- $1.6 billion Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre redevelopment discontinued as Cook Government creates $1.5 billion Hospital Building Fund
- Redevelopment would have required $500 million in rail and roadworks
- Project would have disrupted existing business events program at PCEC
The Cook Government has made the decision not to proceed with the redevelopment proposal for the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre (PCEC).
While the Cook Government has worked closely and constructively with the leaseholders over the past two years, the significant investment decision cannot be justified at this time.
The leaseholders were advised of the decision by Premier Roger Cook on Wednesday.
The decision was based on the following:
- the cost to taxpayers of the project, totaling more than $1.6 billion, with the State Government likely to carry the entire cost on its balance sheet;
- the project impacting key road and rail routes and costing more than $500 million in road and rail infrastructure. These would be required to accommodate the proposal before work commenced on the PCEC redevelopment; and
- the significant business events program that already exists into the foreseeable future, including those driven by AUKUS, critical minerals and energy, as well as the negative impact the disruption of these events would have on the State's tourism and hospitality sectors.
Both the McGowan and Cook Governments have worked closely with the leaseholders on potential redevelopment pathways, with $35 million contributed to support design, engineering, geotechnical and business case works.
The results of this work will be available to the government into the future, as it looks to work with both the leaseholders and the broader business events and tourism sectors on a new path forward.
Over the last 12 months, the PCEC has successfully hosted major events, including Supanova Comic Con & Gaming, the WA Mining Conference and Exhibition, Energy Exchange Australia, and the International Wheat Congress.
The PCEC also has a strong list of major conventions booked, including:
- General Practice Conference & Exhibition (Nov 2025)
- Energy Exchange Australia (Mar 2026)
- WA Major Projects Conference (Mar 2026)
- Australia's Medical Technology National Conference (May 2026)
- International Iron Ore Conference (Jun 2026)
- Land Forces 2026 (Oct 2026)
- World Police and Fire Games (Mar 2027)
The Cook Government thanks the leaseholders for their commitment to the current PCEC facility and for the professionalism and diligence they have shown in working through future options.
As a part of its health infrastructure program, the Cook Government today announced the $1.5 billion Building Hospitals Fund. This is on top of the $3.2 billion committed to the existing health infrastructure program. The government also announced the greenlighting of three new hospital projects at Mount Lawley, Royal Perth Hospital and Peel.
Major health projects already under construction include the $1.8 billion Women and Babies Hospital project and the $471.5 million Bunbury Health Campus redevelopment - the largest regional hospital building project in Western Australia's history.
As stated by Premier Roger Cook:
"Our existing business events and tourism program is an important part of our government's strategy to diversify the economy and ensure it remains the strongest in the nation.
"This is an important focus for my government; however, I refuse to compromise on major projects that will deliver better health outcomes for Western Australians.
"We want to expand our major conference capacity, but it needs to occur in a way that delivers value for taxpayers and doesn't interrupt the impressive forward program of business events activity.
"I thank the leaseholders for their commitment to the existing facility and to the future events capacity of Western Australia and look forward to working with them to find a new way forward, in the future."
As stated by Deputy Premier Rita Saffioti:
"Over the last eight and a half years, our government has delivered the strong financial management necessary to keep our economy strong.
"Sometimes, this involves difficult decisions, but we make no apology for prioritising our hospital building program and delivering the infrastructure and services our community needs.
"The announcements we've made today means we will now be investing $4.7 billion into
health infrastructure over the next four years - representing the largest hospital building program in the State's history."
