Public Sector Reforms Target Jobs, Hospitals, Housing
The Cook Labor Government has announced targeted reforms to the public sector, to provide renewed focus on the priorities of the Western Australian community.
With the goal of maintaining Western Australia as the strongest economy in the nation, the reforms will boost economic resilience to ensure Western Australia continues to generate high-quality jobs in globally uncertain times.
The reforms will also create centres of building excellence within the WA public sector, which will support a better approach to delivering new hospital capacity and houses for the nation’s fastest growing population.
All reforms will take effect from 1 July 2025, with full implementation to be achieved by 31December 2025. Nine out of the current 25 government departments will be impacted by the reforms, with a net gain of one department.
Reforms to boost economic resilience include:
The Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation will become the Department of Energy and Economic Diversification (DEED). Energy Policy WA will come into this jobs-focused agency, because secure, affordable and lower carbon energy is so critical to WA’s economic development.
DEED will continue to have stewardship of Western Australia’s system of State Agreements, major resources developments and network of Invest and Trade offices.
A new Office of Defence Industries will be established within the Department of Premier and Cabinet (DPC), to make the most of the opportunities that AUKUS presents.
The central role of DPC will be further enhanced by the Coordinator General.
DPC will also be home to a new Office of Early Childhood, which will focus on long-term productivity by getting Western Australian children off to a great start in life.
Leadership on Aboriginal Affairs policy will also be consolidated within DPC, recognising the importance of this to social outcomes, as well as major project development across the State.
Tourism will now be housed in the Department of Creative Industries, Tourism and Sport, providing a single agency, focused on the creation of high-quality events and content, diversifying Western Australia’s economy, making WA an even better place to live and visit, and giving Western Australians more opportunities to get active and involved.
The Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety will be split into two agencies. The new Department of Mines, Petroleum and Exploration will administer and drive the future development of the resources industry, with the Department of Local Government, Commerce, Industry Regulation and Safety providing a more focused contact point for other regulatory functions.
Reforms focused on building infrastructure better include:
The Department of Transport will become the Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure, with major building capacity from across government becoming consolidated within a new Office of Major Infrastructure Delivery (OMID).
OMID will build Westport and the State’s major transport infrastructure projects.
Reporting also to the Health Infrastructure Minister, OMID will also build hospitals, including the new Women’s and Babies Hospital, the major upgrades at Osborne Park Hospital and Midland Hospital, the significant emergency department upgrade at Royal Perth, as well as the many hospital upgrades underway or planned for regional WA.
OMID will create a centre of construction and contract management expertise to oversee delivery across the government’s major infrastructure program. It will be an exciting place to work, with a diverse portfolio of great projects – which will help the public sector retain excellence in delivery skills within the public sector.
The Department of Housing and Works will take responsibility for the building, maintenance and management of our social housing stock from the Department of Communities, as well as the building and maintenance of other small infrastructure projects by government, such as schools and police stations from the Department of Finance.
Other existing Department of Finance functions, such as State Revenue and Procurement Policy, will transfer to the Department of Treasury and Finance.
As stated by Premier Roger Cook:
“Today’s reforms are about creating a Team WA approach at all levels of government, so that we can relentlessly pursue the priorities of the WA community – creating jobs, building capacity in our hospitals and building more houses.
“These reforms will ensure we continue to create jobs in globally uncertain times, by backing our resources sector, diversifying our economy for the future and making more things here.
“The reforms also put energy policy front and centre, recognising how important affordable, secure and lower carbon energy is to maintaining WA’s status as the fastest-growing economy in the nation.
“My government values the public sector and each and every worker it employs. We will work closely with the public sector leadership and unions as we implement these reforms over the course of this year.”
As stated by Treasurer Rita Saffioti:
“WA continues to be the engine room of the nation, and as a result of Western Australia having the fastest growing economy in the country, we also have the fastest growing population in Australia.
“With this strong growth likely to continue to put pressure on our hospitals and housing stock, it is essential that we organise our public sector in the best possible way to meet these challenges.
“The reforms announced today will create centres of excellence in construction and contract management to oversee our infrastructure and housing programs.
“They will be exciting places to work, with a diverse portfolio of great projects – which will help us retain excellence in delivery skills across the public sector.
“I want to acknowledge our public sector staff who provide an important contribution and service to the State day-in-day-out. These reforms will bolster the sector’s efforts in delivering on the WA Government’s priorities to continue to benefit our communities in the suburbs and the regions.”
WA Government Public Sector Reforms effective 1 July 2025
A more resilient economy
A better way to build
Departments not affected
https://www.wa.gov.au/government/media-statements/Cook Labor Government/Targeted-public-sector-reforms-focused-on-jobs,-hospitals-and-houses-20250331