Resources Technology Showcase live updates: All the latest news from today’s all-star industry forum at PCEC

The BHP iorn ore boss was asked about the return of the unions to the Pilbara.

Given it’s been two decades since the height of union troubles, The West’s chief reporter Ben Harvey wonders if miners like BHP are “no longer battle ready to go to war with the trade unions”.

Mr Day said there was a place for “all different perspectives on the issue”.

“The benefit that WA has, and it’s well known for it actually - it’s why it performs so well - is that it has a very good relationship all the way through - from government, business, small business as well as the people who work inside all those thing,” he said.

“So it’s quite a harmonious working situation.

“But it will create a more difficult environment. There’s no doubt about it, and that’s not just for us. It’s everybody.

“That aside, there’s always a path through.

“You’ve got to remember that we’ve got highly productive environments that are working and have done exceptionally well.

“There’s reason why it’s done really well, because if you’ve got great relationships right through.

“So we’ve got to find a way to keep that and we protect that at all costs.”

Just as Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers prepares to host a productivity talk-fest in Canberra, the Premier has dopped a bombshell, with news his Government will establish the State’s first Productivity Commission.

“Llike any resources company worth their salt, an effective research and development program is a core part of remaining ahead of the pack,” he said.

“The Productivity Commission will be a version of that for the government. It will be formed by merging the incredible capabilities of Infrastructure WA together with the Economic Regulatory Authority, and it will have a remit to provide advice and recommendations to government on how Western Australia can remain the best economy in the country.

“It will mean greater agility in a changing world. It will support continuous improvement for public sector, for the public and private sectors, and it will give us the innovative clout that we need to fully grasp the opportunities ahead of us.”

It will be implemented after a period of consultation and input from industry peak bodies, the public sector and unions to help inform the final model and functions of the Productivity Commission.

“We expect we will be in a position to introduce legislation in the first half of 2026 to formally establish the Productivity Commission and define its objectives, responsibilities and governance,” Mr Cook said.

Mr Cook is also toutingthe potential of green iron, with various green steel projects “all jostling to crack the code”.

“Green iron would not only strip emissions out of the global manufacture, steel manufacturing supply chain, which contribute to almost a 10th of global emissions, it will also reduce the huge amount of waste that we are needlessly shipping overseas with our current mining activity for decades.

“Western Australia has been a leader of mining innovation, and these projects are the next steps in the march of innovation in our local resources sector.

“The technology is forever evolving, but the mindset of innovation and productivity, of doing things a different way for a better result, is a constant.”

The Premier says the scale of the Pilbara is well known to people in the room but perhaps not to regular folks outside the mining sector.

The region’s biggest mine is Mt Whaleback. It covers 12sqkm and is more than 500m deep.

“To put that into perspective, Perth’s tallest building is only 250m tall, and the total area of the CBD, excluding Kings Park, is around 12sqkm,” he said.

“In other words, we could literally bury our entire capital city in just one of the Pilbara mines.

“We won’t but the scale of industry in the Pilbara is, of course, well known to people in this room. It’s generally the first thing that we tell people when they come to WA.”

Australia’s economic engine room — the multibillion-dollar iron ore industry — would never get off the ground under today’s onerous approvals regime.

And Kerry Stokes, one of Australia’s most successful businessmen, has warned that as a nation, bad policies mean we are in danger of missing out on the next wave of success that will threaten the standard of living for generations to come.

In a major speech to the nation’s top resources executives as well as State and Federal ministers in Perth, Mr Stokes also warned that our top companies may not be “battle ready” to take on expansion of union activity in the sector.

Read the full story here.

The attendees are now taking their seats here at the convention centre and we’re about to get under way.

This morning we’ll hear from The West Australian’s editor-in-chief Chris Dore, Premier Roger Cook and a conversation with The West’s Editor Sarah-Jane Tasker and BHP’s new iron ore boss (and freshly minted Chamber of Minerals and Energy head honcho) Tim Day.

They will be followed by The West State politics editor Jessica Page and Rio’s Pilbara mines boss Matthew Holcz.

Stay tuned.

From virtual reality mining to PM pedal power, Anthony Albanese did not shy away from immersing himself in all of the activities on offer at the Resources Technology Showcase on Sunday.

After shaking-off what he thought was a “chilly” start to the day in Perth, the Prime Minister was ready to work up a sweat at Chevron Australia’s display.

“Here we go,” Mr Albanese said as he mounted a bike and began pedalling to produce human power.

Thousands, including families and children, flocked to the exhibition centre for the first day of the showcase, which run until today.

Technology is developing quickly, and I think it’s easy to fall into thinking that jobs are going to be replaced but I do feel excited about what I’ve seen here. I’m glad there is going to be work for my kids.

That was the view of Nadia Ghosh, who attended with her kids.

“For my husband and I, it has been about getting some exposure and learning what the future holds,” she said.

Read the full story ​here​.