❓ Ms D'Anna asks about the Minerals Research Institute of Western Australia Amendment (Clean Energy) Bill 2025. Mr Michael responds, outlining the bill's purpose to expand the institute's remit to include clean energy and emissions reduction, renaming it the Clean Energy and Minerals Research Institute of WA (CEMRI).
AnsweredQoN 283Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Mineral Research Institute of
Western Australia—Role283.Ms Divina D'Annato
theMinister for Mines and Petroleum:I refer to the Cook
Labor government's priority of establishing Western Australia as a renewable
energy powerhouse.(1) Can the minister update the house on the
introduction of the Minerals Research Institute of Western Australia Amendment
(Clean Energy) Bill 2025?(2) Can the minister explain how the bill will
expand the remit of the Minerals Research Institute of Western Australia and
the benefits that this will deliver to the state?
Western Australia—Role283.Ms Divina D'Annato
theMinister for Mines and Petroleum:I refer to the Cook
Labor government's priority of establishing Western Australia as a renewable
energy powerhouse.(1) Can the minister update the house on the
introduction of the Minerals Research Institute of Western Australia Amendment
(Clean Energy) Bill 2025?(2) Can the minister explain how the bill will
expand the remit of the Minerals Research Institute of Western Australia and
the benefits that this will deliver to the state?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
26 June 2025
Response time
0 days
Mr David Michael replied:(1)–(2) I thank the member for Kimberley
for that really good question. I think all members know that the Minerals
Research Institute of Western Australia does an amazing job, and has done for
some time.Mr Lachlan Hunterinterjected.The Speaker:Member for Central Wheatbelt!Mr David Michael:As the member said, WA is, and has
the opportunity to continue to be, a global renewable energy powerhouse. We
have a reputation for solving problems innovatively and delivering massive new
projects on a global scale. Our vision for the resources sector is to maintain
a sustainable and responsible industry that is internationally competitive,
ethical and adds value. Being the forward-thinking state we are, a vital key to
unlocking this opportunity is to constantly look at the next opportunity and the
next problem to solve. That is why we want to expand the role of the Minerals
Research Institute.As I said, the
Minerals Research Institute has been around for 40 years and does an amazing
job. Its role to provide research leadership by partnering with industry,
universities, academics and government to attract investment in high-value
activities is more vital than ever. The institute's charter is to foster and
promote minerals research for the benefit of WA. In the first term of the
McGowan government, it produced significant research reports into green steel,
mineral carbonation and net zero emissions mining. Further, it enabled the
government's investment into the Future Battery Industries Cooperative Research
Centre at Curtin University. It has enabled research into critical minerals,
essential to our ambition to turn our raw materials into midstream products
used in batteries and other clean energy technologies. The research has been
central to our strategy to create new industries and opportunities for our
state. It has involved over 80 research projects, all firmly focused on finding
solutions for the future.Now we want to
expand its remit to better reflect the opportunities before us in 2025. That is
why this morning I introduced a bill to expand the research scope of the
Minerals Research Institute of WA to foster and promote research in the area of
minerals, clean energy and emissions reduction for the benefit of WA to ensure that
WA effectively captures a full range of emerging opportunities. There is particularly
a requirement for flexibility in the scope of research to respond to rapid
advances and implement clean energy–enabling technologies at scale.
There is a need to act now because new technologies often require long lead
times before deployment. Should the bill pass the Parliament, the institute
will be renamed to the Clean Energy and Minerals Research Institute of WA
(CEMRI). The bill will permit the institute to undertake research into clean
energy and emissions reduction in a manner consistent with its existing
functions relating to minerals research. The bill will also have the effect of
strengthening the institute's existing mandate to respond to issues of critical
importance to the state. I really look forward to working with Minister
Sanderson's office, her team and her department on the excellent work they are
doing on renewable energy and decarbonisation as we make the most of the
institute's research future. This is a really great initiative for our state.The Speaker:The Leader of the Nationals WA with the
last question.
Mineral Research Institute of
Western Australia—Role
for that really good question. I think all members know that the Minerals
Research Institute of Western Australia does an amazing job, and has done for
some time.Mr Lachlan Hunterinterjected.The Speaker:Member for Central Wheatbelt!Mr David Michael:As the member said, WA is, and has
the opportunity to continue to be, a global renewable energy powerhouse. We
have a reputation for solving problems innovatively and delivering massive new
projects on a global scale. Our vision for the resources sector is to maintain
a sustainable and responsible industry that is internationally competitive,
ethical and adds value. Being the forward-thinking state we are, a vital key to
unlocking this opportunity is to constantly look at the next opportunity and the
next problem to solve. That is why we want to expand the role of the Minerals
Research Institute.As I said, the
Minerals Research Institute has been around for 40 years and does an amazing
job. Its role to provide research leadership by partnering with industry,
universities, academics and government to attract investment in high-value
activities is more vital than ever. The institute's charter is to foster and
promote minerals research for the benefit of WA. In the first term of the
McGowan government, it produced significant research reports into green steel,
mineral carbonation and net zero emissions mining. Further, it enabled the
government's investment into the Future Battery Industries Cooperative Research
Centre at Curtin University. It has enabled research into critical minerals,
essential to our ambition to turn our raw materials into midstream products
used in batteries and other clean energy technologies. The research has been
central to our strategy to create new industries and opportunities for our
state. It has involved over 80 research projects, all firmly focused on finding
solutions for the future.Now we want to
expand its remit to better reflect the opportunities before us in 2025. That is
why this morning I introduced a bill to expand the research scope of the
Minerals Research Institute of WA to foster and promote research in the area of
minerals, clean energy and emissions reduction for the benefit of WA to ensure that
WA effectively captures a full range of emerging opportunities. There is particularly
a requirement for flexibility in the scope of research to respond to rapid
advances and implement clean energy–enabling technologies at scale.
There is a need to act now because new technologies often require long lead
times before deployment. Should the bill pass the Parliament, the institute
will be renamed to the Clean Energy and Minerals Research Institute of WA
(CEMRI). The bill will permit the institute to undertake research into clean
energy and emissions reduction in a manner consistent with its existing
functions relating to minerals research. The bill will also have the effect of
strengthening the institute's existing mandate to respond to issues of critical
importance to the state. I really look forward to working with Minister
Sanderson's office, her team and her department on the excellent work they are
doing on renewable energy and decarbonisation as we make the most of the
institute's research future. This is a really great initiative for our state.The Speaker:The Leader of the Nationals WA with the
last question.
Mineral Research Institute of
Western Australia—Role
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