Bush Summit - Port Hedland

Connecting Australians to one another

For 123 years the Commonwealth has had the role of connecting Australians to one another. When Australia Federated, Canberra was bush. Today it is still our Bush Capital. Here in WA, the enthusiasm in Coolgardie for Federation outpaced even Perth CBD.

On 1 January 1901 the largest Commonwealth department was the Postmaster General. 89 per cent of all public servants worked there, and in the years that followed we went so much further.

Ben Chifley made Qantas Australia's nationally owned airline. The Postmaster General split into Telecom and Australia Post in the 1970s. And now NBN Co, the Australian Rail Track Corporation and new initiatives such as the National Reconstruction Fund.

Each with a simple value at their heart. That this vast brown land should be well connected. Ensuring good services, and the economic opportunities that come.

A public service connecting Australia to the markets of the world

Michael Metcalf was a young Customs Officer stationed in Port Hedland in 1967 as the earliest shipments of Iron Ore left this port for Japan. He didn't fly in and fly out. Michael drove his Volkswagen Beetle for 2000 kilometres.

The reasoning from the Customs Department was this:

"… it was easier for the Department to move a young single fellow in and put him in the hotel rather than move a family there."

At the time no one knew that this emerging industry would come to dominate Australia's export trade. But this story shows the Australian Public Service was there from the very start. Supporting, facilitating, and maintaining our border security.

As Michael himself said:

"Being part of the opening of the Pilbara iron ore industry was indeed a privilege."

Keeping bush and city connected

Here, today in Port Hedland we are more connected, and more dependent on one another than ever. We held Cabinet here last year. The first time since Federation.

And this region is deeply connected to my electorate of Perth and to how the world sees Australia. My inner-city electorate is home to 6,904 workers in mining and resources.

CBH trade and sell Western Australia's grain to help feed the world from St Georges Terrace. Fortescue operate their Pilbara autonomous vehicles from East Perth. Royal Perth Hospital saves lives in the regions through the State Adult Major Trauma Centre. In West Perth is 2GR Wagyu Beef, a winner of the prestigious Australian Export Awards.

So I look at the world like this:

With Australia facing the most challenging strategic circumstances since World War II, should we build divides between city and regions?

Or are we stronger together?

Should we celebrate our connection?

And make those connections even stronger.

Making Australians more connected

That is exactly what our Government is doing.

Ground has been broken on the road upgrades to support the Pilbara Hydrogen Hub. Part of a $140 million investment with the State Government in the Hydrogen Hub and the 1000 direct and indirect jobs that follow.

We are rewiring the North West Interconnected System with our $3 billion transmission investment in WA. We are working with private enterprise through the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility.

Including investments for the Chichester Solar and Gas Hybrid Project, Pilbara Minerals Pilgangoora Plant and BCI Minerals' Mardie Salt Project.

And we aren't stopping there.

The Critical Minerals Production Tax Credit will support jobs across this great state.

Our Future Made in Australia agenda is about connecting global capital to local opportunities. It will connect regions across Australia to the global supply chains of the Net Zero Economy.

Conclusion

Our Government continues in the finest tradition of the Federation. Bringing people together. Realising the full potential of our regions. Supporting the industries and opportunities of tomorrow.

And making sure that every Australian feels the benefits of living in this unique, beautiful country.