Industry Issues
Cook Government announces the “2050 Commission”
Last week, the Cook Government announced a new productivity commission for Western Australia to focus on the productivity, growth and transformation of WA’s economy. To be known as the “2050 Commission”, it will provide strategic advice to government with an aim to ensure the state’s economy will meet the needs to West Australians in the lead up to, and beyond 2050.
A promising step toward driving a longer-term reform agenda to safeguard the State’s future growth and prosperity, the state government will introduce legislation to establish the commission later this year with a view to establishing an agency in mid-2027.
“The establishment of the 2025 Commission shows the Cook Government is thinking about the bigger picture and looking at how we can improve productivity across a range of key industries,” UDIA WA CEO Tanya Steinbeck said.
“It is promising to see the State Government committing to action beyond four-year election cycles and taking a future focused approach to ensuring the industries underpinning the State’s economy remain productive and competitive in the long term”.
Reporting to the Premier, the 2050 Commission will consider:
- how to equitably enhance living standards for all Western Australians;
- the needs of the WA economy in respect of regulation, public infrastructure, workforce development, innovation, decarbonisation, and climate resilience;
- the improvement of Western Australia’s competitiveness for private sector investment;
- the facilitation of structural economic change in ways that are fair, just, and inclusive for those affected; and
- how best to improve services delivered or directly funded by government.
Its three core functions will be to:
- prepare Industry Development Action Plans, as whole-of-government roadmaps to support the delivery of the government’s economic development priorities in specific industries;
- conduct inquiries and research on matters referred to it by the Premier or Treasurer while also being able to propose topics for self-initiated inquiries to the Premier, for approval; and
- continue to perform the Major Infrastructure Proposal Assessment function currently delivered by Infrastructure WA, but with the threshold for assessment increasing from $100 million to $200 million, indexed so that it keeps up with market conditions.
Taking on the broad inquiry functions of the Economic Regulation Authority (ERA) and replacing Infrastructure WA (IWA), the 2050 Commission has the potential to provide more scope to drive coordinated action across government departments and sectors to conduct inquiries and pinpoint where and how efficiencies and real reform can be achieved.
“Housing supply and affordability is a foundational component of our state’s future productivity and economic growth, as well as for liveability,” Ms Steinbeck said. “Therefore, it will be imperative that housing is a significant focus of the new Commission, with an eye to key reforms that will facilitate the sustainable supply of diverse housing options”.
UDIA WA has made a Pre-Budget Submission that outlines a range of key asks for the upcoming State Budget, that will help facilitate more homes on the ground, faster.
UDIA WA looks forward to continuing our positive collaboration with the Cook Government on both short and long term solutions to the state’s housing supply challenges.
Read UDIA WA’s 2026-2027 Pre-Budget Submission.
Join DevelopmentWA’s Land Redevelopment Committees
Do you have experience in urban planning, architecture, heritage, urban design or property development?
DevelopmentWA is calling for expressions of Interest from individuals interested in becoming a common member on their five Land Redevelopment Committees – which govern planning activities in Bentley, Subiaco, Armadale, Midland and Central Perth.
Applications close 2pm AWST on Friday 27 February 2026.
Apply for the DevelopmentWA’s Land Redevelopment Committees.
Vale Lambros Siamos
On behalf of the UDIA WA Council, staff and wider membership we pass on our condolences to the family and friends of Lambros Siamos, who passed away last week at the age of 60.
As a former UDIA committee member, Lambros was a stalwart of the civil construction and land development sector, having been part of the Georgiou Group for the past 38 years.
Georgiou’s CEO Gary Georgiou shared,
“Lambros was a significant part of the Georgiou story, joining his Uncle Peter Georgiou in 1988, he has contributed immeasurably with commitment and passion to help grow Georgiou Group into the business it is today.
“During my time at Georgiou, I have been grateful to have Lambros as a key member of our Leadership Team, a wealth of knowledge on all things ‘Georgiou’ and a huge support to myself. Lambros’ kindness, generosity, and love of a good wine will remain with us even though he will be greatly missed.”
Western Power Industry update and outlook
Western Power has provided the following industry update and outlook regarding current indicative lead times for supply chain materials.
Raw Material Price Surges
Global lead times for primary plant remained extended through December 2025 as new U.S. semiconductor tariffs pushed electronics delays to 20–25 weeks, constraining availability of protection relays, sensors and substation control systems. The Pax Silica alliance launched in December increased global competition for critical minerals linked to transformer steel and HV electronics. Persistent shortages kept global average delivery windows for large power transformers at 2.5–2.8 years, driven by constrained raw materials and sharply rising global electrification demand.
- January 2026 added further pressure as copper exceeded US$13,000/tonne, with U.S. inventories rising nearly 400%, inflating costs for transformer windings, HV cables and switchgear conductors.
- Lithium demand surged alongside grid‑scale storage growth, tightening supply for BESS installations, while gold and silver prices remained at all times high, adding further cost pressure to metallic components used across our network.
- From 1 January 2025 Gold is up 92%, Silver 206%, Copper 48% and Lithium 97%
Ongoing Inventory management
Globally, supply chains remain fragile, lead times remain extended. These factors which are volatile and unpredictable are key contributors to low stock scenarios impacting Western Power’s inventory management and recovery strategies. Beyond common management strategies of assessing holdings at depots, suppliers and customers, potential to expedite (air freight), alternative designs and products; Inventory & Logistics seeks to minimise business disruption by way of project and program prioritisation with business sponsors, focus on demand planning across streams of faults, volumetric programs, UPP, projects and customer streams, extended order forecast horizons, increased safety stock levels and assessing supply risk for future orders over 12 month horizon.
Sustained lead time challenges
- Ground mounted transformers: Metering range XA2426 to XA2432 – 350 days lead time
- 33kV RMU: First batch of stock has arrived (already allocated to project). More stick due in December and January.
- Instrument Transformers: Extended lead times GFF – Arteche – 294 days.
- Voltage Regulators – XA2601 to XA2607: Lead time to be advised. Contract negotiation in progress with new suppliers, prototypes ordered
- Tx Surge Arresters: Lead time extended to 580 days.
- Tx Circuit Breakers (220/330kV): Engineering and Commercial are working closely with new supplier, Contact Inventory specialists for latest updates for delivery. XA1433 from GE is replacing XA1430. XA1429 is from China (Different process to order).
- Tx Disconnectors: Long lead time 280 days.
Short term delays/potential availability risks
- 1000kVA NMPS Transformer – XA2453: – 180 days lead time
- Junction box – HZ0115: Low stock until April 2026
- Junction box – HZ0116: Low stock until April 2026
- Terminal lug – FL1463: Low stock until February 2026
- Terminal lug – FL1449: Low stock until March 2026
- Insulator – IC0003: Low stock until February 2026
- Joint box – FJ0238: Low stock until March 2026
- Ethernet switch – VR0059: Low stock until April 2026
- Insulator sleeve – FE0025: Low stock until February 2026
- Splice conductor – CC0063: Low stock until February 2026
- Joint box – FJ0236: Low stock until February 2026
- Joint box – FJ0056: Low stock until March 2026
- Cable 110V – ED1057: Low stock until March 2026
- Insulator – IH0208: Low stock until May 2026
Welcome Wesley to UDIA WA!
UDIA WA is pleased to welcome Wesley Du Preez to his new role as Policy Officer.
Greetings!
My name is Wesley Du Preez, though most people call me Wes. I’ve recently joined UDIA WA as a Policy Officer, where I will be coordinating strategic committee meetings and drafting policy and submissions on behalf of UDIA WA and its members. The work we do is vital in addressing the housing crisis and ensuring the development industry has a strong, informed voice in key discussions.
I hold a Bachelor of Commerce (Economics) from the University of Notre Dame and a Bachelor of Marketing, Advertising and Public Relations from Edith Cowan University. I am a former Treasury Graduate and have recently returned to Perth from Canberra to start my family. I am also a proud Mannkal Scholar.
I am excited to work alongside our members and to advocate for an industry that urgently needs a clear and authoritative voice at the table. Please feel free to reach out if you would like to discuss any ideas, concerns, or questions.
Thank you!
We’re excited to have Wes on board as we continue to champion policies that unlock housing delivery and help create thriving communities. Please say hi and introduce yourselves over our upcoming events!
Call for Submissions for Social and Affordable Housing
The Department of Housing and Works is calling for expressions of interest from builders and developers to boost the supply and diversity of social and affordable housing across Western Australia.
The ‘Call for Submissions for Social and Affordable Housing’ (CFS-SAH) invites Submissions from private industry to help government deliver liveable and sustainable apartment and grouped dwelling residential developments in Perth and regional WA.
The Department of Housing and Works is accepting Submissions aligned with the Housing Australia Future Fund Round 3 Guidelines until 28 January 2027.