Western Australia: Our Defence Capabilities

Western Australia is ready to make a major contribution to the national defence endeavour. Our location is a strategic strength, serving as a gateway to the Indian Ocean region.

Our defence presence – with HMAS Stirling, RAAF Base Pearce and Campbell Barracks, among others – is established and well respected.

Western Australia has the capacity and capability to deliver for defence. Our skilled workforce is competitive, flexible, resilient and adaptable.

With renewed Government focus on this vital sector, Western Australia’s defence industry is Defence Ready. The facts: • Defence is a key pillar of Western Australia’s economy. • Western Australian shipbuilders have the knowledge and capability to contribute towards the construction and sustainment of the next generation of naval ships and submarines. • Western Australian industries have the Western Australia’s first Defence Advocate. capacity and expertise to deliver on the six capability streams identified in the Commonwealth Government’s Defence Integrated Investment Program. • Western Australia is strategically located at the Indian Ocean rim, near emerging international defence markets, including South East Asia, India and the Middle East. • This strategic location and being home to the country’s largest Naval Base HMAS Stirling makes Western Australia crucial to national strategic interests. • Defence is a key focus of the Western Australian Government, demonstrated by the appointment of the Hon. Paul Papalia CSC MLA as the State’s first Minister for Defence Issues, and the creation of Defence West. • The State Government has appointed Rear Admiral (Rtd) Raydon Gates AO CSM as the State’s first Defence Advocate, to promote the State’s capabilities and provide a strong voice for Western Australia.

Premier Mark McGowan and Minister for Defence Issues Paul Papalia at Defence West announcement. Western Australia’s capability and capacity to deliver for defence:

• Up to half of the Royal Australian Navy fleet is based permanently in Western Australia, including all six Collins Class submarines.

• Western Australia is home to the Special Air Services Regiment and two Royal Australian Air Force bases – Pearce and Learmonth.

• The State Government, through the Minister for Defence Issues, Defence West and Defence Advocate, is promoting our defence capabilities and undertaking a range of initiatives.

• There is significant private and public investment in the State’s defence sector in naval shipbuilding, repair and maintenance, upgrade and • Western Australia is home to major through-life sustainment. defence contractors like Austal, BAE Systems, Civmec/Forgacs Marine • The State Government has invested and Defence, Raytheon and Thales. more than $350 million in the Australian Marine Complex (AMC) at Henderson • We are also home to world-class, – a world-class common user facility globally competitive Small to Medium for manufacturing, maintenance and size Enterprises (SMEs) currently in technology development. defence supply chains, many of which are clustered at the AMC. • Western Australian industries have the capacity and expertise to deliver across all capability streams with strengths in naval vessel construction and sustainment, complex systems integration, communications and cyber security. • Industry and the State’s leading universities are undertaking significant research and development in support of the operations of the Australian Defence Force, encouraged by the State Government. • Our universities and industry players have acquired experience in the demanding offshore oil and gas and mining sectors – much of this knowledge and capability has dual application to the defence sector. • Working with the Commonwealth Making a greater Government, the Royal Australian Navy contribution to and other key stakeholders to develop defence capability strategic infrastructure at the AMC. • Promoting careers in the maritime Defence West is the State Government and defence industries and working office responsible for championing with South Metropolitan TAFE and the the interests of the Western Australian Department of Training and Workforce defence industry. Development to ensure our workforce has the required skills to met the We are: demands of upcoming defence programs. • Assisting SMEs to increase their capability, capacity and • Working with our overseas offices to competitiveness, enabling them to attract international defence companies better contribute to national and to invest in Western Australian industry. international defence programs. • Undertaking a defence industry capability • Delivering industry engagement assessment and preparing the State’s opportunities for local companies with first Directory of Defence Capability to international defence contractors and promote our strengths locally, nationally the Commonwealth Government. and internationally.

• Working with our Team WA Universities • Preparing a defence strategy to assist to further the State’s defence-related the Commonwealth Government in research and development. delivering current and future defence capability requirements.

Tel: +61 8 9222 0555 | Email: [email protected] www.defencewest.wa.gov.au

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