The Cook Government has discontinued the A$1.6 billion (US$1 billion) proposal to redevelop the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre (PCEC), a decision communicated to leaseholders by premier Roger Cook earlier this week.
The government concluded the significant investment could not be justified at this time, citing three primary concerns: the total cost to taxpayers exceeding A$1.6 billion; an additional A$500 million required for necessary road and rail infrastructure before construction could commence; and the projected disruption to the PCEC’s substantial existing business events programme, which includes key events tied to AUKUS and critical minerals, posing a risk to the State’s tourism and hospitality sectors.
The previous McGowan and current Cook Governments had contributed A$35 million toward design and business case works for the redevelopment. The results of this work will be used as the government collaborates with leaseholders and the business events sector to determine a new path forward for the facility.
The PCEC currently has major conventions scheduled well into 2027, including the World Police and Fire Games.
Concurrent with the PCEC decision, the Cook Government announced the establishment of the A$1.5 billion Building Hospitals Fund, augmenting the existing A$3.2 billion health infrastructure commitment. This fund will support the greenlighting of three new hospital projects at Mount Lawley, Royal Perth Hospital, and Peel.
Business Events Perth (BE Perth) and the Australian Hotels Association WA (AHA) acknowledged the government’s decision, expressing disappointment while reaffirming confidence in Western Australia’s A$2 billion per annum business events sector.
Bradley Woods, CEO of the AHA WA and chair of BE Perth, stated the organisations respect the decision and will now focus on “practical options to unlock capacity” to ensure WA remains globally competitive. He emphasised that the sector drives high-yield tourism, creates jobs, and fosters knowledge exchange, pledging to work with the government on staged solutions for future facility growth.
