The Honourable Stephen Dawson MLC, Minister for Ports,

Samuel McSkimming, CEO of Pilbara Ports, 

The Venerable Dr Peter Rouch, Secretary-General of The Mission to Seafarers,

Fellow colleagues from the Port Authorities Roundtable, 

1    A very good morning. 

2    Let me first say what an honour it is for us to be here today. We were very pleased to host Minister Dawson in Singapore last year, and we are glad to meet him again, this time in Perth. 

3    We are also honoured, as an international community, to gather here for PAR this year. As your guests, we at MPA would like to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of these beautiful lands and waters, and pay our respects to their Elders past and present.  

4    I would also like to thank Sam and the Pilbara Ports team for their warm hospitality and excellent arrangements for this year's meeting. 

5    With 22 port authorities from around the world gathered today, PAR continues to bring together global port leaders to share insights, strengthen partnerships and address common challenges together.

• This year's gathering brings together longstanding partners and new participants. 
• A special welcome to our first-time participants from five Australian ports – Fremantle, Kimberley, Mid West, Ports Victoria and Southern Ports. We are delighted to have you join us. 

Theme of PAR2026

6    MPA initiated PAR in 2015 as a forum to share experiences. Since then, PAR has grown into a close network of port authorities. We no longer just exchange ideas; we work together on practical projects to tackle shared challenges.

7    This year's theme, "The commitment of global ports to cooperation, coordination and collective action", is particularly relevant. Our ports are closely connected through global trade and supply chains. Disruptions and changes in one part of the world can have implications elsewhere quickly. This calls for closer coordination and common approaches where we can strengthen not just our individual ports, but the resilience of the global maritime network as a whole.

8    One of PAR's strengths is the opportunity for port leaders with different experiences and perspectives to have open and candid discussions. These exchanges have helped us build trust, learn from one another and identify common priorities.

Advancing Collaboration Through PAR

9    I am glad that PAR has made progress in turning these discussions into concrete outcomes. 

• In 2024, we established two working groups on Port-to-Port Data Exchange and the Safe Handling of Alternative Fuels. Both groups have since developed practical outputs through the active contributions of the member ports.
• We will hear more about their work later today. I thank all members for their contributions, and look forward to discussing how we can build on these efforts and encourage wider adoption of these outcomes globally.

10    As PAR enters its second decade, we have an opportunity to build on the trust and partnerships established over the years and take our collaboration further into meaningful collective action.

11    So, on behalf of MPA, thank you once again for being here today. We look forward to the fruitful discussions ahead, an exciting visit to Port Hedland on Friday, and many more years of close partnership.

12    Thank you.