Productivity and Labour Relations Minister Yvonne Henderson has congratulated the five Western Australian enterprises which have been selected to participate in the Federal Government's Best Practice Demonstration Program.
Mrs Henderson said that Challenge Bank, Peters, BHP Iron Ore (mobile equipment workshop), BHP Iron Ore (rail signals) and Town Inn (trading as Miss Maud) had been given unique opportunities to lift their productivity, competitiveness, quality and export levels.
"These five enterprises have been awarded funding totalling more than $2 million from a national pool of $25 million to cover the expense of implementing Best Practice," she said.
"The program is not simply a matter of handing out money to companies in the hope that they will be encouraged to modify their operations. Each successful applicant must make its own financial commitment to change.
"The Commonwealth grants will help pay expenses such as additional staff time, expert advice on how to implement reforms and changes to work organisation.
"The main objectives are to encourage Australian companies to adopt the best competitive practices available in the world, identify methods for their implementation and promote a wider understanding of the concept."
Mrs Henderson said that no Western Australian companies had been successful in obtaining grants from the program when it began last year.
"The selection of five local companies this year is testimony to the competitive spirit of our business community," she said.
"The Best Practice Program will ultimately help raise the efficiency and competitiveness of industry in Western Australia and Australia to the point where it can achieve and maintain world standards."
