The State’s first productivity commission will identify ways to deliver more jobs and business opportunities, raise living standards and enhance services for all Western Australians.
Legislation is being introduced in 2026 to establish the 2050 Commission.
Proposed scope and objectives
The 2050 Commission will provide strategic advice to government on the productivity, growth and transformation WA’s economy requires so it can meet the needs of Western Australians ahead of and beyond 2050.
Reporting to the Premier, the 2050 Commission will consider:
- how to equitably enhance living standards for all Western Australians.
- the needs of the WA economy in respect of regulation, public infrastructure, workforce development, innovation, decarbonisation and climate resilience.
- the improvement of Western Australia’s competitiveness for private sector investment.
- the facilitation of structural economic change in ways that are fair, just and inclusive for those affected.
- how best to improve services delivered or directly funded by government.
Core functions
The 2050 Commission will have three core functions:
- prepare Industry Development Action Plans (IDAPs), which will develop whole-of-government roadmaps to support the delivery of the government’s economic development priorities in specific industries.
- conduct inquiries and research on matters referred to it by the Premier or Treasurer while also being able to propose topics for self-initiate inquiries to the Premier, for approval.
- continue to perform the Major Infrastructure Proposal Assessment function currently delivered by Infrastructure WA, with the threshold for assessment increasing from $100 million to $200 million, indexed so that it keeps up with market conditions.
Establishment and governance
The 2050 Commission will replace Infrastructure WA (IWA) and take on the broad inquiry functions of the Economic Regulation Authority (ERA).
The ERA will continue to regulate specific markets, with its inquiry powers limited to those markets.
This change brings WA into line with other states, with New South Wales and South Australia establishing its commissions in 2018 and Queensland reinstating its commission in 2024.
More information on the progress of these reforms will be updated as required.
What will the new 2050 Commission do?
Show moreThe 2050 Commission will identify ways to deliver more jobs and business opportunities, raise living standards and enhance services for all Western Australians.
What powers and responsibilities will the commission have, and will it be independent?
Show moreThe 2050 Commission will be a statutory authority, with a Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner reporting to the Premier, and an advisory committee consisting of representatives from industry, unions, First Nations people, regional WA, and other stakeholder groups.
The proposed model resulted from an extensive industry, union and public sector stakeholder engagement process undertaken by Cockburn MLA David Scaife, Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier.
When will the 2025 Commission be established?
Show moreIt is anticipated that new legislation to establish the 2050 Commission will be introduced in the second half of 2026 with a view to establishing the agency in mid-2027.
Was there any public consultation?
Show moreThe Premier’s Parliamentary Secretary David Scaife MLA has led a consultation process with industry, peak bodies, the public sector and unions on the final model and functions of the Productivity Commission.
This process was supported by a steering committee made up of senior executives from the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, Department of Treasury and Finance, and the Public Sector Commission.
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