Western Australia could look to revive its old shipping industry.

After decades connecting ports along the WA coast, in 1995, the State Shipping Service was deemed financially unsustainable. In 2013, a state government-subsidised private shipping service also came to an end.

A decade later, Western Australia is reportedly reconsidering the role of shipping services, especially in maintaining the state's supply chain during natural disasters. 

Last year, a severe flood in South Australia disrupted road and rail freight into WA for weeks, prompting the state government to establish a shipping and supply chain taskforce.

Co-chaired by Kyle McGinn MLC, the taskforce has released a discussion paper urging a reevaluation of merchant shipping's role in ensuring the state's connectivity and supply during emergencies.

McGinn says there is a need to bolster supply lines, particularly with limited intrastate and interstate shipping capacity. He has also emphasised the importance of rebuilding and improving the environment for Australian-flagged and Australian-crewed vessels, which would not only enhance internal operations within Western Australia but also provide crucial support during emergencies, such as floods in the Kimberley and disruptions to remote Aboriginal communities' supply chains.

Experts have highlighted a dramatic decline in the Australian merchant fleet, which has decreased from about 100 vessels 30 years ago to approximately 10 today. This has created concern among some over the nation's vulnerability, especially given global geopolitical tensions.

If foreign merchant ships were recalled, a larger domestic fleet would be needed to safeguard the country's economy.

To expand freight shipping, regional ports in Western Australia would require significant upgrades, as currently, only Fremantle port has the capacity to handle containers.

Reinvesting in shipping would also play a vital role in rebuilding the local maritime workforce, according to Will Tracey, WA state secretary of the Maritime Union of Australia. 

He says there is a shortage of maritime skills and a need to encourage more individuals to pursue maritime careers, suggesting that an Australian merchant fleet could facilitate this change.