Business groups responded to the snap September 6 election called by Premier Alan Carpenter by asking for meetings with the political parties to make clear their demands for action on labour shortages, energy supply and the lack of infrastructure plaguing mining companies in WA.
The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Western Australia pledged to scrutinise the policies of the political parties in the four weeks of the campaign ahead, although no single issue dominated demands for action.
"The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Western Australia ... urges all political parties to develop sound policies that stimulate economic growth and business investment and promote WA as an attractive place to live and work," the group said in a statement.
"Western Australians deserve a rational and sensible debate about how to reinforce and strengthen the state as the economic powerhouse of the nation."
The business group said it hoped for government-led improvements that will reduce regulation, increase training to ease the skills shortage squeezing work sites and speed the approvals processes for licenses used by business.
The Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia said it plans to identify and raise issues affecting its industry with each party.
"We will seek to meet with both the Premier and newly-appointed leader of the Opposition in the lead up to the election," chief executive Reg Howard-Smith said in an emailed statement.
The resources sector contributes more than $2 billion in royalties to the state, employs 62,000 people and accounts for 86 per cent of the state's merchandise export income, CME said.
"We look forward to hearing the policy platforms related to our industry as each party makes their announcements in coming weeks," Mr Howard-Smith said.
The drum-tight labour market remains a concern for WA businesses.
Data released yesterday from the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed the national unemployment rate rose slightly to 4.3% in the month of July.
In WA, where demand for resources continues unabated, the unemployment rate edged down to 3.1% from 3.2% in June.
Infrastructure improvements remain another worry, especially after the June 3 gas blast of Apache Energy's facilities at Varanus Island exposed the fragility of the state's gas supplies.
The explosion cut off supplies of natural gas to WA by one-third for two months. Days ago, the State ordered a review into WA's gas supplies.
"A significant concern for WA business is the lack of infrastructure, especially in the mining areas, and in particular the lack of ports, railways and road systems," said John Whitelaw, director at media relations firm Hawker Britton based in Perth.
"And there's even this massive problem of housing."
A number of smaller mining companies led by upstart ore producer Fortescue Metals are battling giants Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton for access to their Pilbara rail line to help export ore to Asia.
For workers, housing and living accommodation remains scarce and expensive in the region's North-West.
"It doesn't matter who is in government they have to deal with that problem," said Mr Whitelaw. "They'll be looking to Canberra for a hand."
Mr Whitelaw, a former adviser to Labor Premier Geoff Gallop, said, given this, the State Labor Government was probably better positioned to work with Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.
Whether Mr Carpenter stays in office or Opposition Leader Colin Barnett wins, the victor will have to contend with the elevated role of WA's economy to the nation.
The state represents only 12% of the nation's GDP but accounts for 35% of exports, JP Morgan economist Stephen Walters said.
That importance has only grown as activity in the retail, housing and manufacturing sectors has pulled back in recent months, amid high interest rates and surging inflation.
Last week, retail sales dropped a larger-than-expected 1%. The number of home loans, seasonally adjusted, dropped 3.7% in June from the previous month, the ABS reported this week.
The retail and housing industries, stronger in the south-east states than in the west, "are really struggling", according to Mr Walters, making the resource sector - dominant in WA - more important nationally.
"The importance of the mining sector is clearly a lot higher than normal," he said. "More so than usual, WA is clearly a key part of the economy right now."
And in that regard, whoever wins the election will likely find their stewardship of the WA economy a matter of national interest.
