About
The Western Australian Defence and Defence Industry Strategy sets out the Western Australian Government's vision and plan to both support increasing the Australian Defence Force’s footprint in the State and position the defence sector to be able to grow and become one of the largest contributors to the State’s economy.
The strategy will help strengthen the State’s position as a ‘destination of choice’ for defence work through priority actions set across 6 pillars:
- Workforce
- Infrastructure
- Industry
- Community
- Research and Innovation
- Veterans
These actions will steer the State towards achieving each of the 2040 outcomes articulated below.
The Western Australian Government is committed to contributing meaningfully to the nation’s defence priorities and needs as well as advancing the State’s defence industry, while ensuring significant benefits for local industries and communities including Veterans.
Vision
Show moreWestern Australia plays a vital and strategic role in supporting Australia's national security and defence objectives, with a world-class defence industry that diversifies the State's economy and created tangible benefits for the local community.
This whole-of-government vision requires a coordinated effort, robust community engagement, and productive relationships with the Australian Government and other stakeholders.
Outcomes by 2040
Show moreBy 2040, WA will:
- Be the homeport and sustainment location for Australia's conventionally armed, nuclear-powered sovereign submarines delivered under AUKUS (Australia, United Kingdom and the United States) Pillar 1 and continue to homeport and sustain Collins class conventional submarines through to retirement.
- Continue to host Australia's largest operational naval base and provide sustainment for the Navy's surface fleet, including the new Hunter class and general-purpose frigates, and deliver highly capable maritime capabilities to the Navy and Army in support of the Australian Government's continuous naval shipbuilding enterprise.
- Have grown our capabilities across all the other defence domains, and leveraged opportunities presented under AUKUS Pillar 2.
- Be established as a vital contributor to the nation's Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance production capability including substantial weapons and ordnance stockpile sites.
- Host robust and resilient defence capabilities in northern WA, aligned to the Australian Government's defence priorities.
- Have grown the economic and social return of the defence industry for our local communities WA and the nation.
Pillars
Show moreWorkforce
- A continuous pipeline of skilled workers is fundamental to delivering current and emerging Defence projects in WA. Ensuring the State has enough workers with the right skills to deliver these projects requires a coordinated approach across government, industry and education and training providers.
Infrastructure
- A significant uplift in Defence infrastructure is planned or underway in the State. This uplift will be pursued in parallel with WA Government, infrastructure priorities and projects.
Industry
- The State's industrial capabilities need to expand to deliver the pipeline of shipbuilding and sustainment work, to compete for entry into US and UK supply chains and enable broader defence opportunities.
Community
- The engagement of Western Australians will be a key factor in the success of the delivery of AUKUS efforts within the State. The successful integration of US and UK personnel in the State under the Submarine Rotational Force-West initiative will be a key early requirement. AUKUS and broader defence Initiative will require the Australian Government and the WA Government to develop new legislation and regulations, and to effectively communicate the associated benefits and opportunities to local governments and the community.
Research and Innovation
- Cultivating an environment that fosters defence-related research, development, innovation and translation is an essential underpinning for a strong and dynamic defence industry. This environment will enable universities and industry to leverage opportunities under AUKUS Pillar 2 and support key Australian Government defence priorities.
Veterans
- The skills and experience of veterans are of immense value to WA's defence and adjacent industries. Encouraging Defence personnel and their families based in WA to remain in the State after they transition out of the ADF, and advocating for others to move to WA, will be a key mechanism to strengthen our local workforce and industrial capability.