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Industry development

Industry development is a key contributing tool to economic development in Western Australia. Find out what we are doing to facilitate industry development, particularly in the areas of marine and defence, minerals and oil and gas services, manufacturing and the digital economy.

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Our role and industries we are currently focussing on

Industry development is a key contributing tool to economic development. We are focussed on facilitating the development of industry sectors or sub-sectors that provide, or have the potential to provide, a high value added contribution to the economy.

Our aim is to help maximise the potential of those sectors; to encourage growth industries that are viable, sustainable and internationally competitive; and to bring further value and wealth to the people of Western Australia.

Our current focus is in the areas of:

  • Marine
  • Defence
  • Minerals and oil and gas services
  • Manufacturing
  • Digital economy

These sectors will be complemented with investigations into areas for government involvement in new and emerging sectors.

Central to our role will be the coordination of a whole-of-government policy framework that brings together the key player in industry development, identifies priority areas and outlines solutions. We will also play a critical role in the establishment of strategic, common user infrastructure to support priority sectors.

Common use facilities in Western Australia

Australian Marine Complex Common User Facility

The Australian Marine Complex Common User Facility is a large, integrated fabrication and assembly facility with extensive load-out wharves that is available to multiple and concurrent users. The Western Australian Government-owned facility will ensure WA-based companies bidding for contracts arising from major projects underway or planned in the State remain competitive in terms cost and delivery. Go to www.australianmarinecomplex.com.au.

Pilbara Fabrication & Services Common Use Facility

The proposed Pilbara Fabrication & Services Common Use Facility (PFSCUF) will provide common use infrastructure that will enable key industries to maximise the economic development opportunities in the North West. Go to Pilbara Fabrication & Services Common Use Facility.

Increasing local industry participation

A range of complex market conditions have contributed to increased levels of competition for contracts arising from Western Australia’s resource developments. Conditions including changes to construction and fabrication technology; greater use of global supply chains and international business models by project proponents; and a strong Australian dollar are all impacting the competitiveness of the State’s local manufacturing industry.

Local industry participation is a high priority for the State Government as a key determinant of the current and future performance of the Western Australian economy.

Find out more about the work we are doing to increase local industry participation.

Ongoing promotion of Western Australian companies

The department is continually looking at ways in which it can help to promote Western Australian businesses, including:

Industry missions to international conferences (The Western Australian Government will lead an industry mission to Offshore Europe 2011 in September, one of the world’s largest oil and gas conferences and exhibitions).

Find out more about our business promotion services.

Western trade coast developments

The Department of Commerce actively participates in the recently established Western Trade Coast (WTC) Industries Committee.

The WTC region comprises the Australian Marine Complex (AMC), the Kwinana Industrial Area, Latitude32 Industry Zone, and the Rockingham Industry Zone. It currently produces $15.5 billion annually and employs 11,600 people.

The WTC Committee provides a forum where the current AMC Business Development and Overarching Committees can raise infrastructure, planning and industry issues
that impact the complex.

The committee will help to create an even stronger focus on the area and assist with attracting further investment, development of industry synergies while delivering more jobs for the local community.