The MAX Plant team was invited to the Business News breakfast by the City of Cockburn to hear from Roger Cook on the topic ‘Beyond the hard border’. With a beautiful breakfast severed they listened to a range of topics about the Western Australian economy and its future. Some key takeaways from the morning are below.

A key sector is energy, including hydrogen and battery energy storage and Western Australia is well placed to be a leader in energy transformation and decarbonisation. With our substantial reserves of minerals used in the manufacture of battery energy storage.

Cook touched on Iluka’s 1.2 billion rare earths investment decision. Another project that proves the alignment of the industry to continue to add value as we move up the supply chain of battery energy storage manufacture.

It is important we build demand through destination marketing, develop aviation links, and ensure we have a world-class tourism product for them to enjoy.

Skill shortage was another topic. A big part of Rogers overseas trips is to talk WA up. Working in the UK trying to attract people to WA, is a central part of their message.

Diversifying the economy, the reality is we have 140 billion resource projects in the pipeline to sustain WA for a very long time. We should be proud WA is a major economic contributor because of our mining, oil and gas and other resource companies. It is important to utilise the strengths and skillsets in this area to diversify our economy.

Western Australia’s unique indigenous culture, he reiterated we should be proud of being a major economic contributor because of our mining, oil and gas and other resource companies. The plan is to diversify so we are a much more balanced economy, utilising the strengths and skillsets we already have. Rogers stated if we can work out how to remotely fix a gas pipeline 200m underwater you can work out how to drive a robot on the moon.

The culture of our first nations people is not recognised enough was another topic. Elevating and empowering indigenous tourism is a large part of his strategy. 81% of tourists entering Western Australia want an indigenous Aboriginal experience. Currently, only 17% go away with that experience.

Western Australia strives to be the space capital of Australia. If we can work out how to remotely fix a gas pipeline 200m underwater, you can work out how to drive a robot on the moon. It is important we utilise our strengths in our economy and the skill sets we have.  

The speech wrapped up with a Q&A and questions from the audience. Thank you to the City of Cockburn for inviting us.