Another $11.7 billion for WA roads

Investing in technology and innovation will be key to resilient and sustainable supply chains, research by Asialink Business reveals • Supply chains are under unprecedented strain, due to the impacts of the pandemic, geopolitical tensions, and rising shipping costs. • Businesses across Australia and Asia need to invest in building resilient supply chains that can keep pace with the explosion of e-commerce and changing consumer expectations around sustainability. • The Asia-Pacific region accounted for 62 per cent of all e-commerce sales globally in 2020, with cross-border e-commerce accounting for a significant proportion of the overall e- commerce market in certain markets, in particular from Singapore into Malaysia. • There is a trend towards moving production back home (onshoring)

or into nearby countries, diversifying suppliers across the Asia-Pacific region and boosting inventory. • Technology investment, including automation, connected sensors and data analytics, is critical to supply chain transformation but small/medium business risks falling behind. • The Asia-Pacific is not a homogenous consumer market, with a differing platforms and routes to market shaping emerging consumer and supply chain developments.

Faced with unprecedented disruption and strain, businesses in Australia and Asia need to rapidly transition to equip their supply chains for current and future challenges. New research launched by Asialink Business, supported by Toll Group, analyses the structural pressures on supply chains and argues that technology, innovation, and e-commerce will be key to building sustainable and resilient supply networks.

The research, which included a survey of businesses across Australia and the region, found that supply chain uncertainty is hitting small business hardest. Thirty-two per cent of small businesses surveyed said restrictions on business could threaten their operations, compared to 15 per cent of medium-sized businesses and eight percent of large businesses.

The research identified a trend towards moving production back home (onshoring) or into nearby countries, diversifying suppliers and boosting inventory. Onshoring is particularly appealing to small business, with 30 per cent of those surveyed considering it as an option to improve their resilience.

With a strong call to action to supply chain leaders to prepare now, the report also recommends stronger partnership with government, to support business to develop resilient and sustainable supply chains that meet the needs of citizens in Australia and across the region. Download the report at: https:// asialinkbusiness.com.au/researchresources/disruption- innovationreshaping-regional-supply-chains

Over the next four years, The McGowan Government is delivering $11.7 billion for major road projects, upgrades and maintenance throughout Western Australia as part of the 2021-22 State Budget.

Major projects funded and under construction in the 2021-22 State Budget include: • Tonkin Gap works, supporting 1,050 jobs, as part of the $1.39 billion

Tonkin Corridor Upgrades; • $320 million for the Great Eastern

Highway Bypass Interchanges, with works to commence later this year; • $232 million for the Mitchell Freeway

Extension (Hester Avenue to Romeo

Road); • $76 million for the Mitchell Freeway widening southbound from Hodges

Drive to Hepburn Avenue; • $140 million for transforming freeways through the Mitchell

Freeway corridor; • $138.6 million for the Stephenson

Avenue extension; • $259 million for the Armadale Road

Bridge - North Lake Road Flyover; • $852 million for the Bunbury Outer

Ring Road; • $175 million for the Albany Ring Road; • $98 million for upgrades to Great Northern Highway at Ord River in the Kimberley; • $36 million for Port Hedland Airport deviation; and • $52 million for Coolgardie Esperance

Highway at Emu Rocks.

Funding has also been allocated to projects under procurement or in planning, including: • $49.8 million for the Causeway

Cyclist and Pedestrian Bridge over the Swan River as part of the Perth

City Deal; • $230 million for the Swan River

Crossings Project, to replace the outdated Fremantle Traffic Bridge; • $225 million to prepare for the construction of grade separated interchanges on Reid Highway at Altone Road, Daviot Road and

Drumpellier Drive; • $110 million to prepare for the duplication of the Mandurah Estuary

Bridge; • $27.5 million for construction of

Pinjarra Heavy Haulage Deviation; • $120 million to upgrade and seal 100 kilometres of Marble Bar Road; • $380 million to construct and seal

Manuwarra Red Dog Highway Stage 4; • $250 million for upgrades to Great

Eastern Highway at Coates Gully, between Walgoolan to Southern

Cross, and between Ghooli to Benari; • $55 million to upgrade Indian Ocean

Drive between Jurien Bay and Brand

Highway.

As part of the McGowan Government's continued commitment to road safety, funding has been allocated for the following programs over 2021-22 and forward estimates: • $16 million for the Safer Roads and

Bridges Program in Perth and Peel; • $104 million for the Resealing

Program in Perth and Peel.