WA Govt tables Bill to drive major project investment and development
CCIWA has welcomed a proposed development framework aimed at unlocking strategic precincts and fast-tracking approvals to accelerate major projects.
The WA Government’s State Development Bill 2025 – introduced to Parliament on September 10 – is part of a broader strategy to strengthen investment attraction, streamline regulation and solidify WA’s position as a global leader in industry growth.
Premier Roger Cook said a modernised and agile development system was needed “to secure investment in a more competitive, time-sensitive global investment environment”.
CCIWA Chief Economist Aaron Morey said the Bill would help WA attract investment and drive innovation across various industries.
“By ensuring priority projects aren’t caught up in needless bureaucracy, WA has a real opportunity to capitalise on global trends that will allow our State to grow and diversify its economy,” he said.
“There are enormous opportunities for WA in areas like battery minerals, data centres, defence, advanced manufacturing and life sciences, as well as our areas of traditional strength, like iron ore and gold. These industries will secure jobs and prosperity for future generations.”
How would this new approvals and regulatory system work?
The framework would allow the Premier to declare State Development Areas and Priority Projects, supported by the Coordinator General who would be delegated statutory powers to coordinate across agencies and facilitate regulatory processes.
The Coordinator General would have tools – including information notices, timeframe notices, due regard notices, joint decision notices and modification orders – to ensure major strategic opportunities are delivered in an investment-friendly timeframe.
The framework would aim to increase certainty of project approval timeframes and support the Government’s Made in WA agenda, including projects in energy transition, downstream minerals processing such as green steel, and naval shipbuilding and maintenance.
The Coordinator General's new powers would only be applied to the most significant precincts and opportunities. All other major private sector projects would continue to be driven by the Department of Energy and Economic Diversification.
The Government is also working on an additional round of general approvals reforms, which will be rolled out in 2026.
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