Western Australia: It's Like No Other magazine - Autumn/ Winter 2023

Western Australia’s sustainable energy future

WALKING ON A DREAM

STEP OUTSIDE OF THE EVERYDAY AND INTO A DREAM. A PLACE WHERE REALITY AND THE OTHERWORLDLY COMBINE.

Open your eyes to the underwater enchantment of Ningaloo Reef / Nyinggulu, glide with majestic whale sharks, and dive into a world of colour and coral.

Just like a dream, sometimes everything is quite real, sometimes truly magical. This is a place of natural wonders, supernatural contrasts and rare experiences. A truly wondrous and dreamlike place to explore.

WESTERNAUSTRALIA.COM

Western Australia

It’s Like No Other

Published by Western Australia - It’s Like No Other is published by the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation (JTSI) on behalf of the Government of Western Australia.

ISSN: 2652-5348 (Print)

ISSN: 2652-5356 (Online)

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Acknowledgement of Country

The Government of Western Australia acknowledges the traditional custodians throughout Western Australia and their continuing connection to the land, waters and community. We pay our respects to all members of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and their cultures, and to Elders past, present, and emerging.

Disclaimer

Western Australia - It’s Like No Other has been compiled in good faith by the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation (JTSI). Opinions expressed in the magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views, or have the endorsement of JTSI. JTSI has used all reasonable endeavours to ensure the material contained in this publication is correct, but it is intended to be general in nature. No representation is made with regard to the completeness or accuracy of the information contained herein. JTSI disclaims any or all liability for loss or damage whatsoever suffered or incurred resulting from the use or reliance on information contained herein. Readers of this publication should make and rely on their own enquiries, research and judgements in making decisions affecting their own or any other persons’ interest.

All currency figures in Western Australia - It’s Like No Other are in Australian dollars unless otherwise specified.

On the cover

Albany Wind Farm in Western Australia’s Great Southern region is one of the most spectacular and largest wind farms in Australia. The wind farm walk offers spectacular views of the eco-friendly turbines along the Torndirrup Peninsula.

Photograph by Tourism Western Australia | @ospreycreative on social media

Statement of Accessibility

Western Australia - It’s Like No Other is published online. Visit the Western Australian Government’s Invest and Trade WA portal www.investandtrade.wa.gov.au or access a PDF through the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation agency page on the www.wa.gov.au/jtsi web portal. Alternative formats are available on request for persons with accessibility requirements.

minerals Winning WA exporters

Premier’s Foreword

Welcome to the latest edition of ‘Western Australia: It’s Like No Other’ magazine. It’s a big year for Western Australia. A lot of exciting things are happening both at home and in the international markets we’re currently active in. Major events, trade missions and a range of international conferences are just some of the ways in which we’re carrying the Western Australia message to a global audience.

Our message is bold and clear – Western Australia is a global destination to live, study, work and invest. Western Australia is poised as a renewable energy powerhouse and, as Premier, I am looking forward to promoting and maximising the opportunities in our rapidly emerging renewable energy sectors.

The WA Government has invested around $170 million to help ensure Western Australia meets its potential and becomes a global exporter of renewable hydrogen.

Governments and businesses around the world are eager to engage with us on renewable hydrogen. We know that international collaboration is essential to establish markets for Western Australian-made renewable hydrogen and securing investment in local projects.

Our State’s abundant renewable energy resources alongside our world-leading iron ore industry puts WA front and centre in the global push towards green steel. We’ve recently delivered a report which highlights Western Australia’s potential to join the rapidly growing global green steelmaking value chain.

Green steel manufacturing is a key pillar of the WA Jobs Plan and will diversify our economy and create more local jobs right across the State.

This comes as the WA Government has delivered on an election commitment, as part of the WA Jobs Plan, and achieved our 125,000 new jobs target well ahead of schedule and recorded nation-leading economic growth in the March quarter of 2023.

Our secret is well and truly out. The world is learning just how much of a dreamlike destination our magnificent State really is, with our Walking on a Dream tourism campaign at the heart of it.

Three dimensional images of a floating whale shark have graced digital billboards in New York’s Times Square and London’s Piccadilly Circus.

New flight routes to Japan and regional destinations across the State are helping Western Australians and overseas visitors see what we have to offer. The hugely popular Qantas Perth to Rome route, the only direct connection between Australia and continental Europe has been confirmed to continue for a third season with the 2024 season to go on sale soon.

We hosted a truly global event in April when all eyes were on Western Australia for the solar eclipse. Visitors from around the world came to witness this phenomenal event, with international news crews beaming live footage of our State to viewers around the world. The solar eclipse is among a number of major events for Western Australia in 2023. Visitors from around the world are arriving in increasing numbers for sporting and cultural events, conferences and trade events.

Don’t miss the stories on hydrogen industry and developments across all our priority sectors in this edition of ‘Western Australia: It’s Like No Other’ magazine.

Hon Roger Cook MLA

Premier; Minister for State and Industry Development, Jobs and Trade

Wind power

An independent, full feasibility study into manufacturing wind turbine components and servicing opportunities locally is progressing with the support of industry.

The Western Australian Government has commissioned independent consultants Aurecon to undertake a comprehensive full feasibility study to progress findings of previous analysis which initially examined wind farm supply opportunities in Western Australia.

The full feasibility study is the next step of the WA Government’s $10 million Wind Turbine Manufacturing Initiative to further support and facilitate local wind turbine manufacturing for onshore and offshore wind farm developments. It will verify opportunities for WA businesses and identify requirements for a potential manufacturing hub, including suitable industrial land and exploring infrastructure to support development of offshore wind industry.

The study complements the WA Government’s commitment to cutting emissions and transition to renewable energy by growing the State’s capability and capacity to manufacture the green energy infrastructure necessary for the shift.

The full feasibility study is supported by the Local Participation in Wind Farm Supply Action Group, comprising industry representative bodies, steel producers, local fabricators and wind farm proponents.

“As an Australian business who actively supports local steel manufacturing in Western Australia, BlueScope Distribution are very proud to be one of the founding members of the Local Participation in Wind Farm Supply Action Group,” BlueScope Distribution WA State Sales Manager Aaron Turner said.

“We look forward to partnering with local business and seeing the creation of more local jobs.”

Aurecon has consulted extensively with industry and supply chain participants to verify and scope current and future demand requirements, industry participation, logistics requirements, and supply chain capacity in WA.

For more information on the WA Government’s Wind Turbine Manufacturing Initiative, visit:

Next steps:

• Policy recommendations could include actions to drive wind turbine demand and support WA manufacturers in operations and maintenance, onshore and offshore.

• All aspects of the value supply chain will be considered, from project approvals through to end of life decommissioning. Efforts will include improving visibility of renewable energy developments to local manufacturers, plus the location and viability of a common use facility close to ports and industrial lands.

• Given the dynamic nature of the industry, research and development, and training opportunities will play a key role, ensuring the sustainability of the industry through a skilled workforce to support future local wind farm operations and maintenance opportunities.

The Western Australian Government in looking at new opportunities for manufacturing wind turbine components locally in WA. Credit: DPIRD

Green energy drives WA minerals exploration

The global transition to green energy continues to drive the search for minerals in Western Australia. Battery metals dominated the latest round of the Exploration Incentive Scheme’s (EIS) co-funded drilling program.

Battery minerals are essential to a range of clean energy technologies such as rechargeable batteries, electric vehicles and wind turbines.

Mines and Petroleum Minister Bill Johnston said: “The State Government will continue to grow and diversify our resources sector to meet the growing demand for renewables.”

Sixty-four per cent of the successful applicants for the EIS Round 26 are searching for battery minerals, with the majority chasing nickel.

Minister Johnston led an overseas mission in March, promoting WA’s globally-recognised battery, critical minerals and energy sectors.

The successful applicants are exploring greenfields areas across the State, with particular interest in WA’s remote eastern regions close to the Northern Territory border.

This interest follows WA’s record nickel sales of $4.9 billion in 2021-22 and all-time high exploration expenditure across all mineral sectors of $2.5 billion. Mineral exploration companies remain a critical part of WA’s economic success, and record resources sales of $231 billion in 2021-22 are a testament to their efforts.

Western Australia’s status as a leading global supplier of battery and critical minerals is just the start of what the State has to offer investors around the world.

“The State Government will continue to grow and diversify our resources sector to meet the growing demand for renewables”.

– Mines and Petroleum Minister Bill Johnston

Western Australia is abundant in a diverse range of minerals, including nickel. Pictured is BHP’s Nickel West operation in Mount Keith, WA. Credit: BHP Nickel West

Promoting WA industry in Japan and South Korea

Former Premier Mark McGowan led a trade mission to Japan and South Korea this year to showcase Western Australia’s potential.

Japan and South Korea are important trading partners, contributing 85 per cent of the total value of WA’s petroleum exports in 2021–2022.

The mission was designed to reaffirm long-standing relationships and attract investment to drive jobs in WA and diversify the State’s economy. It attracted media coverage in Japan, Korea and WA.

Western Australia’s Investment and Trade Commissioner for North East Asia, Nicole Fasana, supported the former Premier during the mission, which was

Mr McGowan’s second official visit to both countries.

Investment opportunities focused on renewable energy, critical minerals, and downstream processing.

In Japan, the former Premier met with the Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary, a key advisor to Prime Minister Kishida.

Mr McGowan also met with the Governor of Tokyo and the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry. In addition, the former Premier met with key decision-makers from companies including Japanese Steel Mills, Mitsui, Marubeni, Sumitomo, All Nippon Airways and Mitsubishi Corporation.

While in Japan, he also spoke at the 4th Clean Fuel Ammonia Association

International Symposium to promote WA’s green hydrogen and ammonia potential to international investors.

Agreeing to cooperate

During the mission, several agreements were signed, including a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC). This MOU will encourage greater financial support by JBIC in new energy projects across WA.

The former Premier also met the Governor of Hyogo Prefecture and witnessed the signing of an MOU between the Pilbara Ports Authority and Japan’s Port of Himeji, supporting cooperation on renewable energy and net zero carbon emission initiatives.

Former Premier Mark McGowan travelled from Fukuoka, Japan to Busan, South Korea on the JR Queen Beetle

A Sister-State joint statement was also signed, promoting collaboration between the two regions for economic development.

Both agreements strengthen the Sister-State Relationship established between WA and Hyogo Prefecture in 1981.

South Korea by sea

Mr McGowan travelled from Fukuoka, Japan, to Busan, South Korea, on the JR Queen Beetle, a 500-passenger jet ferry built in Western Australia.

Manufactured by shipbuilder Austal Ships, it is owned and operated by JR Kyushu Jet Ferry Inc. (JR Kyushu). It was delivered in September 2020 and, after a twoyear delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the ferry service resumed in November 2022.

“Austal have produced a magnificent vessel, supporting almost 200 Western Australian jobs in the process and

establishing a new benchmark for passenger comfort on ferries,” Mr McGowan said.

Building strong ties

In South Korea, the former Premier hosted a business network reception attended by representatives from across the WA-Korea bilateral relationship. He also met with business leaders, including representatives from the Korea Gas Corporation, Hyundai Steel and Hyundai Motor Company.

A visit to steel giant POSCO was important, following the WA Government’s decision to allocate industrial land in the Pilbara to POSCO for its green hydrogen ambitions.

To encourage cooperation in developing emerging industries, the former Premier signed a Letter of Intent between the WA Government and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) of the Republic of Korea.

For opportunities in business, investment or trade, contact the experienced team at Invest and Trade Western Australia. In-house experts can support you directly and provide referrals or introductions across Western Australia’s network of overseas offices, industry bodies and government agencies.

www.investandtrade.wa.gov.au

“Austal have produced a magnificent vessel, supporting almost 200 Western Australian jobs in the process and establishing a new benchmark for passenger comfort on ferries”

- Former Premier Mark McGowan

The Western Australian delegation visited steel giant POSCO while in South Korea

The Western Australian Government signed an MOU with JOGMEC, expanding cooperation to new and renewable energies.

L-R: JOGMEC Chairman & CEO Tetsuhiro Hosono; Japanese Consul General Yasushi Naito; Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation Director General Rebecca Brown; and former Minister for Hydrogen Industry Alannah MacTiernan at the MOU signing in December.

WA and Japan: New and renewable energies

A new agreement will build stronger cooperation between Western Australia and the Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security (JOGMEC).

The Western Australian Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with JOGMEC, expanding cooperation to new and renewable energies. It builds on an MOU signed with JOGMEC in 2020 to strengthen collaboration in metal and mineral resources.

The new MOU promotes both a stable supply of energy resources to Japan and Japanese investment in Western Australia.

Japan is an important market for WA. It is the State’s second largest trading partner, with $33 billion of goods traded in 2021-22.

Energy resources covered by the MOU include WA-made renewable hydrogen.

Former Hydrogen Industry Minister Alannah MacTiernan hosted the signing at the Australian Hydrogen Conference (West), in Perth in December.

The MOU was signed by the Director General of WA’s Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation, Rebecca Brown, and the Chairman of JOGMEC, Tetsuhiro Hosono.

Energies covered also include hydrogen, methanation, carbon capture and storage (CCS), carbon dioxide capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS), ammonia, and decarbonisation and low emission technologies.

- Energy Minister Bill Johnston

Embracing new opportunities aligns with Diversify WA, the WA Government’s development blueprint to grow and diversify the State’s economy – to create jobs and secure our future.

Find out more about Diversify WA

“Through strengthening relationships with international partners like JOGMEC, the WA Government is helping to ensure the State embraces opportunities that emerge as economies around the world decarbonise, ”

WA a global dream destination

Western Australia’s global tourism brand recently landed in the United Kingdom, with a WA showcase in the heart of London’s West End at iconic Piccadilly Circus.

The week-long tourism campaign on London’s most prominent digital billboard, the “Piccadilly Lights,” included a screening of the 60-second ‘Walking On A Dream’ film, and spectacular imagery of WA’s tourism destinations.

An impressive 3D animation of the Ningaloo reef whale shark swimming out of the confines of the billboard and serenely floating in the air above the busy London hub provided an iconic finishing touch.

Prior to the UK launch, Western Australia’s Walking On A Dream tourism campaign took to the streets of Manhattan in the United States, with a week-long publicity drive including billboard features in Times Square. This included three-dimensional animations featuring the campaign’s iconic whale shark on four prominent billboards in and around Times Square over the holiday period and New Year’s Eve — including at the The Cube, a highly coveted advertising space in the centre of the action.

Launched in September 2022, Western Australia’s Walking On A Dream tourism brand initially targeted the east coast of Australia. By the end of 2022, the brand had launched into international markets including Indonesia, New Zealand, and Singapore, followed by the US New Year’s Eve.

Premier Roger Cook said Western Australia’s new global tourism brand showcases WA as a dreamlike and aspirational destination in a highly competitive marketplace.

“The Walking On A Dream campaign continues to be bold and eye-catching, shining a light on the stunning natural assets that make WA a dreamlike and wondrous place to visit,” Mr Cook said.

“The new brand has elevated WA on the world stage, with our incredible State featured on plenty of global lists of the best

places to see in 2023. The secret is well and truly out.

“Walking On A Dream will ensure that WA stands out as one of the world’s most unique, memorable and desirable places to visit, now and well into the future.”

Want to see the Walking On A Dream campaign? Visit tourism.wa.gov.au.

Western Australia’s new tourism brand landed in Manhattan in the US, featuring at Times Square

Perth to Manila direct flights take-off

The first non-stop flight between Manila and Perth took to the skies in March, strengthening Western Australia’s position as Australia’s Western Gateway.

Premier Roger Cook said the route opens up a major market for Western Australia.

“The Southeast Asia region has been leading the recovery of our international visitor economy since reconnecting with the world earlier this year,” Mr Cook said.

“This new connection between the Philippines and WA provides an important route to attract visitors and international students into our State, while supporting the development of trade between our two regions.”

Pre-COVID-19, 67% of visitor arrivals to WA

from the Philippines were people visiting friends and relatives, while 11% visited for business, and 14% for a holiday.

The new direct route opens up the potential for increasing the number of Filipino students in WA, who account for about 7% of the visitor numbers.

Department of Home Affairs figures show the Philippines is the 10th largest international market for WA arrivals since the State’s border reopened. The direct Manila-Perth service is the result of a partnership between the Western Australian Government, through Tourism WA, Philippine Airlines and Perth Airport.

Read more about Western Australia’s aviation announcements on Tourism WA’s corporate website: tourism.wa.gov.au

“This new connection between the Philippines and WA provides an important route to attract visitors and international students, while supporting trade between our two regions”

- Premier Roger Cook

Celebrating direct Manila-Perth flights – a partnership between the WA Government, through Tourism WA, with Philippine Airlines and Perth Airport.

Building stronger ties with Indonesia

Growing government and business relationships in Jakarta

Premier Roger Cook led an Invest and Trade Western Australia mission to Jakarta in December (as then Deputy Premier) to strengthen government-to-government relationships and reconnect with business partners.

“As one of our closest neighbours, we are committed to deepening economic connections between WA and Indonesia,” Mr Cook said.

“There is great opportunity to expand energy cooperation, working in partnership to balance our desire for sustainability and security in the region, as part of the global energy transition.”

The mission included an extensive program of networking events, industry and media briefings, and government and business meetings, including with the Indonesia Australia Business Council, to strengthen investment, trade and tourism engagement and outcomes.

Western Australia’s former Investment and Trade Commissioner for ASEAN Krista Dunstan and the State’s Invest and Trade WA Office in Jakarta played a leading role in supporting the former Deputy Premier.

One of the former Deputy Premier’s key engagements was meeting with aviation partner Garuda Airlines to discuss resuming direct flights between Jakarta and Perth.

Another was the launch of WA’s new global tourism brand, Walking On A Dream, at a special dinner for around 70 guests.

Mr Cook also met with the KADIN (Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry) and its Net Zero Emission Hub to discuss WA’s energy capabilities and opportunities for collaboration in the critical minerals sector and energy transitionrelated supply chains.

As a result, representatives from KADIN are planning to travel to WA in early 2023 to continue these discussions.

Indonesia is an important export market for WA, with $3 billion of goods exported to the country in 2021-22.

Operating as the ‘front door’ to Western Australia for overseas investors, Invest and Trade WA works to attract investment into the State and foster mutually beneficial trading relationships.

Visit Invest and Trade for more information.

Premier Cook (centre) met with the KADIN (Indonesia Chamber of Commerce), together with WA Investment and Trade Commissioner for ASEAN Krista Dunstan (second from left)

Indonesian students celebrate WA success

Indonesian students have been recognised after studying in Western Australia as part of the Indonesian International Student Mobility Awards (IISMA) ‘Learning with Industry’ scholarship program.

The program has supported 400 students from across Indonesia to study abroad for a semester.

The 26 students who chose WA were supported by the Western Australian and Indonesian Governments Students studied at North Metropolitan TAFE, The University of Western Australia, Curtin University, Murdoch University and Phoenix Academy.

International Education Minister David Templeman congratulated the students and celebrated their achievements at an ‘Indonesian Sponsored Students – Explore Western Australia’ event at the StudyPerth Student Hub—a dedicated space for international students in the heart of Perth.

“With half of the scholarship recipients who came to Australia as part of this program choosing WA to complete their studies, it is proof our State is the destination of choice for many international students,” Mr Templeman said.

The West Australian Technical and Vocational Education and Training Consortium (WATVET) led WA’s participation in the Indonesian Government scholarship program.

WATVET received $3 million from the WA Government through the 2022-23 Budget to build and promote international education and training opportunities in WA.

Scholarships play an important role in attracting and supporting international students and promoting WA as an education destination. In recognition of this, the WA Government has launched two Western Australian Premier’s Scholarship programs for international students.

Find out more about these scholarships and how the WA Government supports the international education sector.

CREDIT: Courtesy of Phoenix Academy

Funding to build opportunities in Asia

The Access Asia Business Grants are supporting Western Australian small and medium enterprises and organisations to advance their export and trade activities in new Asian markets.

The competitive grants program, funded by the Western Australian Government, began in 2019. Since then, more than $1 million has been awarded to 68 applicants seeking to access and grow their business in new markets.

In the 2022-23 financial year, grants of up to $27,500 were available from a grant pool of $415,000 under Round 5 of the program.

Grant recipients can use this funding to adopt new business models, develop export plans, scope new e-commerce and digital platforms or develop new marketing collateral.

This is a great way for local businesses and organisations to increase their links with Asia, focusing on activities that connect WA businesses and potential Asian clients.

“Through the Access Asia Business Grants program, we want to help more WA businesses export their worldclass products and services into key Asian markets,” Premier Roger Cook said.

The program is a key initiative under Western Australia’s Asian Engagement Strategy 20192030 - Our future with Asia.

The strategy provides a framework for the State’s longterm engagement with key Asian markets and responds to the need to diversify the economy and create skilled jobs for Western Australians.

The Access Asia Business Grants program has supported many WA businesses to work towards these goals.

“We want to help more WA businesses export their world-class products and services into key Asian markets”

- Premier Roger Cook

Skydive Geronimo received funding to produce materials for a postCOVID-19 reactivation campaign

Image courtesy of Skydive Geronimo

Local wedding gown designer, Cizzy Bridal Australia (Cizzy Bridal), used its grant to establish a foothold in China’s lucrative bridal gown market. In Round 3 of the program, the Perth-based company was awarded $14,100 to produce its first-ever virtual catwalk show and an accompanying social media campaign.

The grant helped Cizzy Bridal achieve its key objective of establishing a digital presence on popular Chinese social media platforms, resulting in all 18 of its showcased gowns being ordered by stockists in China.

Cizzy Bridal also credited the grant with providing an excellent launch pad for future virtual catwalk shows and engagement with other Asian markets.

In Round 4 of the program, there were 16 successful applicants engaged in a broad range of activities.

Skydive Geronimo received funding to produce video footage and photographs for a post-COVID-19 reactivation campaign.

The campaign targeted the Japan, Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, South Korea and Singapore markets.

Find out more about the Access Asia Business Grants

Local wedding gown designer Cizzy Bridal Australia used its grant to establish a foothold in China’s lucrative bridal gown market. Image courtesy of Cizzy Bridal Australia

Move to WA!

Now is the time to move and be part of Western Australia’s bright future.

Promoting Western Australia’s higher wages, lower cost of living, and surf and sunshine lifestyle was the aim of a WA mission to the United Kingdom and Ireland in February.

Police and Defence Industry Minister Paul Papalia led the mission, together with the Western Australian Police Force (WAPOL) and representatives from the Western Australian Government, the Australian Hotels Association, the Motor Trade Association and the College of Electrical Training.

Across 8 days, the delegation promoted the benefits of a move to WA, with events held in four major cities - London, Edinburgh, Bristol and Dublin.

Delegates promoted an international sea change across a range of occupations, including:

• teachers

• police officers

• nurses, midwives, doctors and dentists

• mechanics, electricians, builders and plumbers

• hospitality workers

• working holiday makers. A WAPOL recruitment team held information sessions for UK and Irish police officers looking to make the move to WA.

At a WA-themed skills activation event held at The Telephone Exchange, London Bridge, Minister Papalia promoted the State as “a land of opportunities” for workers looking to relocate.

“We’ve got more jobs than people. I’m leading a delegation, a mission from our State to recruit people to fill the 31,000 jobs the State has on offer,” Mr Papalia said.

“We’re recruiting locally but we just have to go elsewhere to fill the demand, so the UK and Ireland is where we’ve come.

“Right now, it’s a window of opportunity, and it is, truly, a land of opportunities. We have a lower cost of living, we have higher wages and we have magnificent weather – what’s not to love?”

To complement the mission, advertising across multiple platforms was rolled out in the UK and Ireland. This included existing campaigns tailored to specific professions, such as:

• the ‘Build a life in WA’ campaign to attract construction and manufacturing workers

• WAPOL’s ‘Let’s Join Forces’ campaign

• WA Health’s ‘Belong’ campaign

• The Department of Education’s ‘Teach in WA’ campaign

• Tourism WA’s campaign aimed at working holiday makers.

The quality jobs and lifestyle offered in WA was also promoted through a $300,000 campaign under the ‘Western AustraliaIt’s Like No Other’ branding.

“Safety, stability and sunshine - Western Australia has a lot to offer UK and Irish workers,” Mr Papalia said.

“Our State is a great place to work and live. Now is the time to move and be part of Western Australia’s bright future.” former Premier Mark McGowan said that with a range of well-paid jobs, the State needed workers to come to WA to fill vacancies.

“We have seen economic growth that has defied global trends and continued to create quality, wellpaying jobs,” Mr McGowan said.

“Right now, we have almost 31,000 job vacancies across the State in many different industries, at all levels of expertise. To fill these vacancies, we know that we need more people to call Western Australia home.

“Since I visited the UK and Ireland last year, our message has been clear - Western Australia is a safe and exciting place to live, study, visit and do business.”

Safety, stability and sunshine

Western Australia has it all and more –and with job vacancies across a diverse range of industries, WA has much to offer workers looking to re-locate:

• average salaries in a number of industries are often more than 50 per cent higher in WA than in the UK

• WA boasts significant lifestyle advantages compared to the UK and Ireland including a lower cost of living and bigger houses

• Perth offers around 3,200 hours of sunshine annually.

UK job seekers and media representatives were treated to a taste of Western Australia at a WA-themed skills activation event held at The Telephone Exchange, London Bridge.

The event was one in a series hosted by the WA Government’s Invest and Trade Office in London as part of the 8-day government mission to the UK and Ireland.

The recruitment drive showcased WA’s healthy job market and lifestyle, encouraging UK and Irish workers to make a sea change and relocate to WA.

Key industries targeted included police, healthcare, education, construction and hospitality.

More than 200 prospective migrants immersed themselves in a Western Australian-themed pub takeover to discover opportunities to live and work in WA.

Speaking at the event, Police and Defence Industry Minister Paul Papalia highlighted WA’s high wages, choice of jobs across a range of industries, lower cost of living, and surf and sunshine lifestyle as key motivators to live and work in WA.

For more information, visit likenoother.wa.gov.au/work-in-wa/

L-R: Agent General, Europe, John Langoulant; Minister Papalia; and WA Governor Chris Dawson at The Telephone Exchange, London Bridge event.

A new program will provide funding for familiarisation visits for offshore education stakeholders, enabling them to promote Western Australia to international students in their respective markets.

The $1 million International Education Familiarisation Program aims to raise stakeholder awareness and understanding of education options in WA through tailored site visits, training and networking activities.

The program will give offshore stakeholders the opportunity to experience WA firsthand and enable them to promote the State as a preferred study destination to prospective international students. Visits will include trips to local tourist attractions, such as our world-famous beaches and one of the world’s largest inner-city parks, Kings Park.

Under the program’s Collaborative Familiarisation Fund, international education providers in WA can receive up to $50,000 to carry out their own familiarisation tour.

International education boost for Western Australia

As part of the Education Trade Familiarisations stream, tailored familiarisations will be developed for offshore student recruitment staff and hosted by the Western Australian Government’s Education Business Development Managers, who are located across the Invest and Trade WA global network.

“This program is an opportunity to showcase what we already know as Western Australians – our State is the best place in the world for international students to study and live,” International Education Minister David Templeman said.

The program is part of the WA Government’s $41 million boost to support the international education sector. Priority areas include building a pipeline of future international education students and re-engaging the international education agent network.

Find out more and apply for a grant at wa.gov.au

Western Australia’s Kings Park and Botanic Gardens in Perth is one of the world’s largest inner-city parks

New incentive to draw international students to our regions

A two-year pilot program is underway to attract international students to live, work and study in Western Australia’s regions.

Up to 200 students in selected courses at regional TAFE colleges will receive a $5,000 bursary, along with support to find part-time work and accommodation.

The bursary will be provided to help relieve skills shortages in occupations across aged and disability care, childcare, hospitality and tourism.

Some students have started their courses in Semester 1 this year, with most expected to commence in Semester 2. After graduating, they may be able to access migration pathways to extend their stay in Australia.

The Western Australian Government is delivering the $2.4 million package in response to ideas raised at skills summits in Perth and regional areas.

The program is being supported by marketing activities to recruit international students.

To promote the program, TAFE International Western Australia (TIWA) hosted a familiarisation tour last year for international education agents from key overseas markets.

They were shown the best of Broome, Geraldton and Albany, as part of visits to the regional TAFE colleges. TIWA will host a second tour in 2023.

“The return of international students to Western Australia is a priority for our government,” International Education Minister David Templeman said.

“This initiative is a practical solution to attract international students to the regions in industry sectors with critical skills shortages.

Live, work and study in Western Australia’s regions. Image courtesy of TAFE International WA

“This program will also diversify the State’s economy through exporting vocational education and training in the regions.”

International students can receive $5,000 to study at regional TAFE colleges.

Lonely Planet lists WA as place to be in 2023

Global travel guide publisher Lonely Planet has listed Western Australia as one of 30 best places in the world to visit this year.

Strong connections to Aboriginal culture, incredible natural attractions, including pristine beaches, gorges and city adventures, were some of the State’s winning attributes that set the scene for an incredible road trip and put Western Australia on Lonely Planet’s top 30 must-visit destinations in 2023.

In the global travel guide, Western Australia was described as: Oneofthosedestinations thatgenuinelyturns expectationsontheir head.

Space,serenityand scenery:thisisthe holytrinityofWestern Australia.

WesternAustraliacovers morelandthanEngland, Spain,France,Italy,and Germanycombined, yetishometolessthan 1%oftheircollective population.

A 7-day foodie adventure from Perth to the South-West was highlighted as one of the world’s ultimate journeys.

The Lonely Planet acknowledgement follows global media company FORBES naming Perth as one of the, “Top 10 places to visit in 2023”. Perth was the only Australian destination recognised, with the capital noted for offering a laidback, relaxed atmosphere and a unique water-focused lifestyle.

Additionally, CNN Travel listed WA as one of the best locations to visit this year, with a focus on the Total Solar Eclipse, while Time Magazine named Fremantle one of its “Top 50 Greatest Places for 2022.” For more information on what makes Western Australia a wondrous and dreamlike place to explore, visit: westernaustralia.com

Space, serenity and scenery: Western Australia has it all

“Space, serenity and scenery: this is the holy trinity of WA.”

Extraordinary exports: WA businesses shine

Western Australia’s strength and determination on show as Export Awards celebrate sustainable export growth

Exporting goods continues to be a major pillar of Western Australia’s economy, with local businesses playing an important role in growing international trade. In 2021-22, the value of WA’s goods exports rose to $241.3 billion, which accounted for 45% of national exports.

Recovering from the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, WA businesses have adapted strategies and developed new international relationships to continue exporting their goods and services to overseas markets.

This is especially true for local manufacturing company AVI, which was named the 2022 Western Australian Exporter of the Year at the WA Export Awards ceremony held at Government House.

Known for exporting specialised communications systems for some of the world’s largest industries, AVI was commended for the company’s state-ofthe-art in-house manufacturing facilities and supply chain surety, ensuring reliable delivery to clients internationally.

Now in its 34th year, the WA Export Awards is an annual program that recognises WA companies that have achieved sustainable export growth.

Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation’s Deputy Director General, Strategy and International Engagement, Simone Spencer at the 2022 WA Exporter of the Year Awards ceremony

2022 WA Export Award winners celebrated at a special ceremony held at Government House

WA’s award-winning businesses celebrated at the Export Awards included 13 category award winners:

Advanced Technologies: AVI

Agribusiness, Food and Beverages: 2GR Wagyu Beef

Creative Industries: Kirrikin

E-commerce: Clean & Pure

WA winners at national awards

All category award winners were recognised as national finalists and represented Western Australia at the 60th Australian Export Awards, held in Canberra in November.

Three WA exporters were named National Winners of their relevant category:

Agribusiness, Food and Beverage: 2GR Wagyu Beef (Joint Winner)

International Education and Training: Stanley College

International Health: Little Green Pharma.

Premier Roger Cook said the calibre of candidates in the annual program demonstrated the resilience and success of WA exporters.

Emerging Exporter: Premier Metal Recyclers

International Education and Training: Stanley College

International Health: Little Green Pharma

Manufacturing and Advanced Materials: Motium

Professional Services: Oilfield Technologies

Regional Exporter: DomeShelter Australia

Resources and Energy: DUG Technology

Small Business: Information Alignment

Sustainability: Rare Foods Australia.

“Local businesses make a significant contribution to both the State and national economies,” Mr Cook said.

“Congratulations to all of the winners of the 2022 Western Australian Export Awards. You are all extraordinary examples of Western Australia’s strength and determination during unprecedented times.”

The Western Australian Export Awards are coordinated by Invest and Trade Western Australia and managed by program partner, the Export Council of Australia.

If you are interested in opportunities in business, investment or trade, contact our experienced team at Invest and Trade WA

AVI was awarded 2022 WA Exporter of the Year

Eclipse darkness sees Western Australia shine

A global audience of millions and huge local crowds visiting Western Australia’s spectacular Ningaloo/ Nyinggulu region—the Total Solar Eclipse proved a huge success.

In the lead-up to the unique April 20 event, worldclass astronomers, eclipse chasers, journalists from Europe, the United States, South America and more all journeyed to Western Australia, joining locals for the once-in-a-lifetime experience.

While a Total Solar Eclipse occurs somewhere on Earth every 18 months, it is incredibly rare for them to pass over land and in a place with the natural significance of Western Australia’s World Heritagelisted Ningaloo region.

“This is an exciting day for Western Australia, a day to showcase the spectacular Ningaloo region to the world and to promote our State’s stargazing, astronomy and astrophotography offerings,” Premier Roger Cook (former Tourism Minister) said in the lead-up to the event.

“The eyes of the world are on Western Australia. There is a great atmosphere of excitement and anticipation.”

Tens of thousands of visitors travelled to the Ningaloo region towns of Exmouth, Carnarvon, Onslow and Coral Bay, and live streaming by the Perth Observatory and many different sites beamed the eclipse globally, attracting huge numbers.

Leading-up to the event, Exmouth’s population had already swelled to around 15,000 people who had accommodation in the town and day trippers boosted visitor numbers to a peak of around 18,700 within Exmouth.

The Milyering Visitor Centre in Cape Range National Park had the highest number of visitors on record - almost 1,300 people. Large crowds were also in Onslow and Coral Bay to experience around 99% darkness, and in Carnarvon, which experienced about 95% darkness.

Left: Eclipse viewing site, Exmouth Below: Moment of Totality, Exmouth CREDIT: Terra Australis

The Time and Date livestream facilitated in partnership with Perth Observatory has had more than 12 million views to date! And the team at Time and Date estimate there have been 100 million or more views through the live coverage and news stories that aired after the event went worldwide.

Teams from 14 different WA Government agencies combined with local and federal government and private business operators to put on an outstanding week-long experience right across the region.

The WA Government worked closely with the Shires of Exmouth, Ashburton and Carnarvon to provide grants to some 40 local businesses to help boost capacity in the region, and invested almost $22 million in infrastructure, leaving a lasting legacy and benefitting locals and tourists for years to come.

Extra police and emergency services personnel were also on hand throughout the events, reporting extremely well-behaved crowds, adding to the positive atmosphere and focussed on making the most of an exceptional astronomical experience in a unique environment.

Read more about the eclipse ningalooeclipse.com/

Eclipse lights up local events

Centre of science and innovation

Data recorded during Western Australia’s Total Solar Eclipse - using the latest sophisticated equipment - will add to the body of global scientific knowledge centred around the effect on the Earth’s atmosphere, and the extremely high temperatures of the Sun’s corona (the outermost part of the Sun’s atmosphere) in particular.

What happened at ground level during the eclipse, including how animals responded, was also of keen interest to scientists in Western Australia’s Ningaloo region.

Former Tourism Minister Roger Cook said the exciting event was a day to showcase Western Australia’s spectacular Ningaloo region to the world and promote WA’s stargazing, astronomy and astrophotography offerings.

“The eyes of the world are on Western Australia – and our place as a centre of science and innovation as well as our unique natural attractions are on show,” he said.

“It has also showcased Western Australia’s capabilities and potential as a centre of collaboration and knowledge building - in all areas of science, space operations, technology and innovation.”

An excited buzz in the region and a great atmosphere among the crowds continued throughout the weeklong festivities held to celebrate Western Australia’s Total Solar Eclipse, including the Dark Sky Festival - a series of music, culinary, art and cultural events.

As the Total Solar Eclipse came to an end in the early afternoon on April 20, crowds prepared to party-on.

Thousands of people attended events including the second night of Solfest, a free three-day festival on Exmouth’s Talanjee Oval; First Lights: Nyinggulu, on Exmouth’s Town Beach; the Street Party, held on Onslow’s foreshore – as well as numerous other free and ticketed events in towns across the region.

“We can all be immensely proud - of our State, and everyone who has planned for so long, and worked so hard to give visitors an experience to remember,” Premier Roger Cook said.

“The Total Solar Eclipse over Exmouth, Western Australia, has not only focussed the eyes of the world on our spectacular natural environment, but shown that we know how to put on a sensational show and give visitors an experience to remember.

Dark Sky Festival event Town Beach, Exmouth CREDIT: Terra Australis

Eclipse Concert headlined by Eskimo Joe in Onslow CREDIT: Shot by Thom (Thom Davidson)

A prime global location

Western Australia’s Chief Scientist, Professor Peter Klinken AC showcases WA’s advantages as a global data centre hub.

Western Australia is a prime location to become a global hub for data centres. I strongly believe that our State has everything required to establish WA on the global data centre map.

Last year, the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation published a blueprint for the State’s data centre future. The Western Australia data centre prospectus offers a comprehensive examination of our credentials.

Western Australia is an ideal location for modern data centres.

Data centres are huge. Enormous space is required to host these complex facilities. One thing we do have in Western Australia is space!

The State also offers a safe and reliable power source which is essential for the uninterrupted operation of data centres. We provide abundant, clean, reliable and cheap energy. Importantly, the energy we generate is becoming increasingly green as the State continues to transition towards renewable energy from traditional power generation.

Just as important is the fact we operate in the same time zone as our Asian partners. We are also connected to Asia and the Middle East by an established network of subsea cables.

In an age of complex geopolitics, we are well regulated, of low sovereign risk and take cybersecurity very seriously.

Our advantages are many and investors are increasingly becoming more aware of this.

None of this has happened by chance. The Government of Western Australia has worked hard to diversify our economy and create a fertile base to host global data centres.

Minister Stephen Dawson (Innovation and the Digital Economy; Science; Medical Research) and his team, together with the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation, are to be congratulated on bringing this opportunity to reality.

In this digital age, Western Australia is emerging as a global hub of choice, creating another exciting growth sector with the potential to sustain future generations.

Professor Peter Klinken AC Chief Scientist of Western Australia

Global hub for data centres

A new prospectus highlighting Western Australia’s potential as a hub for data centre operations is now available for global industry and investors. With the global volume of data forecast to grow by 61% to 175 zettabytes by 2025, the need for data centres has become an essential part of the digital economy.

WA has extraordinary potential to become the southern hemisphere’s global hub for data centre operations, offering

significant opportunities underpinned by strong environmental, social and governance credentials, a safe and secure location and a supportive government.

Former Deputy Premier and State Development, Jobs and Trade Minister Roger Cook said WA’s cutting-edge industries in Resources, Space, Energy, Health and Defence are increasingly utilising technologies such as artificial intelligence, remote operations and robotics, which will drive large volumes of data and demand for data centres.

“Western Australia’s growing local data centre industry has also experienced significant new developments in recent years and increasing interest from global investors considering future expansion,” Mr Cook said.

WA continues to drive the creation and application of data through digital capabilities with a leading tech savvy workforce, which grew by almost double the national average in 202122. Additionally, there are many opportunities for data centre proponents to harness sites specific to their needs across metropolitan and regional

WA, as well as potential for the development of green data centres due to WA’s solar, wind, wave and tidal resources.

WA is well connected to major digital global economies of South East Asia, the Middle East and Europe, as seen through 4 international submarine cables, including the recently launched Oman Australia Cable.

Innovation and the Digital Economy Minister Stephen Dawson said growing WA’s data centre industry would help to fast-track the digital transformation of our industries.

Innovation and

“It will strengthen our capabilities in cyber security and digital technology and ensure sovereign security by enabling data to be hosted onshore,”

-

the Digital Economy Minister Stephen Dawson

Western Australia - the place to innovate

The Western Australian Innovation Strategy outlines the State’s 10-year plan to establish WA as a renowned global hub of invention, investment, innovation and impact.

The strategy highlights the State’s innovation sector and recognises its importance in building a resilient, thriving and diversified WA economy and community.

Providing a vision for WA, the strategy sets out clear goals from which to steer and prioritise efforts and benchmark performance.

It provides a holistic approach to innovation that recognises the many parts that make up the innovation ecosystem – and the central importance of people.

Innovation - involving anything from incremental business improvements, and alternative business models disrupting entire industries, to scientific breakthroughs pushing boundaries - is key to the local economy and community sectors, including small and large businesses, government, not-forprofits, schools, universities and vocational providers.

“The new WA Innovation Strategy provides a roadmap for establishing the State as an international leading technology hub and innovation capital,” Innovation and the Digital Economy Minister Stephen Dawson said.

“The strategy supports a range of activities and will

build collaboration to elevate WA’s innovation sector onto the global radar and propel our local ecosystem into a new phase of growth.

“Innovation is key to diversifying our economy, and the Western Australian Government is committed to making sure startups and entrepreneurs continue to have access to the opportunities they need to stay and expand their businesses here.”

Mr Dawson announced the release of the new strategy at West Tech Fest in December 2022 – WA’s premier tech festival and a focal point for the WA startup, innovation and technology communities.

The strategy underpins the government’s broad economic, social and environmental goals and strategies, including its lead economic framework ‘Diversify WA’, and links with other industry development plans.

The Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation (JTSI) administers the State’s innovation portfolio and delivers the programs and initiatives of the New Industries Fund, the primary vehicle supporting innovation and entrepreneurship in WA.

“The new WA Innovation Strategy provides a roadmap for establishing the State as an international leading technology hub and innovation capital,”

For more on Western Australia’s Innovation Strategy, visit innovation.wa.gov.au

The goal of the strategy is to inspire a new generation of innovators to solve challenges and encourage the local economy to move in exciting, new directions.

The mission is to elevate Western Australian innovation onto the global radar and propel the local ecosystem into a new phase of growth.

- Innovation and the Digital Economy Minister Stephen Dawson

Innovation and the Digital Economy Minister Stephen Dawson launches the Innovation Strategy at the opening of the West Tech Fest 2022 conference.

Our 10

Priority action areas

To achieve these 5 goals, the WA Government is taking action in 7 priority areas:

• Skills, people and culture: Investing in building additional talent across the State and attracting talent globally.

• Research and tech transfer: Setting out a bold new science and research agenda, fit for the decade ahead, and seeking to maximise technology transfer opportunities across the State’s growing economy.

• Networks, precincts and shared facilities: Accelerating efforts to enable innovation hubs, precincts and shared facilities to strengthen the innovation ecosystem across the State.

• Access to capital: Encouraging the growth of an active local venture capital market for WA innovators and investigating other ways to ensure there is access to sufficient capital.

Goals

WA’s Innovation Strategy sets the following 10-year goals to realise this vision. WA will become:

a world leader in research and inventiveness

a location of choice for product and technology development, translation and testing

home to globally-focussed organisations that scale, creating new jobs

an adopter of new technologies and a tech transfer haven

a place where innovation is inclusive and purposeful, rewarded and respected.

• Procurement and supply chains: Making procurement easier for WA startups and small businesses to provide access to major industry and Government contracts, and will working with partners to open market access to global supply chains.

• Diversity and inclusion: Growing and fostering the diversity and inclusiveness of the WA economy, providing opportunities for greater participation in new and innovative economic activity by underrepresented groups.

• Promotion and adoption: Elevating efforts to promote and celebrate the outstanding scientific, technological and innovative capability of WA internationally and at home, supporting the adoption of new technologies and innovations across businesses and communities.

Implementing innovation

Western Australia’s newly released Innovation Strategy, outlining the State’s 10-year plan to establish WA as a global hub for innovation, links to a new ‘Innovation Action Plan’, detailing an initial agenda to support WA’s Innovation Strategy. These programs and initiatives will be added to as the need and opportunities arise.

This strategy will work in tandem with a range of other Western Australian Government strategies, and plans to:

• Develop a performance framework specifically designed for the State’s innovation ecosystem.

• Work with the Australian Government and other parties to keep track of innovation performances and any emerging gaps.

• Encourage stakeholder groups to form informal innovation alliances to keep sharing opportunities, challenges and new ways in which Western Australia can innovate with purpose, impact and inclusion.

Western Australia offers you a wealth of innovation opportunities, to find out more, contact the Innovation team at innovation@jtsi.wa.gov.au

MedTech startup named brightest innovator

More than 2.9 million Australians will experience dizziness and vertigo each year, leading to more than 350,000 medical appointments. With numerous underlying causes, an accurate diagnosis is critical as treatment pathways differ significantly.

Local med-tech startup, Neurotologix Pty Ltd, has built a revolutionary new system to address this worldwide need. The system incorporates integrated remote capture devices to be used by patients and a cloud informatics suite that provides clinicians a complete clinical solution.

It’s this example of innovative thinking that earned Neurotologix WA Innovator of the Year 2022. The business received $70,000 to commercialise the remote patient monitoring device, and the added support of 3 PhD students through BioDesign Australia to further their program research. The innovative system has been clinically proven to substantially reduce the need for patients with dizziness to undergo multiple specialist appointments and expensive testing to receive an accurate diagnosis.

Since 2006, the Innovator of the Year program has supported WA’s brightest ideas from concept to creation. Innovation and the Digital Economy Minister Stephen Dawson said the awards were an important event to showcase WA’s brightest innovators and entrepreneurs and help realise the full potential of their innovations.

“The high calibre of finalists this year brought forward innovative solutions to address real issues in diverse industries, such as health, technology, sport and finance,” Mr Dawson said.

“The incredible response that we received for this awards program demonstrates the genuine passion and support for innovation within the WA community.”

Other category winners included Protective Pty Ltd, Assuro, Xsights Digital Pty, Sentient Hubs and Lixa. Two finalists, Vedi and Speed Signature, were also selected to attend an entrepreneurial Mindset Bootcamp hosted by the Centre for Entrepreneurial Research and Innovation.

“The high calibre of finalists this year brought forward innovative solutions to address real issues in diverse industries, such as health, technology, sport and finance.”

- Innovation and the Digital Economy Minister Stephen Dawson

Perth hosting mega Space Agency event

The largest space agency forum in the Asia-Pacific region is coming to Western Australia next year.

Perth has been selected to host the 30th session of the Asia-Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum (APRSAF-30) in November 2024.

The event is expected to attract up to 1000 attendees from more than 40 countries, including representatives from international space agencies, industry, government and research organisations. It will be hosted in Perth by the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation and Business Events Perth.

“Western Australia’s space sector is growing rapidly and is being increasingly recognised on the global stage,” Premier (former Minister for Science) Roger Cook said.

“WA has a track record of successfully supporting space missions, operations and services for more than 60 years, and it will reach new heights in 2023 and beyond.

“We look forward to bringing the APRSAF-30 to Perth, which will provide a platform to promote our space capabilities to the Asia-Pacific region, enhance international collaboration and highlight opportunities for economic diversification.”

APRSAF is an annual forum, established in 1993 to enhance space activities and promote cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region. Forums are jointly organised by Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and host countries.

WA’s space industry has gained significant momentum over the past two years, with the Western Australian Government investing more than $40 million to accelerate its growth.

Significant areas of activity and capability include ground-based space communications, space situational awareness, Earth observation and insights, and world-leading remote operations, automation and robotics.

Additionally, the State has emerging capabilities in space mission operations, optical communications, satellite development and launch.

Hosting significant space infrastructure for both civil and defence applications, WA is already home to more than 100 international and Australian organisations operating space and space-related services.

Composite image of the three SKAO sites (the HQ in the UK, SKA-Mid telescope in South Africa and SKA-Low telescope in Australia) combining real images with artist’s impressions. Credit: SKAO

Reach for the stars

Construction is set to start on the world’s largest radio telescope.

A ground-breaking ceremony, held on Wajarri Yamaji Country, 800 kilometres north of Perth, on 5 December 2022 marked the start of construction on the world’s largest radio telescope being built in Western Australia. Australian Government Minister for Industry and Science Ed Husic officiated at the event.

An international collaboration of 16 countries, the Square Kilometre Array Observatory (SKAO) will be the largest science facility on earth, combining sister telescope sites in Australia and South Africa.

Minister Husic said the project is an extraordinary feat of astronomy, scientific infrastructure and international cooperation.

“This first-of-its-kind technology will allow astronomers to tackle fundamental scientific questions, ranging from the birth of the universe to the origins of life,” Mr Husic said.

“We also expect the SKA to attract an estimated $1.8 billion in foreign income flows to Australia over its first 30 years and create around 350 medium-term jobs.”

Mr Husic announced that the SKA Observatory had awarded contracts valued at more than $200 million to Australian business Ventia to begin infrastructure projects on-site including power and fibre networks and the construction of buildings for data processing equipment.

Western Australia’s Premier (former Minister for Science) Roger Cook said he was proud to support the SKA project and welcomed its global impact.

“SKA-Low will be the world’s largest and most capable low-frequency radio telescope,” Mr Cook said.

“Data collected in Western Australia will expand our very understanding of the universe and drive technological developments across the globe.

“Beyond the scientific benefits, the SKA project will provide jobs for engineers, scientists and technicians around the world, including in Western Australia.

“The Western Australian Government will continue to work collaboratively with the Australian Government, CSIRO, SKAO and the Wajarri Yamaji community to ensure the benefits of this landmark project are delivered at home and abroad.”

Sharing the Sky and Stars

The SKA-Low telescope in Western Australia will be located at Inyarrimanha Ilgari Bundara, our CSIRO Murchison Radioastronomy Observatory. It will consist of 131,072 antennas, each two metres tall and shaped like Christmas trees, receiving low-frequency radio waves.

The SKA Observatory is expected to produce an average of 8 petabytes of data every second, producing a challenge and opportunity for data scientists and engineers.

Ventia, which will work on some of these challenges, is an essential services provider with more than 35,000 employees across Australia and New Zealand and will be responsible for developing the essential infrastructure to support the telescope.

“Mid-West and Wajarri Yamaji businesses will play a big part in SKA construction,” Australian Government Minister for Industry and Science Ed Husic said.

“Ventia will work with these businesses to deliver telescope infrastructure. A separate SKA contract to build the main road and airstrip is reserved for Mid-West businesses.

“Beyond this, Australian organisations and businesses will also be at the forefront of meeting the technical and big data challenges of this global mega-science endeavour.”

Contracts worth more than $40 million have been awarded to CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency; The University of Western Australia and

An international collaboration of 16 countries, the Square Kilometre Array Observatory (SKAO) will be the largest science facility on Earth.

Curtin University nodes of the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research; and Fourier Space, for work on technical systems and software that will underpin the operation of the SKA telescopes.

Inyarrimanha Ilgari Bundara, the Wajarri name for CSIRO’s Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory, means ‘Sharing the Sky and Stars’ and was selected through a competition held in the Wajarri Yamaji community.

The SKA Observatory, with headquarters in the United Kingdom and offices in Australia and South Africa, will build and operate the cutting-edge telescopes, the low-frequency array in Australia on Wajarri Country and the mid-frequency array in the Karoo in South Africa.

A composite image of the SKA-Low telescope, blending the existing AAVS2.0 prototype station in Western Australia with an artist’s impression of the future SKA-Low stations. Credit: SKAO

Community collaboration

Agreement reached with Wajarri Yamaji for landmark international astronomy project. The Federal and Western Australian Governments have reached agreement with Native Title Holders in Western Australia that allows the construction of a Square Kilometre Array (SKA) telescope on the lands of the Wajarri Yamaji.

The Government, CSIRO and the Wajarri Yamaji community worked closely together to put in place an Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA) that enables the historic international radio telescope to be built on Wajarri Yamaji land.

The ILUA will provide the Wajarri Yamaji with sustainable and intergenerational benefits in areas such as enterprise and training, education and culture.

Federal Minister for Industry and Science Ed Husic said the Government was proud to be partnering with the Wajarri Yamaji community to protect Wajarri Yamaji cultural heritage and ensure they share in the many benefits the SKA project will bring to their region.

“No one can deny the importance and value of working together to uphold and protect the heritage of the Wajarri Yamaji land,” Mr Husic said.

“For tens of thousands of years, the Wajarri Yamaji have nurtured and continue to nurture this land.

“They are the first astronomers on that country with a rich cultural heritage that is connected to their observation of the stars.”

As part of the ILUA, the Wajarri Yamaji have renamed the Murchison Radio-Astronomy Observatory which will house the SKA telescope. The Wajarri ran a competition within their community and chose the name Inyarrimanha Ilgari Bundara meaning Sharing the Sky and Stars.

“It’s inspiring that we can bring together First Nations knowledge with this landmark international astronomy project,” Mr Husic said.

“We have worked closely to reach an agreement which will enable the respectful construction of a SKA telescope on Wajarri Yamaji land. This agreement will see benefits flow on to communities and support scientific endeavour for generations to come.

“Together we have fostered relationships and cultural sharing which will endure as SKA is constructed, over its 50 years of operation, and long into the future.”

Premier Roger Cook (former Science Minister) said the agreement with the Wajarri Yamaji was an important milestone in the construction of the SKA telescope.

“The SKA will be the world’s largest and most capable radio telescope. It will expand our understanding of the universe and drive technological developments across the globe,” he said.

“The WA Government will continue to work collaboratively with the Australian Government, CSIRO and the Wajarri Yamaji community to ensure the benefits of this landmark project are delivered at home and abroad.”

The Australian Government has been proactive in working with Wajarri people to protect Wajarri heritage for the project. Extensive heritage surveys, covering around 400km of ground, have been undertaken over the past 4 years, where Wajarri people have provided information that is being used to ensure Wajarri heritage is protected.

For more, visit www.ska.gov.au.

An

on-site celebration for the start of construction of the SKAO SKA-Low telescope was held at Inyarrimanha Ilgari Bundara, the CSIRO Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory. View of wedge-tailed eagle nest above SKALA antennas at AAVS2.0 station site. Credit: SKAO

Welcoming life science industry from around the world

Perth welcomed back more than 1,300 industry representatives and investors from around the world for the first time in 17 years at the AusBiotech 2022 conference.

The need for life sciences has never been more recognised globally, particularly through the COVID-19 pandemic, the world saw the power of collaboration across the industry and government, to find innovative health and medical solutions.

The global conference brought international delegates who are dedicated to advancing the industry in Western Australia to build networks and secure new partnerships locally.

Innovation and the Digital Economy; and Medical Research Minister Stephen Dawson said the conference was an incredible opportunity for our local research sector to showcase achievements and home-grown talent to a global audience.

“Western Australia is home to some of the most innovative health and medical research programs being undertaken anywhere in the world,” Mr Dawson said.

There is a growing level of high talent, innovation, research and clinical trial capability in WA. From 2017 to 2021, the industry in WA more than doubled in size, growing from 119 companies to 244.

Premier Roger Cook said WA can play a leading role in developing healthcare solutions for the future.

“The WA Government is committed to growing investment in the industry, which has the potential to help diversify the State’s economy and create longterm, fulfilling jobs for Western Australians,” Mr Cook said.

Launched at AusBiotech, a new prospectus promoting

investment opportunities in Western Australia’s health and medical life sciences industry—“Western Australia - A centre for health and medical solutions”—is now available.

Read the prospectus online at Health and medical life sciences industry: prospectus (www.wa.gov.au)

“Western Australia is home to some of the most innovative health and medical research programs being undertaken anywhere in the world.”

- Innovation and the Digital Economy Minister

Stephen Dawson

Team WA welcomed industry representatives and investors from around the world at the AusBiotech 2022 Conference in Perth

WA’s super power

Western Australia’s supercomputer is among the world’s greenest and most powerful

Western Australia is officially home to one of the world’s greenest and most powerful supercomputers. In November, the Pawsey Supercomputing Research Centre’s Setonix was named in the globally recognised Green500 and Top500 lists.

Setonix, the scientific name for quokka, was recognised as the fourth greenest supercomputer in the world. It was also named as the most powerful public research supercomputer in the Southern Hemisphere, ranking 15 in the global Top500. The rankings were announced at the international supercomputing conference SC22 in Texas.

“The latest global rankings confirm what the Western Australian Government has known for a long time - the Pawsey Supercomputing Research Centre is a key asset not only to WA but the global research community,” Premier Roger Cook (former Science Minister) said.

“We have one of the world’s most powerful and greenest supercomputers right here in Perth.”

At peak performance, Pawsey’s newest supercomputer will provide massive, parallel computing power, equivalent to hundreds of thousands of standard computers working in unison for research, artificial intelligence and machine learning. It will only take one second to do a calculation that would take a human 1.5 billion years to achieve.

The WA Government has committed $22.4 million over 5 years to support the operations of the Pawsey Supercomputing Research Centre.

Pawsey is a National Research Infrastructure facility and key asset to WA, attracting talent and investment and building the State’s reputation as a leader in world class research. Research areas for the facility include climate change, health and medical, mining, resource minerals processing, agriculture systems and products, geosciences, renewable energy, engineering and radio astronomy.

Users include teams from universities and research institutes, government agencies and authorities, small-to-medium enterprises and ASX-listed companies, with 43 per cent of research projects at Pawsey being from WA over the 5-year period from June 2016 to June 2021.

Pawsey is an unincorporated joint venture between CSIRO, Curtin University, Edith Cowan University, Murdoch University and The University of Western Australia. It is supported by the WA and Australian Governments.

For more information, visit: Pawsey

The Pawsey Supercomputing Research Centre in Western Australia is home to Setonix – Australia’s greenest and most powerful supercomputer. Credit: Pawsey

“We have one of the world’s most powerful and greenest supercomputers right here in Perth,”

- Premier Roger Cook

A strong and enduring defence presence for WA

Home to a world-class and globally competitive defence industry, including a thriving research and development sector, Western Australia continues to be a key player in domestic and international defence markets.

Western Australia has a long and proud history of supporting national security and Defence.

Defence West is championing the interests of WA’s outstanding defence industry and capabilities.

On behalf of the Western Australian Government, Defence West is responsible for growing the State’s defence sector, expanding infrastructure, creating jobs and delivering what defence needs in WA.

Alongside these roles, Defence West also supports the Veterans community of Western Australia, and advances innovation in the defence sector via the Defence Science Centre.

Defence West advances the WA defence sector by collaborating with industry to identify sector needs and assist WA industry to pre-emptively “tool up” to meet those needs.

Defence West also facilitates the growth of the industry as a whole; identifying and addressing training and skill gaps, encouraging collaboration between local SMEs, and advertising the State’s industrial capacity to defence and primes.

2023 is shaping up to be a big year for Western Australia’s defence sector.

Defence West attended the AVALON Australian International Airshow at Avalon Airport in Victoria, in February and March. Defence West, for the first-time, exhibited at the air show, having previously attended in 2019.

Avalon Airshow 2023 was a sellout, with attendance numbers reaching 80,000 per day over the public days. Preliminary figures for the trade show are a 24 per cent increase to 48,516 over the 3 days, 14 per cent increase in participating companies to 798, and 234 official delegations attended.

Showcasing the latest in aviation, aerospace, defence and space technologies, the AVALON Australian International Airshow and Aerospace & Defence Exposition is one of the Indo

Australian Minister for Veterans Affairs’ and Defence Personnel Matt

Showcasing WA’s defence strengths and potential

Pacific’s most prestigious events and the most comprehensive aviation, aerospace and defence expositions in the southern hemisphere.

Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles attended the event, and US Ambassador to Australia Caroline Kennedy did a flyover in a F/A-18F Super Hornet.

A WA delegation attended the event, including Transport Minister Rita Saffioti; Parliamentary Secretary Terry Healy, WA’s new Defence Advocate Rear Admiral Philip Spedding; Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation (JTSI) Deputy Director General Linda Dawson; and Directors from Defence West and JTSI’s space sector.

Chief of the Defence Force, General Angus Campbell, Australian Minister for Veterans Affairs’ and Defence Personnel Matt Keogh MP visited the Defence West stand at the event. Other VIPs who attended AVALON included Hon Kim Beazley AC and Senator Hon David Johnston.

Twenty-three WA-based SMEs were selected to join Defence West staff at the event, assisting them to demonstrate to international and national primes and defence officials the highly technical skills and competencies available in WA.

Defence West is also excited to be exhibiting at the Indo Pacific International Maritime Exposition (INDOPAC), being held in Sydney in November this year. INDOPAC is the region’s premier commercial maritime and naval defence exposition, connecting Australian and international defence, industry, government, academia and technology leaders, in the national interest.

The 3-day event is a platform for engagement and incorporates an international industry exhibition, specialist conference program featuring presentations and symposia from leading maritime institutions and networking opportunities.

Defence West will bring WA SMEs to highlight the capacity and capability of WA industry to the global audience gathering in Sydney.

Keogh MP (centre) visited the Defence West stand at the Avalon Air Show earlier this year.

WA’s new Defence Advocate

Minister for Defence Industry and Veterans Issues Paul Papalia, with advice from Defence West, recently appointed Rear Admiral Philip Spedding DSC AM RAN (Rtd) as Western Australia’s Defence Advocate to promote WA’s defence industry.

As the State’s Defence Advocate, Rear Admiral Spedding will support the expansion of WA’s defence industry and create more local jobs, through championing WA’s competitive advantages.

Rear Admiral Spedding is a highly experienced executive, with more than 40 years of experience working across defence and government. He served continuously with the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) between 1982 and 2015, and has since balanced ongoing service in the RAN Reserve with running his own consultancy business.

As Defence Advocate, Rear Admiral Spedding will chair the Defence Advisory Forum and the Defence Science Centre Advisory Board. He replaces WA’s inaugural Defence Advocate, Rear Admiral Raydon Gates AO, CSM, RAN (Rtd).

The new appointment is timely, with WA seeking to maximise opportunities the Australian Government’s Defence Strategic Review may provide. Soon to be released, the review is anticipated to significantly reshape the Australian Defence Force’s operations, capability and force posture, with significant implications for the defence industry in WA.

To keep up to date, visit westernaustralia.jobs - a dedicated tourism and hospitality portal created in partnership between Tourism WA and Australian Hotels Association WA.

Western Australia’s Defence Advocate Rear Admiral Philip Spedding DSC AM RAN (Rtd)

Western Australia welcomes hospitality and tourism workers

Boost for hospitality and tourism workforce

Western Australia’s hospitality and tourism industries experienced significant growth throughout 2022, and there is no sign of this growth slowing down in 2023.

As a result, there is an urgent need for both skilled and unskilled workers, including chefs, bar and wait staff, baristas and tour operators in WA.

To meet industry needs, the Western Australian Government launched the ‘Discover the Other Side’ campaign in 2022, to entice workers from Australia’s east coast and New Zealand to take up training and employment opportunities in WA.

“Summer is a busy time of year for our local hospitality and tourism industries, so the timing of this campaign is critical to help attract young workers to WA,” former Premier Mark McGowan said.

The campaign drives job seekers online to westernaustralia.jobs, a dedicated tourism and hospitality portal, to explore exciting job opportunities and take advantage of all WA has to offer.

Since the launch, more than 1700 job seekers registered on westernaustralia jobs, with the number increasing each month.

The campaign is supported by the WA Government’s $3.9 million Workforce Development Program being implemented by Tourism WA, which funds short-term programs to address the current shortage of workers, while also building a pipeline of talent for the future.

The program aims to achieve this through developing new labour pools through the provision of local jobs for local people; leveraging the working holiday maker and international student workforce pool; promoting tourism and hospitality as a career of choice; and through boosting the attraction and retention of essential staff.

Training workshops have included a five-day ‘Fast track to Hospitality’ course; Bar & Barista Job Connect sessions; and an ‘Introduction to Hospitality’ for people under 18 years of age.

Local students have been encouraged to consider jobs in the hospitality industry through a social media campaign, as well as StudyPerth’s Welcome Kits for international students promoting an “earn while you learn” with a tourism and hospitality job message.

More activity is planned throughout 2023 to further boost WA’s tourism and hospitality industry workforce.

Giant Australianfirst for WA

Attracting thousands of visitors to Western Australia’s Peel (Bindjareb) region, Danish artist Thomas Dambo’s Giants of Mandurah arrived in November, to be hosted in Mandurah (Mandjoogoordap), south of Perth.

The exhibition is an Australian-first produced by not-for-profit arts and cultural organisation FORM Building a State of Creativity, and features a series of giant whimsical wooden creatures installed in secret locations throughout Mandurah.

Within 8 weeks of the exhibition opening, the Mandurah Visitor Centre welcomed more than 40,000 people through its doors - a 400% increase compared to the same time in 2021.

Along with thousands of locals flocking to visit the Giants, the exhibition is also drawing people from around Australia and the world, including Europe, Malaysia and Singapore.

With the help of a map and Travellers’ Companion, which can be downloaded for free via the official website, visitors can explore the natural wonders around them while they search for the Giants.

The artistic and environmental story of the sculptures sits alongside, and is intertwined, with the creation story of the local area, as shared by the region’s Traditional Owners, the Bindjareb Noongar people.

Both an artist and environmental activist, Dambo’s artistic process celebrates the diversity, beauty and importance of the natural world, using recycled and locally sourced materials in his creations.

Premier Roger Cook said the Western Australian Government’s ongoing support for events like the Giants of Mandurah sculpture trail, through Tourism WA’s Regional Events Program, helps generate enduring flow-on benefits to local businesses, communities and the region’s economy.

“I encourage everyone to make the trip to Mandurah to discover Dambo’s larger-than-life-wooden creatures for themselves, as well as the many other attractions on offer in the region,” Mr Cook said.

Want to see the Giants?

Outdoor Art Exhibition | Thomas Dambo’s Giants of Mandurah

Thomas Dambo’s Giants of Mandurah Media Preview.

Photo by Dan MacBride, courtesy of FORM Building a State of Creativity

Western Australia Project Spotlight

The WA Project Spotlight provides a snapshot of some of the major projects that are either planned, under development or recently completed in Western Australia. Information is drawn from the Western Australian Government’s and companies’ public statements.

Energy

Lithium Refinery and Concentrator at Mount Holland – Covalent Lithium Pty Ltd

$1.9 billion – Under construction

1,000 construction jobs, 350 operational jobs

Covalent Lithium – a joint venture between subsidiaries of Wesfarmers and Chilean company SQM – has entered into a longterm lease for a 40 hectare site in the Kwinana Strategic Industrial Area where it has commenced construction of a lithium refinery.

The project comprises a mine and concentrator at Mt Holland, and a refinery at Kwinana.

The Mt Holland Lithium Project will produce spodumene concentrate from the mine and concentrator, which will be transported to the refinery and processed to produce around 50,000 tonnes a year of batterygrade lithium hydroxide.

Kemerton Lithium Hydroxide Processing Plant – Albemarle Corporation

More than $1.0 billion –Under construction

1,800 construction jobs, 400 operational jobs

Construction of the largest lithium hydroxide processing plant outside of China started in 2019 at the Kemerton Strategic Industrial Area, 17 kilometres north of Bunbury.

The first two lithium processing trains were completed in early 2022 with a first production milestone marked midyear. Plans for expansion to four trains are on track, doubling processing capacity to 100,000 tonnes a year. Kemerton processes high quality spodumene from the Greenbushes mine.

Lithium Hydroxide Plant – Tianqi Lithium Energy Australia

$988 million – Operating and under construction

900 construction jobs, 200 operational jobs

Tianqi Lithium Kwinana (TLK), 25 kilometres south of Perth, is the first lithium refinery in Australia and in May 2022 became the first to produce battery-grade lithium, paving the way for a local and sustainable lithium chemical industry to meet the rapidly growing demand for rechargeable batteries driven primarily by the electric vehicle and energy storage system industries. One tonne

of battery-grade lithium can power approximately 22 electric vehicles. Each production train has the capacity to produce 24,000 tonnes of battery grade lithium per year, enough to power over 520,000 electric vehicles every year for the life of the refinery. Construction of a second train is expected to recommence in 2023 which when complete, will take total production capacity at TLK to 48,000 tonnes.

Pluto Train 2 and Scarborough Gas Field – Woodside Petroleum Ltd and Global Infrastructure Partners

$16 billion – Under construction 3,200 construction jobs, 600 operational jobs

Pluto is currently a single train LNG project located within the Burrup Strategic Industrial Area in Western Australia’s Pilbara region. The Pluto project exported its first LNG cargo in May 2012 and currently processes gas from two offshore fields – Pluto and Xena. Woodside announced a final investment decision for Pluto Train 2 and the Scarborough Gas Field in November 2021. The first cargo is targeted for 2026.

The construction of a second gas processing train is within the existing footprint of the Pluto LNG plant which will support the export of around eight million tonnes of LNG per annum. The project will also deliver around

1,400 petajoules of gas to the Western Australian market, through a new domestic gas production facility to be built within the existing Pluto site.

Yuri Renewable Hydrogen to Ammonia – ENGIE and Mitsui

$87 million – Under construction

ENGIE and Mitsui are developing one of the world’s first industrialscale renewable hydrogen projects to provide feedstock into Yara Pilbara Fertilisers’ (Yara) existing ammonia operations near Karratha.

Scheduled for completion in 2024, the first phase of the Yuri project will produce up to 640 tonnes of renewable hydrogen a year, as a zero-carbon feedstock for Yara’s ammonia production facility. This project is receiving funding from ARENA and the WA Renewable Hydrogen Fund as part of the Western Australian Government’s Renewable Hydrogen Strategy.

The project will include a 10 megawatt (MW) electrolyser powered by 18 MW of solar PV and supported by an 8 MW battery energy storage system, generating renewable hydrogen for use in Yara’s ammonia facility.

H2Perth – Woodside Petroleum Ltd

$1 billion - Proposed 2,000 construction jobs, 200 operational jobs

The proposed H2Perth project is a large-scale hydrogen and ammonia production facility

that would be constructed on approximately 130 hectares of vacant industrial land to be leased from the Western Australian Government in the Kwinana Strategic Industrial Area and Rockingham Industry Zone. The project is planned as a phased development.

Electrolysis technologies and natural gas reforming would both be used to produce hydrogen, with 100% of carbon emissions abated or offset. Initial capacity of the electrolysis component is at 250 megawatts while the initial phase of the steam methane reformer will consume 40 terajoules per day of natural gas.

At expected full capacity, the project would be able to target hydrogen production of up to 1,500 tonnes per day, with the potential for electrolyser capacity to scale up to 3 gigawatts, depending on customer demand and renewable energy growth.

Mining and Mining Equipment, Technology and Services (METS)

Nickel Sulphate Plant – BHP Nickel West

The nickel sulphate plant is colocated at BHP’s nickel refinery south of Perth in Kwinana and commenced operations in October 2021. The plant is one of the world’s largest of its kind and a first for Australia, with an initial production capacity of 100,000 tonnes of nickel

sulphate a year, intended for the electric vehicle market. The nickel sulphate plant adds to BHP Nickel West’s suite of refined end products – Nickel Briquette, Nickel Powder and now Nickel Sulphate.

BHP Nickel West is a core partner of The Future Battery Industries Cooperative Research Centre (FBICRC) and is supporting its flagship project – the Cathode Precursor Production Pilot Plant, another first for Australia, it will help establish the technology and capabilities for Australia to design and build cathode precursor manufacturing facilities on a commercial and industrial scale. BHP Nickel West provided equipment for the precursor facility, repurposed from its nickel sulphate pilot plant.

Iron Bridge – Stage 2 –Fortescue Metals Group

Approximately $5 billion

– Under construction

3,000 construction and 900 operational jobs

Iron Bridge will deliver 22 million tonnes per annum of high grade 67% Fe magnetite concentrate product. Located 145 kilometres south of Port Hedland, Iron Bridge incorporates the North Star and Glacier Valley Magnetite ore bodies and represents one of the few large scale iron ore growth projects under construction globally.

The magnetite concentrate product will be transported through a slurry pipeline

between Iron Bridge and Port Hedland. Low-cost power will be delivered to Iron Bridge through Fortescue’s investment in the Pilbara Energy Connect program, including hybrid solar gas generation and battery storage.

First production is scheduled for the March 2023 quarter.

Western Range –Rio Tinto and China

Baowu Steel Group

Approximately $3 billion – Under construction

1,600 construction jobs and 800 ongoing operational roles

Rio Tinto and China Baowu Steel Group have agreed to form a joint venture to develop a new iron ore mine in the Pilbara. The joint venture remains subject to Chinese regulatory approvals. Rio Tinto commenced early works site mobilisation and major contracts for bulk earthworks and Civil, Structural, Mechanical, Piping, Electrical and Instrumentation have been awarded.

The project will include construction of a primary crusher and an 18 kilometre conveyor system linking it to the existing Paraburdoo processing plant. Subject to approvals and construction, first production of iron ore is planned for 2025, ramping up to an annual production capacity of approximately 25 million tonnes.

Rio Tinto and China Baowu Steel Group will continue to work together to improve environmental performance across the steel-making value

chain. Rio Tinto has worked closely with the Traditional Owners on whose country Western Range is situated, the Yinhawangka People, to jointly develop a Social, Cultural and Heritage Management Plan for the Western Range project. The codesigned management plan ensures the protection of significant social and cultural heritage values at Western Range.

Kalgoorlie Rare Earths

Processing Facility –Lynas Rare Earths Ltd

$500 million – Under construction

290 construction and 120 operational jobs

Lynas Rare Earths is constructing a Rare Earths Processing Facility in Kalgoorlie (Kalgoorlie Facility). The Kalgoorlie Facility will process rare earth concentrate from Lynas’ Tier 1 Mt Weld mine, one of the highest-grade rare earth deposits in the world, located near Laverton. Concentrate produced at Mt Weld contains highly soughtafter rare earths required in the production of permanent magnet motors and used in the manufacture of a number of products including electric vehicles and wind turbines. Mixed rare earth carbonate produced at the Kalgoorlie Facility will be exported to global manufacturing supply chains, including to Lynas’ planned rare earths separation facility, to be located in Texas, United States.

In July 2021, Lynas was awarded

a $14.8 million grant under the Australian Government’s Modern Manufacturing Initiative – Round 1 which enables Lynas to commercialise an industryfirst rare earth carbonate refining process to be installed at the Kalgoorlie Facility.

Lynas is targeting a July 2023 operation commencement date for the Kalgoorlie Facility. As part of Lynas’ 2025 growth plan, it recently announced an additional $500 million investment to accelerate and increase the expansion of its Mt Weld mine. Lynas anticipates that the capacity expansion will generate up to 300 construction jobs and 100 ongoing operational jobs and together with the investment in the Kalgoorlie Facility, represents a significant investment in the Goldfields-Esperance region.

Yangibana Project –Hastings Technology Metals

$658 million – Under construction

500 construction and 250 operational jobs

The Yangibana project, which comprises operations at both the Yangibana site and the Ashburton North Strategic Industrial Area (ANSIA) near Onslow, will expand WA’s capability in downstream processing of rare earths minerals.

The $658 million project is expected to create 500 construction jobs and 250 jobs once operational. As a significant project within WA,

the State has been providing lead agency support, facilitated by the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation.

The company developing the project, Hastings Technology Metals, is on track to become Australia’s second rare earth’s producer, following Lynas’ Kalgoorlie Rare Earths Processing Facility Project.

Once fully operational, the Onslow Rare Earths Plant will have a production capacity of around 15,000 tonnes per annum of mixed rare earth carbonate (MREC), containing 3,400 tonnes of neodymium and praseodymium.

Coolgardie Cathode Active Material Refinery Hub – Pure Battery Technologies

$460 million – Proposed 350 construction jobs and 325 operational jobs

In March 2022, Pure Battery Technologies, in collaboration with Poseidon Nickel, secured a $119.6 million Modern Manufacturing Initiatives grant from the Australian Government for their proposed battery cathode active material refinery hub in the Kalgoorlie region. Pure Battery Technologies are currently undertaking a feasibility study, feedstock characterisation, product evaluation as well as optimising infrastructure access.

Eneabba Fully Integrated Rare Earths Processing Facility - Iluka Resources

$1 billion – Committed

300 construction and

270 operational jobs

Iluka Resources has commenced groundworks for another Australian first following its final investment decision in April 2022 to develop a fully integrated rare earths refinery at Eneabba. First production is scheduled for 2025.

The $1 billion refinery will be fed by Iluka’s unique rare earths stockpile at Eneabba and other feed from within the company’s portfolio. It has also been designed specifically with the capacity and capability to process feed supplied from potential thirdparty sources. The refinery will produce separated light and heavy rare earth oxides.

The Eneabba refinery will be among few of its kind globally.

Space Industries

Square Kilometre Array – SKA Observatory

$1.5 billion – Under development

350 construction and 230 operational jobs

The Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project is building the world’s largest and most capable radio telescope. The SKA will expand the understanding of the universe and drive technological developments worldwide.

Australia’s Murchison Radioastronomy Observatory (MRO) will host the low frequencytelescope, SKALow.

The SKA-Low site is located 800 kilometres north of Perth

in the Australian Radio Quiet Zone, to protect the telescope from radio interference from electronic devices.

The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) operates the MRO. SKALow will consist of 131,072 antennas (512 arrays –each comprising 256 antennas) spread across 65 kilometres.

The Wajarri Yamaji played an important role in enabling Australia to co-host the SKA telescope. The indigenous land use agreement for the site allows construction and ensures the Wajarri Yamaji will benefit through community development, infrastructure, training and education.

West Australian Space Radar (WASR) – LeoLabs

Under construction

In April 2022, LeoLabs started construction of its sixth radar site near Bunbury in Western Australia.

LeoLabs provides a commercial ‘mapping platform for space’ through its global network of space radars and cloudbased data solutions, which enable safe, secure, and sustainable space operations.

Placement of the WASR near Bunbury will significantly expand LeoLabs coverage of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) in the southern hemisphere. It also adds critical coverage in the IndoPacific region that addresses an important early orbit corridor for LEO from Asia, while maintaining

additional coverage of polar and sun-synchronous orbits in the IndoPacific region.

WASR is due to be operational late 2022.

European Space Agency (ESA) – Deep Space Antenna, New Norcia

$70 million

Under construction

In June 2022, European Space Agency (ESA) representatives met with representatives from the Western Australian and Australian Governments to celebrate the active construction of a new deep space antenna in New Norcia. This will be the second 35 metre diameter deep space antenna at the site (50 per cent of ESA’s deep space antennas globally). This fourth antenna is being constructed in order to meet the rising demand for communication bandwidth as ESA launches a new generation of deep-space missions.

The new antenna is due to be operational in 2025.

International Education and Tourism, Events and Creative Industries Perth City Deal

$1.7 billion – Under construction

10,000 jobs

The Perth City Deal is a partnership between the Australian Government, Western Australian Government and City of Perth, which will

unlock economic benefits and opportunities for the Perth CBD.

The Perth City Deal will provide funding to enhance the presence of universities in the Perth CBD. This includes moving the Edith Cowan University law and business schools and the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts into the Perth CBD and Curtin University building a CBD knowledge and innovation precinct.

Under this plan, more than 25,000 students and staff will be brought into the Perth CBD.

Other elements of the Perth City Deal are:

Funding for the Perth Greater CBD Transport Plan to upgrade cycling and walking infrastructure, bus stop accessibility upgrades and enhance Roe Street. The centrepiece of this plan is the new Swan River Causeway Bridge.

Investment in cultural infrastructure, including the Perth Cultural Centre Precinct, the Perth Concert Hall, development of the WACA cricket ground, upgrades to the East Perth Power Station and funding to undertake a prefeasibility study for an Aboriginal Cultural Centre to be located in Perth on the traditional lands of the Whadjuk Noongar people.

Funding to provide facilities, safety improvements and services for homeless people in the city.

The creation of an Australian Space Automation, AI and Robotics Control Complex (SpAARC).

Funding towards a WA Indigenous Business and Employment Hub in partnership with the Wirrpanda Foundation.

Perth Surf Park - Aventuur

$93 million - Proposed 300 construction and 85 operational jobs

Aventuur is leading the development of the Perth Surf Park on a 5.8 hectare site in Cockburn, adjacent to the Kwinana Freeway and the Cockburn Central train station.

The park is set to feature a next-generation Wavegarden ‘Cove’ surfing lagoon, which will be the largest in the Southern Hemisphere. The park will also include amenities such as accommodation, a health and wellness centre, a coworking lounge, functions and event spaces, a highperformance surf academy, a beach club and restaurants.

The Perth Surf Park will provide residents and visitors to Western Australia with an innovative and world-class surf sports, recreation, leisure and entertainment hub close to the Perth CBD. Early engagement with cultural advisers has identified opportunities for the inclusion of public art featuring the work of local indigenous artists, and the ability to reflect the stories and culture of the local Beeliar Whadjuk Noongar people through the park’s landscape design.

Aventuur has entered into a long-term lease with the Western Australian Government for the site in Cockburn, and a development application has been submitted for the park, with planning approval for the development expected to be received in early 2023.

Total Solar Eclipse

$21 million – Committed

Exmouth has been identified as the best land-based town in the world to view the Total Solar Eclipse, which will occur on 20 April 2023 across the North West Cape. Much of Western Australia will experience a partial solar eclipse as the Moon tracks in front of the Sun.

Thousands of tourists are expected to visit the Ningaloo Coast with particular concentrations at Carnarvon, Coral Bay, Exmouth and Onslow – all either directly under or near the eclipse’s ‘path of totality’.

The Western Australian Government has committed $21 million to prepare for the Total Solar Eclipse. Funding will be used for upgrades in road and community infrastructure, improvements to telecommunications across the region, and event and waste management costs.

The eclipse will generate opportunities for tourism operators and other local businesses, with thousands of international and domestic visitors expected to travel to the Coral Coast region.

Primary Industries

Karratha Urea Plant –Perdaman Industries

$4.5 billion – Proposed 2,500 construction and 200 operational jobs

The Perdaman Group is proposing to build a urea plant in the Burrup Strategic Industrial Area with the capacity to produce 2.1 million tonnes a year of urea. The plant would be Australia’s first worldscale urea plant.

The Perdaman Group has signed a 20year gas sale and purchase agreement with Woodside for an offtake of around 125 terajoules a day, which would provide a supply of gas for conversion to urea.

Perdaman has also signed a 20year offtake agreement with Incitec Fertilisers Pty Ltd, to supply up to 2.3 million tonnes a year of granular urea fertiliser from the proposed urea plant.

Defence Industries

Biosecurity expertise tested in defencerelevant research

$110,868 –

Completed

In this Defence Science Centre (DSC) funded project, researchers from Murdoch University demonstrated the need to develop ‘just-in-time’ training tools to enhance Australian maritime biosecurity effectiveness. A multidisciplinary team of researchers created a database of over 2000 unique marine species to test biosecurity experts and novices

to determine how maritime biosecurity surveillance expertise in the Australian Navy could be enhanced. The researchers leveraged their collaboration and DSC funding success to develop a number of other defence-related research proposals, achieving over $500,000 in additional funding, thereby building WA’s future capacity for undertaking defence-relevant research.

Research into antibioticresistant bacteria leads to outcomes for the Australian Defence Force

$300,000 - Operating

A University of Western Australia (UWA) led team has progressed the development of a new treatment for antibiotic-resistant bacteria of biological warfare concern. Led by the DMTCaward winning Dr Mitali SarkarTyson, the group has developed a therapeutic that targets a protein found in strains of diseasecausing bacteria. The group has utilised Defence Science Centre Collaborative Research Grants (DSC CRG) funding to develop sovereign industrial capability in medical countermeasures— funds from the group’s most recent CRG project are being used to further develop this novel treatment to make it last longer in a human body and increase the treatment’s technology readiness level (TRL).

Stealth Technologies UAV/UGV collaboration to help humans in CBRN environments

$150,000

– Operating

Led by Western Australian SME Stealth Technologies in collaboration with The University of Western Australia (UWA) and the Defence Science Technology Group (DSTG), this Defence Science Centrefunded project is integrating Defence algorithms that detect Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) sources into a combination unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)/unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) platform.

The autonomous tech will keep humans at a safe distance, while rapidly traversing a target area using sensors to map and monitor CBRN sources. The UGV component was developed by Stealth Technologies and deployed at Eastern Goldfields Regional Prison as an autonomous perimeter security vehicle as part of a collaboration involving Stealth Technologies, the WA Department of Justice and aerospace giant Honeywell.

CIRA project engages WA SMEs to help solve space congestion

$148,640 – Operating

A portable, self-contained demonstrator for space domain awareness using passive radar has been designed and developed as part of a Defence Science Centre Collaborative Research Grants (DSC CRG) project led by the Curtin Institute of Radio Astronomy (CIRA). The system

will detect and track aircraft and objects in orbit via radio signals, providing a solution to the increasingly congested orbital environment around Earth. The project has engaged local Western Australian suppliers in the design, manufacture and delivery of critical components of the system, including Geng Pty Ltd and Osborne Motor Bodies.

Health and Medical Life Sciences

OncoRes Medical and Adarsh Australia

$9.255M - Committed OncoRes Medical, a Western Australian medical device company, is collaborating with Adarsh Australia, an Australian manufacturer and fabricator, to develop high value WA based manufacturing facilities to support development and commercialisation of medical products.

This project will support critical manufacturing and late-stage commercialisation activities to be carried out in Western Australia and enable translation from technology proof-of–concept through to TGA registration, Australian commercialisation and a US pivotal clinical trial.

Western Australia – It’s like no other magazine is produced by the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation (JTSI) on behalf of the Western Australian Government.

Available in print and online, the magazine is a platform for the many exciting business, tourism, investment and educational opportunities available in Western Australia.

To register for digital editions of the magazine, visit the Invest and Trade Western Australia website.

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We invite you to visit, study, invest, work in Western Australia – It’s like no other.

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