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Local industry participation

The Western Australian Government is committed to ensuring local industry receives full, fair and reasonable opportunity to participate in major resource projects taking place throughout the state. Find out more about our local industry participation initiatives.

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WA government initiatives for local industry participation

In response to changes in global market conditions, the State Government has revised its approach to local industry participation and developed a framework to address new challenges and opportunities for local suppliers. The 10-step framework will improve channels of communication with both suppliers and project proponents to ensure the State has a more complete picture of what benefits resource projects bring to Western Australia.

The Western Australian Government Local Industry Participation Framework  (PDF 1.34 MB) includes information on the 10 steps, which are:

  1. Strategic focus
  2. Supplier performance
  3. Definition of local benefit
  4. Strategic projects
  5. Industry Capability Network WA (ICNWA)
  6. Local Industry Participation Unit
  7. Commonwealth Government
  8. International cooperation
  9. Leadership
  10. Skilled workforce.

Industry Facilitation Support Program - calling for applications

Is your business a small to medium sized enterprise in the manufacturing or services sector looking to supply or increase supply to major resource projects?  If so, we’re looking to provide your business with dollar-for-dollar financial assistance of up to $25,000 through the Industry Facilitation and Support Program.

Review of ‘local content’ levels

In the past, a large proportion of the goods and services used by resource projects were sourced locally. While this is still true for many types of projects and purchases, changing market conditions mean that "local content" levels are falling in some areas, affecting steel fabrication and engineering and design in particular.

The Local Content Report, May 2011 (PDF 555 Kb) describes the factors causing changes in Western Australia's local content levels, and reviews existing state, national and international policies on local content.

The Local Content Report, November 2011 (PDF 214 Kb) details recent developments in the resources industry and lists the publicly announced contracts awarded to WA-based companies from July to November this year.

The Modular Fabrication in the Resources Sector in Western Australia: Current Practices and Strategies for Improvement (PDF 4 Mb) report is also available.

The Assessment of the Engineering Design Capability and Capacity in the Oil and Gas Sector in Western Australia report looks into the ability of the State's industry to supply to offshore energy developments. The report was completed by Dr Martin West from Curtin University.

Increasing opportunities for local business participation in major projects

The Building Local Industry Policy - November 2009 (PDF 374 kb) forms an integral part of the Western Australian Government’s commitment to strengthening local industry. The policy provides a clear and unequivocal statement that local businesses have a legitimate expectation that they will be given a full, fair and reasonable opportunity to be considered for major work and contracts being undertaken in Western Australia in both the public and private sector.

The policy is consistent with the Australian Industry Participation National Framework agreed to by Commonwealth and State Industry Ministers in April 2001, which identifies a set of objectives, principles and strategies to provide full, fair and reasonable opportunity for Australian industry to participate in significant public and private sector projects.

Maximising supply opportunities for local industries

The Buy Local Policy is a Western Australian Government policy that aims to maximise supply opportunities for competitive local industries when bidding for state government contracts.

The policy is administered by the State Supply Commission and requires state agencies to recognise local content in bid evaluations. It supports other government initiatives to attract new investment, increase employment levels and create growth to stimulate sustainable industrial development within WA.

For more information on tendering for government projects, visit the State Supply Commission's website (www.ssc.wa.gov.au/) or the Department of Commerce government procurement page.

Industry Capability Network – promoting WA companies

The Industry Capability Network WA (ICNWA) promotes Western Australian and Australian industry capability to major project developers, service providers and government agencies both nationally and abroad by identifying competitive domestic providers.

It brings benefits to the state by maximising local participation in major investment projects. ICNWA has played an integral part in promoting local manufacturers, leading to export opportunities and job creation.

The availability of ICNWA's services is included in state government tender documents to help tendering organisations maximise local content in their proposals.

For more information visit the Industry Capability Network Western Australia website at www.icnwa.org.au/.

ProjectConnect - project opportunities and supplier directories

ProjectConnect is an online electronic library which stores, organises and distributes information on Australian suppliers, development projects and project supply opportunities.

ProjectConnect also hosts a number of industry directories which can be searchable by the public.

For more information visit the Project Connect website (www.projectconnect.com.au).

EnterpriseConnect - assistance for small and medium sized enterprises

Enterprise Connect is a $251 million Australian Government initiative designed to boost productivity, improve innovation and increase the competitiveness of Australian small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs).

Enterprise Connect is administered by the Federal Department of Innovation, Industry Science and Research and uses industry experts and partners to deliver a comprehensive range of services to help eligible SMEs improve productivity, build internal capacity and capitalise on their growth potential. 

The Department of Commerce works in partnership with Enterprise Connect to identify opportunities for local firms to access funding under this program. 

For more information visit the Enterprise Connect website (www.enterpriseconnect.gov.au). 

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