- New legislation to streamline delivery of WA's future container port and related infrastructure in Kwinana
- Westport Authority to lead development of State's first metropolitan container port in more than a century
- Westport Bill 2026 establishes a framework for efficient, accountable and cost-effective mega-project delivery
- Cook Government committed to delivering transformational infrastructure projects to support the economy and jobs for generations of Western Australians
The Cook Government has introduced new legislation to Parliament to establish a dedicated authority to deliver the State's future container port and supporting infrastructure in Kwinana, securing Western Australia's long-term trade future.
The Westport Bill 2026 will enable the establishment of a statutory Westport Authority to oversee the planning and delivery of the once-in-a-century project, to secure critical trade infrastructure for the State.
Westport will be of one of the largest State infrastructure programs in Western Australia's history, requiring more than 10 years of complex, integrated delivery.
Establishing a dedicated authority with the necessary powers to efficiently deliver public projects is commonplace across Australia for 'mega', non-business-as-usual, infrastructure projects.
The Westport Authority will be a standalone entity and agent of the Crown, minimising risks and ensuring that Westport is delivered efficiently, cost-effectively, and with full accountability.
The Authority will be empowered to make timely decisions, enter commercial arrangements and attract the specialist expertise required to deliver new port infrastructure, along with upgrades to road, rail, and logistics networks.
With similar powers to Western Australian port, infrastructure and redevelopment authorities, the Westport Authority will be best placed to plan and deliver port and associated infrastructure, facilities and operations.
It will be able to buy and sell land, manage property, carry out port and other works, and enter into necessary business agreements.
The Bill preserves the Environmental Protection Act and makes no changes to the environmental impact assessment process.
It also makes no changes to Statutory heritage approval processes and does not override heritage protections established by theAboriginal Heritage Act 1972andHeritage Act 2018.
The Westport Authority will be governed by a Westport Board appointed by the Minister, with a CEO accountable for the entity's day-to-day activities.
The Westport Authority will be a planning and delivery arm of government, existing for a finite period and will handover completed assets to government operators.
The Westport Business Case identified significant risks to the WA economy from future constraints on container trade if Westport is not built by the time Fremantle Port reaches capacity.
The Business Case found that inaction to address constraints on trade could cost WA's economy $244 billion over coming decades - an average of $5 billion per year - driving significant increases in the costs of everyday household goods and for the State's businesses.
Subject to environmental approvals and a final investment decision, construction of the new container terminal is expected to commence in the late 2020s, with operations beginning in the late 2030s.
As stated by Transport Minister Rita Saffioti:
"Westport will deliver WA's first new metropolitan container port development in more than a century to future-proof our economy, secure our State's long-term trade future and generate thousands of local jobs.
"This is a multi-generational infrastructure project, and the scale and duration of the Westport program requires a unique and agile approach to manage its efficient delivery.
"A standalone authority will allow Westport to streamline planning approvals and attract specialist capability, so this transformational infrastructure program can be delivered as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible.
"Delivering a new container port is critical to the long-term strength of WA's economy and keeping costs down for households, supporting local jobs and sustaining a strong, diversified economy for the future."
