❓ Ms. Kent asks about the government's investment in strategic industrial areas to support renewable energy projects and job creation. The Premier outlines investments in infrastructure, a strategic industries fund, and WA's advantages in critical minerals and renewable energy resources.
AnsweredQoN 304Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
RENEWABLE
ENERGY — STRATEGIC INDUSTRIES FUND
304. Ms A.E. KENT to the Premier:
I refer to the Cook Labor
government's significant investment in Western Australia's
future as a renewable energy powerhouse.
(1) Can the
Premier advise the house how this government's investment in strategic
industrial areas is clearing the path for renewable energy projects to prosper
in Western Australia?
(2) Can the
Premier outline to the house how its investment will support the creation of new
industries and more well-paid jobs into the future?
ENERGY — STRATEGIC INDUSTRIES FUND
304. Ms A.E. KENT to the Premier:
I refer to the Cook Labor
government's significant investment in Western Australia's
future as a renewable energy powerhouse.
(1) Can the
Premier advise the house how this government's investment in strategic
industrial areas is clearing the path for renewable energy projects to prosper
in Western Australia?
(2) Can the
Premier outline to the house how its investment will support the creation of new
industries and more well-paid jobs into the future?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2)
I thank the member for the question. It is an important question, because we
know that Western Australia is on the
precipice of an economic revolution. It all began in the member's
electorate, the area of Kalgoorlie , when we discovered gold, and since
then we have become a commodity giant, first in iron ore and now in LNG, of
course. Our resources are indispensable to our trading partners. We are
ensuring that we are also indispensable to the world as part of the energy
transition—the world's transition to clean energy. Supplies of
critical minerals like lithium, nickel, cobalt, silicon and rare earth elements
are concentrated in Western Australia, and
each of them are crucial components of the technologies required for a renewable energy future. At the same time, we have an
abundance of land and sunshine, giving us a natural advantage in the
green ammonia and hydrogen race.
Our other advantage is the fact
that we have a WA Labor government that understands the great potential of our
state to be a global renewable energy powerhouse. Not only that, but we are
also putting our money where it is needed. We are putting our money where our
mouths are. Over the years, we have invested billions in economic
infrastructure like roads, ports and grids to advance our resources industry.
This investment literally pays dividends to the state and the wider nation. To
effectively advance our clean energy industries, we must also invest in our
strategic industrial areas. I am talking about the land that will host emerging
industries and propel our state up the value chain. That means clean hydrogen,
critical minerals processing, battery manufacturing and other great
job-creating opportunities. That is why in the state budget we have created a $500
million strategic industries fund to deliver common user and other enabling
infrastructure at our strategic industrial areas across regional and
metropolitan WA. This is on top of the $160 million industry lease incentive
scheme announced late last year. The fund will unlock the potential for WA's 13 SIAs spanning the entire state. An
initial $125 million will be invested to open up new industrial land at
Latitude 32 in Kwinana, given the strong demand for land in Perth's
industrial heartland.
This is not pie in the sky stuff.
Our clean energy industry is expanding before our eyes, and in recent years, we have seen Western Australia rapidly grow
into a major battery and critical mineral hub. We are home to a multibillion-dollar
processing industry. We just need to look at the lithium hydroxide
opportunities through Tianqi Lithium, Albemarle, and Covalent Lithium, which is
under construction at the moment. Major
investments by Lynas Rare Earths and Iluka Resources are set to make WA one of
the only few jurisdictions in the world with processed rare earths. Our
path to greater success has challenges and competition, but already we have
proven that WA has more than just a seat at the table. We have the determination,
experience and ambition to be a renewable energy powerhouse.
I thank the member for the question. It is an important question, because we
know that Western Australia is on the
precipice of an economic revolution. It all began in the member's
electorate, the area of Kalgoorlie , when we discovered gold, and since
then we have become a commodity giant, first in iron ore and now in LNG, of
course. Our resources are indispensable to our trading partners. We are
ensuring that we are also indispensable to the world as part of the energy
transition—the world's transition to clean energy. Supplies of
critical minerals like lithium, nickel, cobalt, silicon and rare earth elements
are concentrated in Western Australia, and
each of them are crucial components of the technologies required for a renewable energy future. At the same time, we have an
abundance of land and sunshine, giving us a natural advantage in the
green ammonia and hydrogen race.
Our other advantage is the fact
that we have a WA Labor government that understands the great potential of our
state to be a global renewable energy powerhouse. Not only that, but we are
also putting our money where it is needed. We are putting our money where our
mouths are. Over the years, we have invested billions in economic
infrastructure like roads, ports and grids to advance our resources industry.
This investment literally pays dividends to the state and the wider nation. To
effectively advance our clean energy industries, we must also invest in our
strategic industrial areas. I am talking about the land that will host emerging
industries and propel our state up the value chain. That means clean hydrogen,
critical minerals processing, battery manufacturing and other great
job-creating opportunities. That is why in the state budget we have created a $500
million strategic industries fund to deliver common user and other enabling
infrastructure at our strategic industrial areas across regional and
metropolitan WA. This is on top of the $160 million industry lease incentive
scheme announced late last year. The fund will unlock the potential for WA's 13 SIAs spanning the entire state. An
initial $125 million will be invested to open up new industrial land at
Latitude 32 in Kwinana, given the strong demand for land in Perth's
industrial heartland.
This is not pie in the sky stuff.
Our clean energy industry is expanding before our eyes, and in recent years, we have seen Western Australia rapidly grow
into a major battery and critical mineral hub. We are home to a multibillion-dollar
processing industry. We just need to look at the lithium hydroxide
opportunities through Tianqi Lithium, Albemarle, and Covalent Lithium, which is
under construction at the moment. Major
investments by Lynas Rare Earths and Iluka Resources are set to make WA one of
the only few jurisdictions in the world with processed rare earths. Our
path to greater success has challenges and competition, but already we have
proven that WA has more than just a seat at the table. We have the determination,
experience and ambition to be a renewable energy powerhouse.
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