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Following his recent election victory, Western Australian Premier Roger Cook has announced a series of "targeted reforms" to the public sector and government departments, with the introduction of a new Department of Creative Industries, Tourism and Sport.

The change will see the Western Australian Tourism Commission (Tourism WA) move out of the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation as part of the new Department of Creative Industries, Tourism and Sport (DCITS).

Looking to support multi-billion-dollar public infrastructure projects and health, the changes will impact nine government departments with the departmental structure increasing from 25 to 26.

Among the changes, the current Departments of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation (JTSI) and Communities will, with their responsibilities dispersed.

JTSI is being replaced by the Department of Energy and Economic Diversification (DEED), reflecting the Western Australian Government's policy of transitioning to lower-carbon energy.

The Department of Premier and Cabinet (DPC) will now include a new Office of Defence Industries, with a big focus on AUKUS, and a new Office of Early Childhood.

The DPC will also take leadership on Aboriginal affairs policy, an area Premier Cook has previously worked in, to help oversee better social outcomes and project development.

The major shake-up is the creation of a Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure, with a new Office of Major Infrastructure Delivery to build Westport and hospitals like the Women's and Babies Hospital and upgrades to Royal Perth and Midland hospitals.

The new department will be paired with a new Department of Housing and Works, taking over responsibility for building, maintaining, and managing the state's social housing stock from the Department of Communities.

In addition to the new DCITS, there will be a Department of Mines, Petroleum and Exploration, driving development of the resources industry, and a Department of Local Government, Commerce, Industry Regulation and Safety.

Ministerial responsibilities within DCITS see Reece Whitby as Tourism Minister, Deputy Premier and Minister for Sport and Recreation Rita Saffioti and Minister for Creative Industries Simone McGurk in the new structture.

Tourism Council WA welcomes changes
Tourism Council WA has welcomed the changes with Chief Executive, Evan Hall stating “this means the state’s major event venues and cultural attractions will be in the same department as Tourism WA.”

Noting that Western Australia is still recovering visitor numbers to pre-COVID 2019 levels, Hall added “we hope the new department will bring a sharp focus to attracting visitors back to WA and maintaining the jobs and economic diversity tourism creates.”

The changes will start on 1st July and are scheduled to be completed by 31st December.

Images: Western Australia's Little Lagoon at Denham (top, credit: theultimateaus/Chris Bulloch), Western Australian Deputy Premier and Minister for Sport and Recreation Rita Saffioti (middle) and Western Australian Tourism Minister Reece Whitby (below).

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