Federal agencies 'clear' Huawei for Perth Transport Authority contract

THE West Australian government has downplayed security worries around the expected awarding of a $120 million Perth Transport Authority contract to Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei.

The company is on the shortlist to upgrade radio communications on Perth's rail system, but there have been suggestions it could be blocked from providing some equipment for Australia's new 5G wireless network because of national security concerns.

Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said she couldn't comment on the preferred tender as the process was still underway but told reporters on Thursday federal government agencies had advised they weren't fazed by the prospect of Huawei winning the contract.

Ms Saffioti said the State Government had contacted federal agencies as recently as Wednesday to "quadruple check" if there were any security concerns.

"We have been in constant dialogue with the federal government," she said.

"We're making sure the federal government is entirely comfortable with the process.

"We can only take the advice that we're given from those agencies."