Western Australia is preparing for its most significant shake-up of state development laws in more than 70 years. The Cook Government this week will introduce the State Development Bill 2025, a bold piece of legislation designed to fast-track approvals, unlock major precincts, and position WA as a global leader in investment attraction.

It’s being pitched as the biggest reform since the 1952 State Agreements framework, a system that has underpinned WA’s resources boom for decades. But while State Agreements were largely about mining, the new Bill signals a broader ambition: clean energy, defence, and long-term diversification.

Why This Bill Matters Now

The Bill lands at a critical moment. Builders, developers and suppliers are navigating a period of tight labour, rising costs and rapid decarbonisation pressures. Governments around Australia are scrambling to balance housing supply, job creation and sustainability.

For WA, which already boasts the nation’s strongest economy, the message is clear: if the State wants to stay ahead, it must provide certainty and speed for strategic projects. As Premier Roger Cook put it:

“Our system of State Agreements has served WA well, but we need a modernised, more agile system if we are to secure investment in a competitive, time-sensitive global environment.”

What the Bill Does

At its core, the Bill establishes a modern and agile framework for project approvals. Key elements include:

• State Development Areas and Priority Projects: The Premier will have new powers to declare projects of strategic significance.
• Coordinator General role: A new statutory authority with powers to coordinate across agencies, issue timeframe notices, and cut through red tape.
• Tools for delivery: Including modification orders, joint decision notices and due regard notices, all aimed at reducing bottlenecks.
• Respect for safeguards: The Environmental Protection Authority and Aboriginal heritage protections remain intact, with the Bill framed as a coordinator, not a bypass.

Importantly, not every project will be captured. Most private developments will continue through existing Department of Energy and Economic Diversification pathways.

Big Bets: Energy and Defence

The government is clear about where it sees opportunity. The Bill is expected to accelerate:

• Transition from coal: WA plans to exit coal faster than any other state.
• Critical minerals and green downstream industries: Including “green iron” and processing capacity that supports decarbonisation globally.
• Defence and shipbuilding: Positioning WA as the largest naval hub in the southern hemisphere.

For the building sector, these priorities open up major precinct development opportunities, from housing and training facilities to industrial infrastructure.

Lessons From the Past

WA’s history is one of bold agreements unlocking economic waves. The State Agreements framework enabled the iron ore giants of the Pilbara. The Bill now aims to do the same for the industries of the future.

But modern challenges are more complex:

• Community expectations around transparency and environmental stewardship.
• Time sensitivity in global markets, where investors can shift capital quickly.
• Diversification needs, to ensure WA is not solely reliant on resources.

The Bill’s success will rest on balancing speed with integrity, streamlining without undermining the very protections that give WA projects their credibility.

Builder and Supplier Takeaways

While the Bill may sound removed from residential construction, it has real implications for builders:

1. Pipeline of work: Strategic precincts often demand housing, training centres, and commercial builds to support large-scale industry.
2. Skills demand: Defence and clean energy projects could sharpen the fight for skilled trades, from electricians to fabricators, adding pressure to an already stretched labour pool.
3. Opportunities in regional WA: Many priority precincts are outside Perth, meaning builders with regional capability may be well placed.
4. Investment confidence: Faster approvals mean projects are more likely to hit the ground, giving suppliers and subcontractors clearer visibility of demand.

For suppliers, particularly those aligned with clean energy, sustainable materials and advanced construction methods, the Bill may accelerate market entry opportunities.

Industry Voices

The Bill is already stirring interest across WA’s business community. While official commentary has focused on government ministers, industry associations are expected to weigh in over the coming weeks.

A key question will be whether streamlining major projects risks overshadowing smaller players. Builders and contractors will want reassurance that while billion-dollar precincts are being prioritised, the approvals system for housing and community infrastructure is not left behind.

The Good Builder Take

At The Good Builder, we see the State Development Bill as a signal of confidence. WA is betting big on its future and when a state backs its economy at this scale, opportunities flow through the supply chain.

For builders, it’s a reminder to think long-term and position early. Whether that’s exploring regional partnerships, building defence capability, or aligning with clean energy supply chains, the groundwork laid today could pay off as these projects accelerate.

The legislation also highlights a broader theme we’ve been covering: government intervention is increasingly shaping where and how the industry grows. For anyone in construction, staying across these shifts is as important as tracking material costs or client sentiment.

The State Development Bill 2025 is more than a policy tweak. It’s a structural reset, the biggest since the 1950s aimed at preparing WA for a new era of economic diversification.

If it delivers as promised, WA will not just remain the strongest economy in the nation, but emerge as a global leader in clean energy and defence manufacturing. For builders, that means new work, new competition, and new expectations.

In an industry already under pressure, this legislation could reshape the horizon. The question now: can WA deliver the balance of speed, safeguards and opportunity its bold reforms promise?

Author: TGB Editorial