Richard Marles: Why WA is the key to the nation’s defence

On Wednesday, Premier Roger Cook and I announced what represents the biggest diversification of the WA economy we have seen in decades: the delivery of a consolidated, Commonwealth‑owned defence precinct at Henderson.

This commitment is vital for our nation’s defence, but it is also monumentally important for WA.

Since the May 2022 election, WA has been at the forefront of the Albanese Government’s investments in defence capability.

Already we have announced that Perth will continue its proud tradition as home for Australia’s submarines through the AUKUS pathway.

For the first time ever, we guaranteed the future of continuous naval shipbuilding in WA, including through a strategic partnership between defence and Austal; and we have announced plans to deliver navy’s future surface fleet, including the build of eight general purpose frigates at Henderson.

None of this can happen without the successful consolidation of Henderson, which is why we have worked so closely with the Cook Government to bring this announcement to fruition.

The establishment of a consolidated defence precinct at Henderson is a major milestone for AUKUS.

In establishing the defence precinct, we announced that the sustainment and the maintenance of our future conventionally‑armed, nuclear‑powered submarines will happen right here in WA This maintenance and sustainment of our nuclear-powered submarines alone will create about 3000 direct jobs at Henderson.

The defence precinct is also the critical next step in delivering continuous naval shipbuilding.

Through the necessary large vessel infrastructure, we will be able to sustain and maintain navy’s surface fleet.

It also paves the way for new landing craft for the army and new general purpose frigates for the navy to be built at Henderson, and further ahead, provides a pathway to build new large optionally-crewed surface vessels at the precinct.

We cannot underestimate what this represents.

Across our shipbuilding and submarine commitments in the West around 10,000 well‑paid, highly‑skilled direct jobs will be supported. In an ongoing sense, this will mean thousands of people working at the Henderson shipyard.

This delivers decades of certainty to the welders, electricians and pipe fitters of Perth that they can start their careers and plan a career building and maintaining vessels for the Australian Defence Force and supporting our national security.

Coupled with our $8 billion investment in upgrading HMAS Stirling, the Albanese Government’s commitments will see tens of billions of dollars invested here in WA over the next two decades, delivering a new era of economic opportunity for the State.

Crucially, we are investing in WA’s most precious assets: its people.

The Albanese Government is funding more than 420 new places at WA universities through our nuclear-powered submarine student pathways program.

Under the program, local students will study science, technology, engineering and mathematics-related subjects to equip them to work on the single largest capability investment in Australian history.

Just two months ago, Australian naval personnel at HMAS Stirling became the first in Australian history to undertake maintenance on a US nuclear-powered submarine, the USS Hawaii — a major milestone in our AUKUS partnership.

I joined the Prime Minister last month to announce the “jobs for subs” program for 200 young workers to start their careers and prepare for Submarine Rotational Force-West.

From submarine maintenance to shipbuilding, from infrastructure to housing to building the skills and capacity of the workforce, the Australian Government is working in partnership with the Cook Government to deliver this ambitious plan.

Successive governments have understood the importance of the Henderson shipyard for defence, but it is under the Albanese Government that we are actually delivering a plan.

We are making an initial investment which will progress planning, consultation, preliminary design, feasibility studies and enabling works at the precinct.

Our predecessors had a habit of making big announcements without any real funding. But as it turns out, you can’t take a press release to the bank. We know that despite promises on the eve of the last election, the Morrison government did not put aside any money to fund activities at Henderson.

By contrast, we are absolutely committed to working with the Cook Government to deliver the infrastructure, industry, workforce and training for a defence future made in WA — and that is exactly what the defence precinct at Henderson will deliver.

Richard Marles is the Deputy Prime Minister and the Defence Minister