Latest State Government working group to focus on ‘practical changes’ to help supply chains amid fuel crisis

The latest in a string of roundtables and working groups convened by the Cook Government in response to the fuel crisis will focus on practical changes it can make to support supply chains says chairwoman and Deputy Premier Rita Saffioti. The Industry Support Working Group, made up of the Premier and Deputy Premier as well as eight senior Ministers, met for the first time on Tuesday morning. Ministers have been tasked with consulting with their respective industry leaders and recommending measures to support businesses, strengthen supply chains and reduce cost-of-living pressures. According to Ms Saffioti, the group’s first meeting discussed topics such as pressures to the housing industry and the concerns of dairy farmers. “These on the ground, practical systems that we’re looking at, for example, the truck industry is looking at how we can have high productivity vehicles for key routes that would reduce the amount of truck trips and also reduce the demand for diesel for some of those trips,” she said. “We’re looking at delivery timetables and also how we can support industry. “This is a group that is tasked with making sure we can modify regulations quickly and support industry through these these times.” The group’s meeting comes after a litany of other working groups and roundtables have been created including a Fuel Security Roundtable, the Fuel Industry Operations Group and meetings Ministers hold with their industries. While the Federal Government’s announcement on Monday that it would cut the fuel excise in half and cancel the heavy vehicle road user charge for three months comes as welcome — albeit small — relief for many, pain for businesses and families remains high. Attention is slowly growing on June’s State Budget, where there are hopes cost of living relief could be unveiled to act as a reprieve. But Ms Saffioti would not say what measures could come from the budget. “We’re looking at regulatory reform and we’re also looking at where else we can support businesses,” she said. “Our key focus is groceries and housing. You know, they’re the two things that impact every Western Australian, and it’s about making sure we can reduce pressure on grocery prices and also reduce pressure on housing costs.” Despite assurances from the Government supply was being maintained, miners are warning they are still looking at a dire situation to keep their operations running. Mid West and Goldfields mining companies Fenix Resources, Gold Valley and Yilgarn Iron all warned The West Australian they were vulnerable to running out of diesel. Fenix executive chair John Welborn said if his business lost its supply, it would only be able to avoid turning off machines for five days. A spokesperson for Energy and Decarbonisation Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson said work was being done to sure up confidence in fuel supply. “We are aware of the situation in the Goldfields thanks to the work of the Fuel Industry Operations Group,” they said. “We know reliable supplies of fuel are critical to the WA community and particularly for the mining industry. “We are working with the State Controller to make sure suppliers and distributors are increasing volumes to areas of critical need. “The halving of the fuel excise and reduction of the Heavy Vehicle Road User Charge to zero, announced yesterday by the Commonwealth, will ease cost pressures on mining and agriculture in coming days.”