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WA Key Insights from Stakeholder Engagement COVID-19 Pandemic

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WA Key Insights from Stakeholder Engagement COVID-19 Pandemic WA Key Insights from Stakeholder Engagement COVID-19 Pandemic 30 June 2020 Contents Executive summary 3 Building confidence 5 Safeguarding the workforce now and into the future 9 Community wellbeing and resilience 12 Going digital 14 Partnership and collaboration 16 Regional focus 18 List of participants 21 Acknowledgement of Country: “The State Recovery Advisory Group includes The Government of Western Australia acknowledges the traditional custodians throughout Western Australia and their continuing connection to the land, waters and community. We pay our respects to all members of Aboriginal communities and their representatives from a wide range of cultures; and to Elders past, present and emerging. © State of Western Australia 2020 important sectors. The Group’s experience, There is no objection to this plan being copied in whole or part provided there is due acknowledgement of any material quoted or reproduced. knowledge and expertise are vital to help lead Published by the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, Western Australia, July 2020. Western Australia’s recovery from the wide- This report is available at WA.gov.au. ISBN 978-0-7307-0289-4 ranging impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.” Mark McGowan MLA, Premier of WA 2 Executive summary To better understand the wide-ranging On 27 May 2020, the State Government The challenges were related to the recovery impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and established the State Recovery Advisory Group areas of health, economic and infrastructure, identify recovery opportunities, during June to provide high level and strategic advice on the social, industry, and regions. A sixth challenge 2020 the State Government captured the views impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as relating to the public sector was open to public of Western Australians through a range of challenges and opportunities for recovery. sector employees only. engagement opportunities. A one-day workshop was held on 11 June 2020 A total of 431 ideas were submitted, generating hosted by the Premier and State Recovery These opportunities complemented extensive 955 comments and more than 4000 votes. Controller. Participants are listed on page 21. consultations that have taken place since the Surveys as well as social and online news pandemic erupted. Throughout June, Ministers hosted 21 media analysis have been used to identify roundtable discussions with stakeholders. The Engagement is a key aspect of the and understand sentiment around emerging roundtables focused on vulnerable groups Government’s approach, outlined in Setting the issues, challenges and ideas prevalent in the (including young people, women and Aboriginal Scene, to ensure the best resources and ideas community. This ensures the perspectives people) and impacted sectors and businesses are brought forward to inform recovery efforts. and experiences of the community are heard (including tourism, health, skills and training, and can be considered in recovery planning It is important that everyone is unified behind housing and construction, international and activities. the vision to get Western Australia back on education, and sports, arts and culture). the road to becoming a thriving and innovative Participants are listed on page 21. What was heard community in which to live, work, visit and do business. Community ideas Participants at the 22 engagement sessions provided their input and perspectives on The State Government thanks all participants and sentiment the draft impact statement released by the for their contribution to recovery planning. Western Australians were invited to contribute State Government on 9 June 2020. There was their ideas for recovery through the iThink consensus that the draft statement provided 22 engagements (WA Public Sector) online community. a good summary of the known impacts and – 600 participants Between 28 May and 26 June 2020, five could be strengthened in some areas. This challenges were open to everyone across the feedback has been incorporated into the In June 2020, more than 600 people State to submit ideas, view the ideas of others, Western Australian Impact Statement: representing business, industry, not-for-profit add to ideas and vote on the best ideas. COVID-19 pandemic. organisations, unions, the public sector, local government and community were part of 22 engagement sessions hosted by the Premier and Ministers. 3 Participants identified positive impacts arising Theme 2: Safeguarding the workforce Theme 4: Going digital from the COVID-19 pandemic that could be now and into the future The pandemic highlighted business and harnessed to support recovery efforts. For The impact of the pandemic on Western community reliance on digital resources and example, unique opportunities were presented Australia’s current and future workforce is infrastructure. Enhanced productivity can result for some businesses usually dependent on immense. The State’s future workforce needs to from going digital. There is a need to expand international and interstate markets to pivot be safeguarded with targeted support for young digital infrastructure, particularly to bridge the their services to local markets and harness people, women, Aboriginal people and people digital divide that has an impact on many of the consumers’ growing desire for local products. with disability. Skills and training are essential State’s most vulnerable people. There were also many examples of increased to support the workforce of the future. and innovative use of technology which allowed Theme 5: Partnership and collaboration connectivity and collaboration as well as Current skills and labour shortages need to be Western Australia needs to continue the access to services usually provided face-to- addressed, and there needs to be innovation partnership approach that was evident in face. Participants saw the potential for these through moving to local content and supporting response to the pandemic such as people technologies to be adopted in the longer term. people seeking to transition to new roles and continuing to deliver vital operations that industries. Participants were also asked to outline and support Western Australia’s economy and to identify opportunities to support recovery. This Mental health and work/life flexibility also needs provide essential services to those in need. Red provided a wealth of ideas about opportunities to be at the forefront of employers’ minds so tape reduction and procurement reforms need to support the State recovery plan. These are productivity is boosted to support Western to be expanded, and collaboration continued summarised in this report across six themes. Australia’s recovery. across governments, business, industry, unions and the community. Theme 1: Building confidence Theme 3: Community wellbeing and There is a need to build confidence across resilience Theme 6: Regional focus the community – confidence in our ability to Recovery should focus on promoting community Regional Western Australia has been strengthen the economy; confidence in attracting wellbeing and resilience. This includes supporting particularly impacted by the pandemic and investment; confidence that the community can those who need it and addressing mental health there are calls for a dedicated focus to support get out and about safely; and confidence in being and alcohol and other drug issues. these communities and businesses. There are able to live safely in a COVID community. Increasing community cohesion needs to be opportunities to boost regional investment Western Australia needs to balance its a key focus and there are opportunities to do through infrastructure, tourism, jobs and skills, continued focus on exports and trading partners this through volunteerism, culture and the arts, and address the digital divide. with working towards economic diversification and sport and recreation. and leveraging local markets. 4 Theme 1: Building confidence Strengthening the economy “COVID-19 has proven that we can Leveraging local markets operate in a different way. We are Rebuilding business and consumer confidence, The COVID-19 pandemic presents a unique faster, more efficient and continue increasing investment, maintaining trade opportunity for businesses dependent on relations and ensuring continued operation of to have safety at the forefront. We international and interstate markets to pivot to the State’s key industries are vital for recovery. want to continue to be agile in the local markets and capitalise on growing support from local consumers for local products, The pandemic highlights the value and way we interact and do business.” especially in the tourism, food and agriculture, vulnerability of the State’s key industries, Edgar Basto, BHP and culture and arts sectors. particularly the resources, health, tourism, food The need for economic diversification and and agriculture, transport and logistics, and Some parts of the tourism industry are stronger trade relationships across Southeast housing and construction sectors. developing experiences suitable for local Asia is an important opportunity to explore. markets, thereby broadening their customer There is support for the State Government to There is optimism from industries about the base. Some Aboriginal businesses have proven keep vital industries open during the response strength of the economy and there are calls they can pivot their products to the intrastate to the pandemic, and acknowledgement of to focus on more secure long term initiatives market. There is an opportunity
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