Western Australia is the resources capital of Australia. The sector drives growth in the state’s economy, and is a vital contributor to Australia’s export earnings. CCI plays a key role in advocating on major policy issues affecting the mining and energy sectors in WA.

This is primarily achieved through the CCI Resources and Energy Forum, which gives members involved in the sector an opportunity to meet, debate and shape CCI policy relating to resource and energy issues. The Forum has members from a range of sub-sectors including mineral extraction, oil and gas, engineering services, electricity, gas, law, water and manufacturing.

Some of the Resources and Energy Forum’s key priorities for 2011 include:

- addressing local content issues;
- easing WA’s labour shortages;
- establishing infrastructure priorities and funding mechanisms; and
- reducing the cost of doing business in WA.

Recent advocacy work undertaken by CCI in relation to resource and energy issues includes:

- CCI submission to the ERA on Horizon Power Funding Arrangements (February 2011);
- CCI submission to the Office of Energy on Retail Gas Tariffs in WA (February 2011);
- CCI submission to the ERA on restrictions on Verve and Synergy (February 2011);
- Transcript of CCI appearance before the WA Parliamentary Inquiry into Domestic Gas Prices (November 2010); and
- CCI submission to the Policy Transition Group on the MRRT (October 2010).

For more information, please contact Noel Richards, Senior Policy Adviser – Resources and Energy on noel.richards@cciwa.com.