WA, Asia trading ties underestimated

Deputy premier Roger Cook has emphasised the significance of WA’s trading relationships with Asia, while questioning whether the federal government appreciates their depth.

Speaking to Business News at the Asia Business Council of Western Australia launch on Tuesday, the deputy premier responded to questions regarding the significance of WA’s trading relationship with Asia during peak COVID-19.

“In the east coast they just don’t get what’s going on in Western Australia,” he said.

“How vibrant our economy is, how exciting the prospects for the future are and of course how deep our relationships with China and other Asian economies actually are.”

The comments followed the deputy premier’s keynote address to attendees at the formal launch of the Asia Business Council of Western Australia (ABCWA).

The ABCWA was incorporated in August 2020 in a bid to support collaboration between Asian business councils, government and organisations and marked its formal launch on Tuesday evening.

During his speech, Cook emphasised the importance of the state’s relationships with Asian economies and their part in WA’s future prosperity.

But he later said that some perspectives from the federal government on the matter had been unhelpful.

“At the end of the day it’s because we’ve managed COVID-19 so well that we’ve been able to keep the Australian economy going and that’s on the back of these really strong trade relationships," he said.

“So when the commonwealth government provides this rather superficial, unhelpful perspective in terms of these things they don’t appreciate just how strong our relationships are right across Asia.”

Those comments were reiterated by Premier Mark McGowan earlier today during the Committee for Economic Development Australia's WA State of the State event, where he warned political figures to exercise caution when discussing the country’s relationship with China.

“China is a strong trading partner and we’re a state that wants that to continue,” Mr McGowan said.

“Nationally, I’m concerned by some of the language used and talk of us ‘going to war’.

"I don’t get it. I don’t understand why people in politics talk like that.

“It’s unnecessary, it’s inaccurate and it’s quite counterproductive.”

Representatives from major trading partners China and Japan were not present at the ABCWA event but Business News understands invitations have been extended to them to join the council.

During his speech, ABCWA chair Young Yu called for the new council to be recognised as the peak WA body for Asian engagement.

“The ABCWA seeks the WA government’s support to enhance WA’s relationship with Asia by recognizing ABCWA as the peak body for Asian business councils here in Western Australia,” he said.

Members from Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, India, Vietnam, Singapore, Laos, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia and Thailand business councils were present at the event.

“ABCWA appreciates the continued support of the WA government and we celebrate the visions of the WA government’s Asian engagement strategy.”

Cook commended the council’s ambitions to bring WA Asian business councils under one banner.

"All Asian business councils across Western Australia are committed to that mission but what we have now is many of them coming together so they can work more closely with government and coordinate their efforts right across the board," he said.

“These are the foundation members of the council and Young Yu and his board have got ambitious plans to try and bring everyone underneath that umbrella so we look forward to them having more success.”