Western Australian government defends $300,000 bill to add a single word to the name of one of its departments
A state government has defended spending $300,000 to add a single word to a department title.
Western Australia’s Energy Minister Bill Johnston said adding the word “energy” to the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety was “low cost” but had a “major strategic impact”.
The new title, Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety, will require a rebranding, changing the commonly used acronym from DMIRS to DEMIRS on signage, websites, letterheads and other materials.
Signage for the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety will need to be updated with new wording at a cost of $300,000
Mr Johnston told Parliament on Thursday the change reflected the importance of the state’s energy sector.
‘There is no structural change underlying this decision; the costs are low, but the strategic impact is high,” he said.
‘It publicly and powerfully demonstrates the priority this government gives to energy and the energy transition.’
Earlier this week, Mr Johnston claimed that when the previous Coalition Barnett government changed the name of the Office of Energy to the Public Utilities Office, energy policy “was no longer a priority”.
“The decision to include energy in the name completes the emphasis on energy policy that has taken place during the life of this Labor government, which ensures that our transition to a low-carbon future is appropriately recognised,” he said.
Western Australian Premier Roger Cook says the state is committed to becoming net zero
Cook’s government committed $2.8 billion to renewable energy in the last state budget.
The goal is for the energy sector to reach net zero by 2050.
Prime Minister Roger Cook has admitted the state still has some way to go to achieve that goal.
“We have a number of high energy intensity industries, but in addition we have the critical minerals and green manufacturing capacity that will help the world reduce its overall emissions,” Cook said Thursday.
‘So while you may see growth in emissions from, for example, green steel production in Western Australia, the world itself will benefit enormously from a dramatic reduction in emissions.’
The Energy Minister has defended the department’s rebrand, saying it reflects the importance of WA’s energy sector