The Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia's (CME) Pre-Budget Submission (PBS), released today, provides a comprehensive blueprint for the State Government to support the ongoing competitiveness of the resources sector and attract new investment and industries.
Containing more than 80 recommendations, the 2025-26 PBS focuses on five key policy areas: competitive fiscal settings, efficiency in regulation, energy security and transition, regional economic development and fostering a safe, diverse and productive workforce.
CME Chief Executive Officer Rebecca Tomkinson said falling commodity prices - including iron ore, lithium and nickel - had coincided with rising energy, labour, construction and shipping freight costs to create a challenging operating environment.
"Urgent action is required in a range of areas to ensure WA does not miss out on the immense opportunity offered by the global energy transition," Ms Tomkinson said.
"The firing gun has started on the international race for investment but WA risks remaining stranded in the starting blocks.
"Slow progress decarbonising our energy grids, a lack of industrial land, delays to project assessments, Federal industrial relations reforms and uncertainty over environmental laws each have the potential to impact WA's success.
"We need policymakers who appreciate what is at stake and display a willingness to rapidly rise to the challenge."
CME recommendations include adjusting royalty settings to better incentivise value-adding products such as magnetite and battery minerals, prioritising the delivery of turnkey Strategic Industrial Areas and urgently releasing a draft master transmission plan for the South West Interconnected System.
The PBS also highlights the pressing need to continue reforming project assessment processes, including through the introduction of time-based targets, expedite the release of serviced land for residential development in regional WA and more flexibly fund local governments to deliver high-priority projects.
Ms Tomkinson said Federal Government industrial relations reforms posed a serious threat to the long-term viability of the resources sector and encouraged the WA Government to use upcoming reviews to make the case for changes that supported productivity.
"Premier Roger Cook has advocated to the Federal Government for pragmatic and fit-for-purpose Nature Positive laws that are better for the environment and better for business.
"We urge him to join the CME in adopting the same approach to IR reforms.
"WA will struggle to compete globally without a workable and balanced industrial relations system that recognises productivity as the key driver of wages growth."
