At our first Council meeting of the 2024 year, we invited Hon Kyle McGinn MLC, Mining and Pastoral Region to provide us with an update on the WA Shipping and Supply Chain Taskforce.

Kyle is the Co-Chair of the Taskforce with Ms Divina D’Anna MLA, Member for Kimberley. Below is a summary of his presentation:

“In March 2022, the WA Government announced the formation of a Shipping and Supply Chain Taskforce to examine the state’s shipping industry and supply chains that link Western Australia with the east coast and international customers. The taskforce was co-chaired then by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Transport and Ports Jessica Stojkovski MLA, and the Hon Kyle McGinn MLC, Mining and Pastoral Region.

A formal report was submitted in 2023, which included a submission from industry including from the Freight and Logistics Council of WA. The Government is actively considering the findings and recommendations of the report.

In view of the ongoing importance of the issues addressed, a shipping policy unit is being created within Dept of Transport.

The Taskforce will continue its work into 2024 under its current co-chairs in recognition of the importance of shipping and supply chain resilience to remote WA

In 2024 the taskforce will be focusing on developing a policy, researching on training with the shipping lines, and analysing the remote communities’ costs.”