❓ Mr. Punch asks the Premier about the future battery industry strategy's role in growing WA's export capabilities and building on the government's job creation record. The Premier outlines the strategy's goals and investments, highlighting its potential to drive economic growth and job creation.
AnsweredQoN 40Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
FUTURE BATTERY INDUSTRY
STRATEGY
40. Mr D.T. PUNCH to the Premier:
I refer to this government's
commitment to driving the development and growth of Western Australia's
future battery industry.
(1) Can the
Premier outline to the house how the future battery industry strategy will grow
the state into a leading exporter of minerals, materials, technology and
expertise?
(2) Can the
Premier advise the house how the strategy will build on the McGowan Labor
government's job-creating record, which has already seen an extra 31 000
Western Australians in work?
STRATEGY
40. Mr D.T. PUNCH to the Premier:
I refer to this government's
commitment to driving the development and growth of Western Australia's
future battery industry.
(1) Can the
Premier outline to the house how the future battery industry strategy will grow
the state into a leading exporter of minerals, materials, technology and
expertise?
(2) Can the
Premier advise the house how the strategy will build on the McGowan Labor
government's job-creating record, which has already seen an extra 31 000
Western Australians in work?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Bunbury for
the question and I thank him, the member for Murray–Wellington and the
member for Collie–Preston for their support in getting the Albemarle
project off the ground in Kemerton.
(1)–(2) This
is an important opportunity for Western Australia to ensure we take advantage
of our natural heritage; that is, lithium and the other minerals that go into
creating a battery. For the first time ever, we have delivered a future battery
industry strategy. Up until now, no work had been done to ensure we maximise
the opportunities out of these minerals that Western Australia is lucky enough
to possess. The Minister for Mines and Petroleum and I launched the strategy
maybe 10 or 12 days ago. Representatives from the Chamber of Commerce and Industry
of Western Australia who were there said about the strategy, I quote —
This will establish a solid
foundation for industry �
Over the course of the next 10 years,
we want to make sure that Western Australia has a world-leading, sustainable,
value-adding future battery industry. We are going to do that by expanding the
range of future battery materials that are extracted and processed here in Western
Australia; increasing the scale of processing and manufacturing service
activities along the value chain; and increasing the research and development
activities that are focused on battery materials. We have also committed $6 million
to the Future Battery Industries Cooperative Research Centre to be established
in Western Australia, and have urged the commonwealth government to make a decision
to place it here, which makes total sense considering we are the heart of
lithium mining in Australia. This strategy is important. That the government
will focus on maximising the jobs out of this industry was well received by the
Chamber of Minerals and Energy, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Western
Australia, the unions, the Association of Mining and Exploration Companies and
everyone else. As the member correctly identified, 31 000-plus jobs have been
created since we arrived in office, which is the highest annual employment
growth in six years. I am confident that this plan will continue to drive
confidence in the Western Australian economy. I am confident that, under this
government, we will continue to put Western Australian jobs first.
the question and I thank him, the member for Murray–Wellington and the
member for Collie–Preston for their support in getting the Albemarle
project off the ground in Kemerton.
(1)–(2) This
is an important opportunity for Western Australia to ensure we take advantage
of our natural heritage; that is, lithium and the other minerals that go into
creating a battery. For the first time ever, we have delivered a future battery
industry strategy. Up until now, no work had been done to ensure we maximise
the opportunities out of these minerals that Western Australia is lucky enough
to possess. The Minister for Mines and Petroleum and I launched the strategy
maybe 10 or 12 days ago. Representatives from the Chamber of Commerce and Industry
of Western Australia who were there said about the strategy, I quote —
This will establish a solid
foundation for industry �
Over the course of the next 10 years,
we want to make sure that Western Australia has a world-leading, sustainable,
value-adding future battery industry. We are going to do that by expanding the
range of future battery materials that are extracted and processed here in Western
Australia; increasing the scale of processing and manufacturing service
activities along the value chain; and increasing the research and development
activities that are focused on battery materials. We have also committed $6 million
to the Future Battery Industries Cooperative Research Centre to be established
in Western Australia, and have urged the commonwealth government to make a decision
to place it here, which makes total sense considering we are the heart of
lithium mining in Australia. This strategy is important. That the government
will focus on maximising the jobs out of this industry was well received by the
Chamber of Minerals and Energy, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Western
Australia, the unions, the Association of Mining and Exploration Companies and
everyone else. As the member correctly identified, 31 000-plus jobs have been
created since we arrived in office, which is the highest annual employment
growth in six years. I am confident that this plan will continue to drive
confidence in the Western Australian economy. I am confident that, under this
government, we will continue to put Western Australian jobs first.
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