StartupWA Advocacy
Giving WA founders a voice
StartupWA works with government, industry and the media to shape policy that helps Western Australian founders build and grow. Here you’ll find our formal submissions to state and federal government inquiries, along with our media releases on the issues that matter most to WA’s startup community.
2-part Procurement Submission (Oct 2026)
The startup community has been calling for changes to the State Government procurement rules for years. Startups find it almost impossible to earn contracts through the current system. The first part is about lifting thresholds, the second is a total overview of the 2020 Procurement Act.
Three Federal Government Submissions (Sept 2026)
The Commonwealth Government invited submissions on 3 proposed changes that impact the startup community: Capital Gains Tax (Innovative Business CGT Concessions); R&D Tax Incentive and Venture Capital incentives.
Tax Reform Submission (June 2026)
The Commonwealth Government has proposed sweeping Capital Gains Tax (CGT) changes, as outlined in the recent budget, and passed by the Lower House (4 June). The removal of the 50% CGT concession could adversely harm investment into the startup and scalable innovation sector, as well as impose a significant new tax burden on startup founders, investors and employee shareholders. StartupWA's submission is downloadable below.
Mental Health & Wellbeing Report (Apr 2026)
This report highlights founder mental health and wellbeing as a whole-of-ecosystem issue, not just an individual challenge. Drawing on an anonymous survey of 129 WA founders and insights from a 32-person roundtable, it shows how financial pressure, isolation, burnout and startup culture are affecting founders, and calls for more practical, shared support across the ecosystem.
Our advocacy is shaped by the founders, investors and supporters in WA’s startup community. If there’s a policy, regulation or barrier holding you back, or an inquiry we should be making a submission to, let us know.