Diversify WA: Supply Chain Development Plan 2021–22 – update report

Western Australia has historically benefited from positive net investment, particularly in the resources sector. 

To support the diversification of the State’s economy, the Western Australian Government continues to pursue opportunities to attract domestic and international investment into more targeted supply chain opportunities. 

These opportunities are helping to diversify local industry, increase demand for local goods and services and secure trade in new markets. 

See the full report for the key actions for this focus area, status update and additional information.

Building out Western Australia’s supply chains while diversifying local industries requires the realignment of the State’s workforce capability. 

The Western Australian Government has invested in developing a range of general and specialised skills, and an agile labour market to meet the workforce needs of supply chain development priority areas. Since 2021, these investments have helped to introduce a coordinated approach to building workforce capability through new training initiatives targeted at reskilling and upskilling. 

With the progress made against these opportunities, Western Australia’s workforce is on its way to support the economy of the future. 

See the full report for the key actions for this focus area, status update and additional information.

The availability of project-ready land and access to key infrastructure is critical to attracting investment and de-risking new projects. 

To ensure that Western Australia has the infrastructure and available land to support future industries, the Western Australian Government continues to support the development of the State’s Strategic Industrial areas Areas (SIAs). 

Since 2021, significant progress has been made upgrading facilities at both the Australian Marine Complex (AMC) and the Western Trade Coast, positioning the State to take advantage of new and emerging industries in this strategic industrial corridor.  

See the full report for the key actions for this focus area, status update and additional information.

The Western Australian Government has sought to facilitate innovation to improve supply chain productivity, efficiency and competitiveness by investing in industry and supporting innovation hubs. 

Innovation in one segment of a supply chain, can benefit the competitiveness of the whole supply chain and transfer to other supply chains. 

While Western Australia is a demonstrated world leader in innovation within the resources sector, the State still faces many key challenges such as labour costs, skills and infrastructure constraints, and remoteness. 

These challenges could limit the State’s ability to lead in new and emerging industries; however, these challenges can be overcome through innovation and leveraging the State’s strengths. 

See the full report for the key actions for this focus area, status update and additional information.

The growth of supply chain activities in Western Australia, especially those that are transitioning rapidly to robotics and automation, requires competitive digital connectivity and a digitally enabled workforce. 

Recognising the importance of digital technologies in enabling future industry, the Western Australian Government has made significant progress in upgrading digital infrastructure both within government and across the State, with a particular focus on regional connectivity.  

See the full report for the key actions for this focus area, status update and additional information.

Defence is a growing industry both nationally and globally. Since 2021, the Australian Government has reshaped its national defence strategy under the Defence Strategic Review (DSR) and committed to acquiring new nuclear submarines under the AUKUS trilateral partnership. 

This has already begun to introduce new opportunities for the defence industry in Western Australia, with HMAS Stirling positioned to be the home of Submarine Rotational Force – West. 

To support these new opportunities, the Western Australian Government has invested significantly in local defence industry capability, including through workforce development, industry development, and investment attraction and trade promotion activities. 

See the full report for the key actions for this focus area, status update and additional information.

Western Australia’s mining and METS sector is diverse and world leading and continues to be a key contributor to the State and national economy. 

In addition to reliable supply, Western Australia has strong comparative advantages that include advanced technical mining expertise, a world-class services sector, an enabling and robust legislative framework and close proximity to key Asian markets. 

To meet global demand for the critical minerals needed for future renewable energy technologies, the Western Australian Government is investing into the mining and METS sector to expand upon the State’s existing strengths and unlock new value-adding opportunities, and ensure our supply chains remain robust and reliable for our trading partners.

See the full report for the key actions for this focus area, status update and additional information.

The global transition to decarbonisation is driving unprecedented demand for low carbon energy sources and renewables. 

This has presented significant opportunities for Western Australia, which is well placed to become a global clean energy producer and export leader given the State’s abundant resources, track record in building large-scale energy industries, and excellent infrastructure and technical prowess in commodity development. 

In order to position the State as a major global clean energy leader, the Western Australian Government has provided support to large-scale renewable projects while also investing in downstream value-adding activities.

See the full report for the key actions for this focus area, status update and additional information.

With increasing global demand for health and medical products and services, particularly since the emergence of COVID-19, as well as opportunities for trade with growing markets, Western Australia’s innovative health and medical life sciences sector is well placed to become a bigger part of growing global health supply chains, and support the diversification of our economy. 

In recognition of the sector’s importance, the Western Australian Government is investing in the sector to ensure the State’s health and medical life science industry is globally competitive. 

See the full report for the key actions for this focus area, status update and additional information.

Primary industries have long played a key role in Western Australian economy. To maintain the State’s competitive advantage, the Western Australian Government has provided support to industry to take advantage of value-adding opportunities while also ensuring supply chains remain resilient. 

See the full report for the key actions for this focus area, status update and additional information.

Western Australia’s southern hemisphere location, longitude, dry environmental conditions, radio quiet zones and clear skies have provided ideal conditions for major space projects since the late 1950s. 

Today, Western Australia is involved in a range of space operations and hosts significant space infrastructure for both civil and defence applications. 

The Western Australian Government has continued to support the sector in leveraging these advantages by providing direct support to industry, building a STEM-qualified workforce, and promoting the State’s space capabilities both domestically and internationally.

See the full report for the key actions for this focus area, status update and additional information.