A DEFENCE precinct at Western Australia’s Henderson shipyard is expected to support 10,000 local jobs over the next 20 years with tens of billions of dollars being invested in defence capabilities.
A media statement from defence ministers said the establishment of a consolidated Defence Precinct at Henderson is the critical next step in delivering continuous naval shipbuilding in Western Australia.
This builds on the strategic partnership between Defence and Austal Limited at Henderson announced last year.
“It also represents a major milestone on the AUKUS pathway as Australia develops the capability to safely and securely own, operate and sustain conventionally‑armed, nuclear‑powered submarines,” the statement said.
“The Defence Precinct will support the build of new landing craft for the Australian Army and new general purpose frigates for the Navy announced by the federal government, with requisite large vessel infrastructure to form part of the precinct. These capabilities are vital to transforming our Defence Force’s ability to meet Australia’s complex strategic circumstances.”
The precinct will also become the base for depot-level maintenance and contingency docking for Australia’s future conventionally‑armed, nuclear-powered submarines.
Contingency and depot-level maintenance is expected to create around 3,000 jobs in Western Australia in addition to the thousands of jobs that will be supported through construction of the Defence Precinct, with the delivery of continuous naval shipbuilding in the West, and the establishment and operation of Submarine Rotational Force-West at HMAS Stirling.
The federal government has already committed $8 billion to expand HMAS Stirling.
State and federal governments on 16 October signed a Cooperation Agreement, which provides a foundation for collaboration that includes developing a dedicated joint forum to deliver the skilled workforce required to deliver and sustain critical Defence capabilities.
It will also establish the infrastructure required, including common user facilities, to support industry across the precinct.
An initial investment of $127 million will be made over three years to progress planning, consultations, preliminary design and feasibility studies.
