CCIWA has a proven track record of championing policy that will grow and diversify the economy. At any one time, we are working on new policy papers, submissions to government reports and inquiries or responding to issues raised by CCIWA Members. Here’s a snapshot of our policy work from April to August 2025.
Policy highlight: Modernising education to equip future workforce
In July, CCIWA released the Thinking Ahead report into WA’s education system, which found employers were increasingly concerned that students entering the workforce lacked basic skills and knowledge needed for the workplace.
The report – informed by extensive consultation with business and education stakeholders – identified a growing disconnect between WA’s education system and the needs of industry. Key concerns raised, included: an insufficient focus on explicit teaching for literacy and numeracy, a bloated curriculum, student equity concerns, and a lack of connecting schools to businesses and the broader community.
CCIWA made several recommendations to better prepare young people for future careers, focusing on five key areas:
- A renewed focus on explicit and deep learning.
- Addressing the bloated curriculum.
- Empowering independent public schools.
- Improving student equity support; and
- Better collaboration with industry and community.
You can read the full report Thinking Ahead: Preparing WA’s education system for future workforces here.
Focal point: State Election and Budget 2025-26
WA Labor secured majority Government
WA Labor was elected to form Government for a third term from the March 8 election, with a key policy being the ‘Made in WA’ agenda. This seeks to embolden local manufacturing in key sectors, helping to diversify the WA economy.
CCIWA continues to engage with the Government, advocating for:
- Payroll tax reform, to ease cost pressures on WA businesses.
- Ensuring accountability for approvals processes by decision-makers.
- Addressing skills shortages and housing delays that help to improve workforce availability.
- Securing reliable, cost-competitive energy for businesses throughout the energy transition.
- Enabling business-led diversification of the WA economy, capitalising on opportunities in battery minerals, defence, agriculture, space and artificial intelligence.
Budget signals a new era
The 2025-26 State Budget delivered another strong surplus, underpinned by record iron ore royalties and a robust domestic economy. While the State’s fiscal position has remained the strongest in the nation, CCIWA emphasised the need for greater focus on long-term economic resilience beyond the resources sector.
Despite welcome investments in housing and infrastructure, the Budget largely maintained the status quo on tax reform, with limited relief for WA businesses navigating persistent cost pressures. CCIWA continues to call on the government to address WA’s high payroll tax burden.
View our Pre-Budget Submission here.
In other Federal policy news:
Federal Election: The Anthony Albanese-led Australian Labor Party was returned to Federal Government for a second term, with a large majority in the House of Representatives and a majority, with the Greens, in the Senate. CCIWA will continue to work proactively with the Government on critical federal issues that impact WA businesses and the economy, including industrial relations flexibility, environmental approvals, reliable gas supply and, crucially, in ensuring WA maintains its fair share of GST.
Productivity focus: Soon after the election, the Treasurer Dr Jim Chalmers announced a focus on productivity for this term of Government. If we want to attract the next wave of global investment, we need to make it easier to do business in Australia. To this end, we need to fix the environmental approvals framework, ensure a balanced industrial relations framework, that energy policy delivers cheap and reliable energy, and corporate tax rates don’t penalise business.
In other State policy news:
State Wage Case: CCIWA made two submissions to the WA Industrial Relations Commission (WAIRC) and appeared at the Commission in Court to provide a view on behalf of employers. The WAIRC decided to increase the State minimum wage by 3.57% to $953 a week from July 1, 2025 – a move that affected about 27,000 employers.
Read our submissions here.
Public holidays: The State Government announced a review of WA’s public holidays, with the potential of adding more to the calendar. CCIWA has supported aligning the State’s public holidays with other jurisdictions but has opposed creating additional ones. CCIWA also encouraged businesses to provide feedback on the Government’s review, with consultations closing August 8.
Read more here.
In the media
CCIWA Acting co-CEO Aaron Morey, The West Australian, July 20, 2025
“Increasing the tax burden would take an already high-cost, high-risk investment environment and push it further over the edge.
“Industrial relations changes have increased costs and complexity. Approvals processes are gummed up in ever-growing bureaucracy. Energy is no longer a source of competitive advantage. And businesses in Australia face one of the highest overall tax burdens in the developed world.”
To find out more about what we stand for, visit our Policy & Advocacy page.
