PERTH (miningweekly.com) – The Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia (CME) has welcomed an initiative by the Western Australian government to establish a hub in Canberra.

Premier Roger Cook unveiled plans for a state embassy in Australia’s capital, to allow state agencies, industries and advocacy groups to better lobby federal government.

“We need a concerted effort to remind Canberra that we're the engine room of the nation's economy,” Cook was quoted by local press.

“We need to unwind decades of eastern states-centric attitudes and thinking in the nation's capital.”

CME CEO Rebecca Tomkinson said she had raised the importance of Western Australia having greater visibility in Canberra to influence the public policy and funding decisions being made that significantly impacted the state.

Tomkinson said while there was widespread acceptance within the state of Western Australia of the significant economic contribution of the Western Australian mining and resources sector, beyond its borders there was limited awareness or appreciation of the vital role the sector played in underpinning the national economy.

“CME has always believed it is important to ensure a strong Western Australian voice in Canberra,” she said.

“We discussed with the state government the benefits of establishing a shared space in Canberra to enable the government and Western Australia’s peak body industries to collaborate and work together to ensure the best strategic outcomes are delivered for the state.

“As revealed earlier this year, an analysis of 71 Western Australian resources sector companies found the state’s mining, energy and contractor industries contributed a direct A$98.98-billion to Australia’s economy in 2021/22 and directly employed more than 69 000 full-time Australians.

“While Western Australians have a great awareness of the significant contribution of the Western Australian mining and resources sector, those in the eastern states don’t share the same level of appreciation for our contribution – which is risky when you consider the amount of reforms and decisions being made at a federal level.

“It is important for Western Australia’s voice to be heard loud and clear and for our interests to be further represented at a national level, and establishing a hub in the heart of our nation’s capital is a step in the right direction.”