As Western Australians prepare to go to the polls in March, the WA Division has put together a list of priorities for engineering in the state.
In sharing these priorities and recommendations, the committee aims to bring awareness of key engineering issues directly to politicians. These ideas will work as a base for the committees' advocacy in the lead up to and following the state election.
Our 2025 WA election priorities are:
- Sustainable and resilient infrastructure
- A comprehensive WA energy transition plan
- Building a skilled and diverse workforce
- A nationally-consistent engineering registration scheme
- Appointing a WA Chief Engineer
WA President Lewis Macdonald said he is proud to share this policy position with WA members ahead of the election.
“It was crafted by the division committee in consultation with our members, recognising the critical role engineers play in shaping our state's future. The work of engineers intersects with every aspect of the modern world, making our contributions vital to community and policy discussions.”
“This position will form the basis for our advocacy work in the lead up to, and beyond the state election. As a committee we’re excited by the opportunity to draw attention to these key engineering initiatives at the state wide level,” he said.
Infrastructure recommendations include consolidating infrastructure delivery under a single entity, mandating carbon assessments for all projects, investing in sustainable building materials, and promoting modern construction methods.
For a successful energy transition the committee is calling for a holistic plan that covers all aspects of WA’s energy system. We’re calling for a cross-government authority to be established to develop and oversee the transition, while engaging with engineering expertise to guide decision making.
To build a skilled and diverse workforce in WA we’re calling for major investments in STEM teaching at all levels, particularly in equipping teachers with STEM knowledge. The committee is also calling on the government to support international engineering talent.
As our registration scheme develops, we recommend aligning WA’s registration standards with national guidelines. We also ask that the government facilitate Automatic Mutual Recognition for professional engineers.
Our recommendation to establish an Office of the WA Chief Engineer encompasses all of our other recommendations. It would see expert technical and leadership advice across government, embedding engineering expertise in project design, procurement and management to maximise return on investment and minimise risk.
The Western Australian division look forward to continuing this advocacy with the new government.