- Minister for Defence Industry Paul Papalia has
returned from a defence mission to the United States of America
- Minister Papalia led a delegation of WA
businesses to assist their attempts to enter the international supply chains
for AUKUS related opportunities
- Discussions held with Hawaiian Airlines about a
potential future flight to WA
The
Cook Government has completed an international mission to identify more
opportunities for Western Australia's defence sector and exhibit the State's
ability to support the AUKUS alliance, with a focus on maritime technology,
cyber security, unmanned systems and space.
Defence
Industry Minister Paul Papalia travelled to the United States of America, where
he met with officials at the White House, Pentagon and Congress, visited the
largest military shipbuilding company in the US - Huntington Ingalls
Industries, and toured the Pearl Harbour shipyard.
Minister
Papalia used the trip to highlight WA's strategic significance in the
Indo-Pacific region and emphasise its role as a crucial hub for maritime
operations and surveillance.
He
also led a delegation of WA defence industry representatives to America to
promote WA's defence industry, where they showcased their businesses at Sea Air
Space 2024 – the largest maritime exposition in the United States.
The
Minister met with all of the major US defence industry companies that currently
service AUKUS-related activity, as well as with;
- Rear Admiral Eileen Laubacher,
Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director of the South Asia,
National Security Council at the White House;
- Madeline
Mortelmans, Acting Assistant Secretary of Defence for Strategies, Plans and
Capabilities;
- Abe Denmark, Senior Advisor to the
Secretary of Defence for AUKUS at the Pentagon; and
- Senator Jack Reed, Chairman of the
Senate Armed Services Committee
The
meetings reaffirmed the State's commitment to building a nuclear submarine sustainment
capability and sought advice on opportunities for WA companies to enter the US
defence supply chain.
While
in the US, Minister Papalia also held an in-person meeting with Hawaiian
Airlines in an effort to land a direct flight route between Perth and Honolulu
in the future.
During
discussions, the Minister presented the island state's largest and longest
serving commercial airline with a letter of intent, expressing Western
Australia's interest in securing a non-stop service when the capability becomes
available.
The
USA is currently WA's sixth largest international visitor market and one of
WA's largest visitor markets without a non-stop service. It's anticipated
visitor numbers will grow following the historic AUKUS defence alliance, which
is expected to see thousands of Americans relocate to Western Australia,
including 700 US Navy personnel from 2027.
Comments attributed to Minister for Defence
Industry Paul Papalia:
"Western
Australia is an essential player when it comes to the trilateral AUKUS alliance
and the Cook Government remains committed to growing our local defence industry
capabilities.
"The
US mission was a unique opportunity for WA's defence industry to be able to
interact with key AUKUS stakeholders firsthand and establish relationships
which will no doubt prove fruitful in the future.
"Approximately
700 US Navy personnel will relocate to WA in the coming years as part of AUKUS
arrangements, many of whom will be bringing their families.
"When
word of WA's incredible lifestyle and tourism attractions spreads, more of
their friends and relatives will no doubt want to witness our beautiful State
for themselves."
Comments attributed to Tourism Minister Rita
Saffioti:
"Securing
a direct flight between Perth and Honolulu is a process that will take years to
establish but we've made it clear to Hawaiian Airlines that we are keen to
continue discussions to introduce the service when it can support the route.
"Western Australia is
already a popular destination with American travellers, and we know that having
direct flights from Western Australia to Hawaii would serve both regions well
from a business and tourism perspective."
