advise how this investment
will support WA's energy transition and create quality local jobs for Western
Australians?
Labor government's commitment to diversifying the Western Australian economy so
that it remains the strongest in the nation.(1) Can the minister update the house on the
government's plans to invest in advanced manufacturing?(2) Can the minister also advise how this investment
will support WA's energy transition and create quality local jobs for Western
Australians?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
3 December 2025
Response time
0 days
Ms Amber-Jade Sanderson replied:(1)–(2) I thank the member for Kalgoorlie
for her question and her commitment and advocacy for her community,
particularly around creating more jobs at local processing across Kalgoorlie
and the Goldfields. This government knows that the energy transition is already
underway in creating massive opportunities for Western Australians, and we are
determined to make sure that we capture as much of that value as we can here in
WA. We are moving beyond just exporting raw materials, which we do superbly,
and investing in local processing and manufacturing. This means more jobs, more
skills and economic benefits for Western Australian communities, in particular
regional communities. We are backing industries that we already have real
strength in green iron, green steel, batteries and energy storage, critical
minerals and processing and clean energy technologies. These sectors are at the
very heart of our energy transition andthe global
energy transition. They are about producing the materials and equipment that we
need todecarbonise our own economy.Last week we launched the
expression of interest for the Kalgoorlie vanadium battery energy storage
system. This is a concrete step in moving this project from concept to reality,
and it is how the government will drive delivery. We have identified those
capable proponents, tested the technical and commercial models and structured
projects so they stand up over the long term. Backing vanadium is key to our
economic diversification strategy and our energy transition. We know that WA
holds some of the world's best vanadium resources, so we are determined to make
sure that we capture that opportunity by supporting the local processing of
vanadium and making sure that we are actually manufacturing the batteries in
Western Australia and adding that downstream value in WA.Vanadium batteries are a proven
long-life storage technology suited to large-scale renewable energy integration,
and they provide safe long-duration energy storage that strengthens our grid
reliability. That is why we are progressing the Kalgoorlie vanadium battery
energy storage system. This is our approach to the supply chain in Western
Australia—to support local manufacturing to make sure that we are part
of the global supply chain for components that are going to be critical to not
only our own energy security and energy transition, but also those across the
world.
Advanced manufacturing—Investment
for her question and her commitment and advocacy for her community,
particularly around creating more jobs at local processing across Kalgoorlie
and the Goldfields. This government knows that the energy transition is already
underway in creating massive opportunities for Western Australians, and we are
determined to make sure that we capture as much of that value as we can here in
WA. We are moving beyond just exporting raw materials, which we do superbly,
and investing in local processing and manufacturing. This means more jobs, more
skills and economic benefits for Western Australian communities, in particular
regional communities. We are backing industries that we already have real
strength in green iron, green steel, batteries and energy storage, critical
minerals and processing and clean energy technologies. These sectors are at the
very heart of our energy transition andthe global
energy transition. They are about producing the materials and equipment that we
need todecarbonise our own economy.Last week we launched the
expression of interest for the Kalgoorlie vanadium battery energy storage
system. This is a concrete step in moving this project from concept to reality,
and it is how the government will drive delivery. We have identified those
capable proponents, tested the technical and commercial models and structured
projects so they stand up over the long term. Backing vanadium is key to our
economic diversification strategy and our energy transition. We know that WA
holds some of the world's best vanadium resources, so we are determined to make
sure that we capture that opportunity by supporting the local processing of
vanadium and making sure that we are actually manufacturing the batteries in
Western Australia and adding that downstream value in WA.Vanadium batteries are a proven
long-life storage technology suited to large-scale renewable energy integration,
and they provide safe long-duration energy storage that strengthens our grid
reliability. That is why we are progressing the Kalgoorlie vanadium battery
energy storage system. This is our approach to the supply chain in Western
Australia—to support local manufacturing to make sure that we are part
of the global supply chain for components that are going to be critical to not
only our own energy security and energy transition, but also those across the
world.
Advanced manufacturing—Investment
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