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The Western Australian government has announced five preferred proponents identified as prospective anchor tenants for the Western Defence Forge development.
The project is expected to deliver advanced manufacturing capacity and drive investment in WA, marking a significant milestone for the defence manufacturing hub, which will create jobs by supporting local advanced manufacturing capability and position Western Australia as a global hub for investment in the sector.
Five companies are immediately progressing a memorandum of understanding with the state government, including Babcock Australasia, OQ Technology and AROSE, Thales Australia, NIOA and Honeywell.
The WA government is also in discussion with several other potential tenants to move to the next stage.
The MOUs will establish a framework for collaboration and ongoing engagement between the state government and each proponent to gain an understanding of the opportunities presented and how they will create jobs by strengthening WA industry participation, workforce development and local supply chain involvement.
They will also provide a pathway towards more detailed commercial and project discussions.
The potential priority tenants were identified as part of a market engagement process, which attracted 179 submissions, including 118 from WA-based businesses and 41 from international operators.
The potential tenants’ expertise spans advanced manufacturing, aerospace, autonomous systems, guided weapons and explosive ordnance, communications, space and defence infrastructure.
“My government is determined to grasp the economic opportunity that AUKUS, the biggest defence project in Western Australia’s history, will create,” Premier and Defence Industries Minister Roger Cook said.
“That way, we can keep WA’s economy strong and create even more quality local jobs for Western Australians.
“The strong local, national and international response to the Western Defence Forge shows there are significant business opportunities available in Western Australia’s defence industry, as well as opportunities to create more quality local jobs for Western Australians.
“By bringing industry, researchers and innovators together, the Western Defence Forge will help local businesses tap into major opportunities, grow their capabilities and create new jobs and investment across Western Australia.
“It’s all part of my government’s commitment to diversify the economy and create highly skilled jobs for Western Australians for generations to come.”
The announcement follows the recent launch of the Western Defence Forge Network, a program which will connect WA businesses with major defence industry participants, new projects and supply chain opportunities.
The WA government will continue working closely with the priority proponents to further develop their proposals so it can keep WA’s economy strong and build on its record of creating nearly 400,000 jobs over the past decade.
“Building more things in Western Australia means creating skilled jobs for the future, growing local industry and strengthening Australia’s sovereign capability,” Minister Assisting the Defence Industries Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson said.
“The Cook Labor government’s Western Defence Forge is a powerful example of how collaboration across government and the private sector can create new opportunities for our state.”
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