❓ Question regarding the progress of state-owned or leased container ships for WA's supply chain resilience, following a taskforce report and in light of the Commonwealth's Strategic Fleet Pilot Program. The answer outlines the establishment of a Shipping Policy Unit and a Supply Chain Resilience Fund.
AnsweredQoN 1239Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the article in the West Australian dated Saturday 5 March 2022, in which the Minister discussed the idea of having publicly owned or leased container ships on stand-by for when natural disasters disrupt WA's east-west rail supply chain, and I ask: (a) since the publication of the State Government's taskforce report into the matter, what has the Cook Government done to progress this issue; (b) is the State Government continuing to consider state-owned or leased container ship options and what reports, studies or other work is underway as part of this consideration; and (c) has the establishment of the Commonwealth Government's Australian Strategic Fleet pilot impacted the State's plan to pursue a WA-owned or leased option, or is this still under consideration?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
14 April 2026
Responded by
Minister for Ports
Response time
8 days
(a-c) Following a recommendation of the WA Shipping and Supply Chain Taskforce, the WA Government established the Shipping Policy Unit within the Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure. The Shipping Policy Unit is progressing the implementation of the Taskforce’s recommendations to address threats to WA supply chains and support the development of the State’s supply chain, shipping and maritime workforce capabilities.
The Shipping Policy Unit is responsible for the establishment of the State’s $5 million Supply Chain Resilience Fund, which will augment the Commonwealth Government's Strategic Fleet Pilot Program to optimise the benefits of the program for WA and ensure the State has access to shipping capability when WA supply chains are disrupted.
The Shipping Policy Unit is responsible for the establishment of the State’s $5 million Supply Chain Resilience Fund, which will augment the Commonwealth Government's Strategic Fleet Pilot Program to optimise the benefits of the program for WA and ensure the State has access to shipping capability when WA supply chains are disrupted.
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