WA’s energy transition will reshape the State’s industrial landscape, with new opportunities in renewable energy, advanced manufacturing and workforce development, according to Energy and Decarbonisation Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson.
Speaking at CCIWA’s Business Breakfast last week to around 300 business leaders, the Minister said her mission was “to make Western Australia a renewable energy powerhouse”.
‘Cost of doing nothing’ is biggest energy risk, Minister said
Energy and Decarbonisation Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson and CCIWA Chief Economist Aaron Morey
In a Q&A with CCIWA Chief Economist Aaron Morey, Minister Sanderson said the “lowest cost mix” was renewables, batteries and gas.
“Coal is the most expensive form of generation for Western Australia and increasingly, across the country,” she said.
“The cost of leaving coal in the system until it’s technical life [ends], that will send energy prices soaring.
“The cost of doing nothing could potentially drive State-owned utilities off the financial cliff.”
Minister Sanderson said the Government was working with industry on policy interventions to address high energy prices for small, medium and large businesses.
She also confirmed the Government would legislate a target to underpin emission reductions, which could be renewable energy or emissions targets.
Have questions about the State Government’s agenda? Ask Premier Roger Cook at one of our last political events for the year.
Opportunities for manufacturers
The Minister highlighted opportunities for WA manufacturers through new procurement requirements for State-owned utilities to strengthen local supply chains.
“We need to back our local manufacturing industry with more than just words. We need to embed it in how government does business,” she said.
“They need to design their tenders in a way that gives local businesses a real chance to compete and win.”
Training and migration to fill the gap
Addressing skills shortages, Minister Sanderson said the Government was “building the pipeline of skilled trades workers”, with apprenticeships increasing 43% since 2017.
However, she acknowledged ongoing workforce pressure: “Even with everything that the Government is doing, it will take time to train local workers, and we know we have the skill shortage now.”
The Minister said skilled migration was also critical, particularly for AUKUS, and that the Government was in talks with their federal counterparts to ensure WA retained the 5,000 State Nominated Migration Program places.
“We do not expect any reduction in the skills migration sector in Western Australia … we need to be providing access to housing for migrants who come in,” she said.
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