The Cook Labor Government has announced plans to establish a WA Productivity Commission by merging Infrastructure WA and the Economic Regulation Authority, aiming to lift economic performance and improve public services.
The new body will advise the State Government on policies and reforms to drive growth, create jobs and strengthen service delivery. Its role will include examining how the private and public sectors can work more efficiently, while also assessing issues such as energy pricing, regulatory approvals and workforce planning.
Premier Roger Cook said the commission would help position the state as a destination for investment and opportunity. “My government is committed to Western Australia becoming a global leader in investment attraction, industry facilitation and regulation,” he said. “By being the best place in the world to do business, we will maintain Western Australia as the strongest economy in the nation and the best place in the world to get a quality job.”
Cook highlighted industry feedback at June’s Economic Resilience Roundtable, which included calls for more attention to infrastructure and workforce needs. “By bringing the incredible capabilities of IWA together with the ERA, the government will have the capability to explore these and other productivity drivers for the private sector,” he said. “The Productivity Commission will also give us the ability to drive improvements in service delivery across the public sector, including in critical areas like health and housing.”
Treasurer Rita Saffioti said the reform built on the state’s current economic strength. “Western Australia already has the strongest economy in the nation, but our government is always working hard to boost productivity, attract investment, and create more local jobs,” she said. “The WA Productivity Commission will be a centre of excellence to keep our economy competitive and resilient, positioning Western Australia for long-term success. This is about streamlining approvals and ensuring we get the best value for every dollar spent, while still delivering the major economic infrastructure and essential services our communities rely on.”
Parliamentary Secretary David Scaife will lead consultation with industry, unions, peak bodies and the public sector before the model is finalised. The legislation to formally establish the commission is expected to be introduced in the first half of 2026.
The merger of IWA’s planning functions and the ERA’s inquiry work will align WA with other states that have set up similar bodies, including New South Wales and South Australia in 2018, and Queensland, which reinstated its commission this year.
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