Defence West

Description

Western Australia is the only state that faces the Indian Ocean, placing it in a unique geographical and strategic position when compared to other Australian states.

Western Australia is Australia’s economic powerhouse, as the home of the nation’s mining industry and generating nearly half of the nation’s exports.

However, the Western Australian story is much more than its resources.

The defence and defence industry sector is growing in importance for Western Australia, actively denoted as a key growth industry by the WA Government.

Established in 2018, Defence West’s priority objective is to champion the Western Australian defence industry and promote related business development, jobs, and trade and investment opportunities within the sector.

Western Australia has always been the home state to Australia’s submarine fleet. As the future home for the AUKUS SSN submarine fleet, along with the Submarine Rotational Forces-West, Western Australia’s footprint in the defence sector is set to grow.

According to conservative estimates, Defence and Defence-related activities contribute about $3 billion a year to the Western Australian Gross State Product.

One of the defence related policy objectives of the Western Australian Government is to double this figure to at least $6 billion by the end of this decade.

Given the State’s geographical position, it is not surprising that Naval Vessel sustainment and construction has been identified as a priority sector.

Defence and Defence-related SMEs employ approximately 2,500 people in Western Australia across 250 businesses and contractors.

It is estimated that the state’s role, as the home of the AUKUS submarine fleet, could generate up to 10,000 jobs in the State. 

Western Australia is well positioned to provide the additional skilled workforce needed, because its institutions, both South Metropolitan TAFE and world-class universities, provide world-leading defence courses, degrees and training.