New Defence Precinct at Henderson to deliver continuous naval shipbuilding and nuclear-powered submarine maintenance

The federal government will establish a consolidated Commonwealth-owned Defence Precinct at Western Australia’s Henderson shipyard to underpin tens of billions of dollars of investment in defence capabilities in the West over the next two decades and support in the order of 10,000 well-paid, high-skilled local jobs. 

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 Albanese Government’s announcement last year of a strategic partnership between Defence and Austal Limited at Henderson. 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 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 Albanese 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 Albanese Government has also determined that the Defence Precinct at Henderson will be the home of depot-level maintenance and contingency docking for Australia’s future conventionally‑armed, nuclear-powered submarines. These vital maintenance capabilities will be established at Henderson in accordance with domestic processes and regulatory requirements, and consistent with Australia’s international obligations to maintaining the highest standards for nuclear safety, security and safeguards.

Contingency and depot-level maintenance alone will create around 3,000 jobs in Western Australia. This is in addition to the thousands of jobs that will be supported through construction of the Defence Precinct, delivery of continuous naval shipbuilding in the West, and the establishment and operation of Submarine Rotational Force-West at HMAS Stirling.

Coupled with the $8 billion the Albanese Government has already committed to expand HMAS Stirling, these investments and capability programs in Western Australia will be worth tens of billions of dollars over the next two decades. 

Cooperation Agreement

To deliver this ambitious long-term program, the Albanese and Cook Governments have today signed a Cooperation Agreement, which provides a foundation for collaboration to deliver the Defence Precinct and related activities. This will include:

• Developing a dedicated joint forum to deliver the skilled workforce required to deliver and sustain critical Defence capabilities.
• Establishing the necessary infrastructure, including common user facilities, to support industry across the Defence Precinct at Henderson.
• Ensuring effective engagement across Federal, State and Local governments and communities. 

The Albanese Government will make an initial investment of $127 million over three years to progress planning, consultations, preliminary design and feasibility studies as well as enabling works for the Defence Precinct at Henderson. This work will inform future decisions on delivery options and models for the Defence Precinct at Henderson.

The Albanese Government is committed to working with the Cook Government to deliver the infrastructure, industry, workforce and training for a defence future made in Western Australia.

A copy of the agreement will be available here: Cooperation agreement between the Commonwealth of Australia and the State of Western Australia to deliver and sustain Australia's future Defence capabilities | Defence Ministers

Source: Defence Media