❓ The Premier outlines the government's plan to establish a green steel recycling industry in WA, focusing on local sourcing for government projects to stimulate the industry and create jobs.
AnsweredQoN 600Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
State economy—Diversification
600. Mrs Magenta Marshall to the Premier:
I refer to the Cook
Labor government's commitment to diversifying the economy so that it remains
the strongest in the nation. Can the Premier update the house on recent
developments that will ensure that more things are made here in WA?
600. Mrs Magenta Marshall to the Premier:
I refer to the Cook
Labor government's commitment to diversifying the economy so that it remains
the strongest in the nation. Can the Premier update the house on recent
developments that will ensure that more things are made here in WA?
AnswerView source ↗
It may come as a
surprise to many people to know that one of our top exports from Fremantle port
is actually scrap metal. Container upon container of useful material is leaving
our shores without any value added. At the same time, Western Australia imports
100% of the steel that we use in construction. I am talking about rebar or
reinforcement steel that goes into every structure we build in this state—hospitals,
homes, railways, bridges and transmission lines. All the metal comes from
outside Western Australia. That involves not only a lot of travel, but also
extra carbon emissions and it exposes the state to global supply chain risks.
We have a lot of old
steel in Western Australia from the decommissioning of old mines, offshore oil
and gas, car bodies, retired railcars and building waste. Establishing a green
steel recycling industry in WA is a key focus of our Made in WA plan. But
fledging local industries sometimes need a bit of support from government, a
foundation from which to grow, which is why the WA Labor government is stepping
up. For major government projects, we will make it a requirement for
contractors to consider how they can utilise green steel in the delivery of the
project. To assist industry in this we will soon release an expression of
interest to the market for locally produced recycled green steel to go into
those major government projects.
Mr Basil Zempilas interjected.
The Speaker: Leader of the Opposition, do not
interject.
Mr Roger Cook: It is a signal of intent to this new
sustainable steel industry that we want here—we want to decarbonise and
we want the jobs that it creates—to kick off a whole new industry for
WA using the buying power of government. We are now forming new local sourcing
requirements. In short, the government will take an "if not, why not"
approach to procurement that will explicitly preference WA-made green steel. It
is all about giving producers the confidence to invest in helping WA build a cleaner,
stronger industrial base for the future. It will mean that when we build
government projects, we are not just creating jobs in construction, we are
creating jobs in steel—good jobs—apprenticeships and
opportunities in local workshops and fabrication yards. This is what Made in WA
is all about: using our skills, resources and ingenuity to build value right
here in Western Australia. It is what we are doing across the economy—WA-made
Metronet railcars and iron ore cars, WA-made poles and wires from advanced
manufacturing facilities in Bicton and Forrestfield, WA-made household
batteries, WA-made cures and medicines, and an entire WA-made defence industry
with ever-growing capability.
The community
expects its government to roll up its sleeves and secure the jobs of the
future. The buying power of government provides opportunities to do just that.
We know that the Liberal Party stalwarts, the legends, the Sir David Brands and
Sir Charles Courts, understood this by underwriting the North West Shelf project
as well as the iron ore industry, which now underpins our economy and
prosperity, and has done for decades. The Cook Labor government understands
this. With green steel we can also realise a new economic opportunity for the
state.
surprise to many people to know that one of our top exports from Fremantle port
is actually scrap metal. Container upon container of useful material is leaving
our shores without any value added. At the same time, Western Australia imports
100% of the steel that we use in construction. I am talking about rebar or
reinforcement steel that goes into every structure we build in this state—hospitals,
homes, railways, bridges and transmission lines. All the metal comes from
outside Western Australia. That involves not only a lot of travel, but also
extra carbon emissions and it exposes the state to global supply chain risks.
We have a lot of old
steel in Western Australia from the decommissioning of old mines, offshore oil
and gas, car bodies, retired railcars and building waste. Establishing a green
steel recycling industry in WA is a key focus of our Made in WA plan. But
fledging local industries sometimes need a bit of support from government, a
foundation from which to grow, which is why the WA Labor government is stepping
up. For major government projects, we will make it a requirement for
contractors to consider how they can utilise green steel in the delivery of the
project. To assist industry in this we will soon release an expression of
interest to the market for locally produced recycled green steel to go into
those major government projects.
Mr Basil Zempilas interjected.
The Speaker: Leader of the Opposition, do not
interject.
Mr Roger Cook: It is a signal of intent to this new
sustainable steel industry that we want here—we want to decarbonise and
we want the jobs that it creates—to kick off a whole new industry for
WA using the buying power of government. We are now forming new local sourcing
requirements. In short, the government will take an "if not, why not"
approach to procurement that will explicitly preference WA-made green steel. It
is all about giving producers the confidence to invest in helping WA build a cleaner,
stronger industrial base for the future. It will mean that when we build
government projects, we are not just creating jobs in construction, we are
creating jobs in steel—good jobs—apprenticeships and
opportunities in local workshops and fabrication yards. This is what Made in WA
is all about: using our skills, resources and ingenuity to build value right
here in Western Australia. It is what we are doing across the economy—WA-made
Metronet railcars and iron ore cars, WA-made poles and wires from advanced
manufacturing facilities in Bicton and Forrestfield, WA-made household
batteries, WA-made cures and medicines, and an entire WA-made defence industry
with ever-growing capability.
The community
expects its government to roll up its sleeves and secure the jobs of the
future. The buying power of government provides opportunities to do just that.
We know that the Liberal Party stalwarts, the legends, the Sir David Brands and
Sir Charles Courts, understood this by underwriting the North West Shelf project
as well as the iron ore industry, which now underpins our economy and
prosperity, and has done for decades. The Cook Labor government understands
this. With green steel we can also realise a new economic opportunity for the
state.
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