❓ Mr Alban asks the Premier about the benefits for WA, particularly RAAF Base Pearce, from the 2016 Defence White Paper. The Premier outlines significant defence spending across WA, including upgrades to military bases and infrastructure.
AnsweredQoN 84Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
DEFENCE
WHITE PAPER
84. Mr F.A. ALBAN to the
Premier:
Before I ask my
question, on behalf of the member for Forrestfield, I acknowledge the student
leaders and staff from Maida Vale Primary School in the member for Forrestfield's
electorate.
I note the release of
the federal government's ''2016 Defence White Paper''
today. Can the Premier please inform the house of some of the benefits for Western
Australia, including for RAAF Base Pearce, which is in my electorate?
WHITE PAPER
84. Mr F.A. ALBAN to the
Premier:
Before I ask my
question, on behalf of the member for Forrestfield, I acknowledge the student
leaders and staff from Maida Vale Primary School in the member for Forrestfield's
electorate.
I note the release of
the federal government's ''2016 Defence White Paper''
today. Can the Premier please inform the house of some of the benefits for Western
Australia, including for RAAF Base Pearce, which is in my electorate?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question. I think all Australians should feel pleased
with the ''2016 Defence White Paper'' released today. It provides
not only a substantial boost to our military as such but also very strong
measures to ensure the long-term security of Australia and its defence
capability. At a more local level, there are substantial benefits for Western Australia
coming out of this. Over the first 10 years, it is expected that something like
$2.4 billion of defence spending will take place in this state, and in the
following 10 years a further $1.9 billion. With respect to the member's
electorate and RAAF Base Pearce, initially not that much money is to be spent—$30
million in the first 10-year cycle. In the second cycle, a further $500 million
is to be spent at Pearce, particularly to give it a capability to deal with
strike air fighters. But there is a lot more than that around the state that
has been anticipated.
I will summarise very
quickly. The size of the submarine fleet, as people know, will go from six to
12 and is to be based at HMAS Stirling .
HMAS Stirling is to have an upgrade
in the first 10 years of something like $700 million. There will be an
additional nine antisubmarine frigates, five of which will be based at HMAS Stirling . Campbell Barracks in my
electorate will get a $200 million upgrade and Irwin Barracks in the electorate
of the member for Nedlands will receive a $175 million upgrade. In the north of
the state there will be substantial spending—$190 million at RAAF Base
Curtin and around a further $190 million at Exmouth, or Learmonth. It is very
substantial expenditure, which I think will be very good for the construction
industry here, both for military jobs and for civilian employment.
Mr P. Papalia interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I would have thought that you, as an
ex-military person, would have welcomed the commitment to our military and the
commitment to the security of our state and our country. I would have thought
you would have done. This is good news for Western Australia. We are sharing
very well in the benefits that will flow from the Defence white paper. I think
all Western Australians will strongly support that.
with the ''2016 Defence White Paper'' released today. It provides
not only a substantial boost to our military as such but also very strong
measures to ensure the long-term security of Australia and its defence
capability. At a more local level, there are substantial benefits for Western Australia
coming out of this. Over the first 10 years, it is expected that something like
$2.4 billion of defence spending will take place in this state, and in the
following 10 years a further $1.9 billion. With respect to the member's
electorate and RAAF Base Pearce, initially not that much money is to be spent—$30
million in the first 10-year cycle. In the second cycle, a further $500 million
is to be spent at Pearce, particularly to give it a capability to deal with
strike air fighters. But there is a lot more than that around the state that
has been anticipated.
I will summarise very
quickly. The size of the submarine fleet, as people know, will go from six to
12 and is to be based at HMAS Stirling .
HMAS Stirling is to have an upgrade
in the first 10 years of something like $700 million. There will be an
additional nine antisubmarine frigates, five of which will be based at HMAS Stirling . Campbell Barracks in my
electorate will get a $200 million upgrade and Irwin Barracks in the electorate
of the member for Nedlands will receive a $175 million upgrade. In the north of
the state there will be substantial spending—$190 million at RAAF Base
Curtin and around a further $190 million at Exmouth, or Learmonth. It is very
substantial expenditure, which I think will be very good for the construction
industry here, both for military jobs and for civilian employment.
Mr P. Papalia interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I would have thought that you, as an
ex-military person, would have welcomed the commitment to our military and the
commitment to the security of our state and our country. I would have thought
you would have done. This is good news for Western Australia. We are sharing
very well in the benefits that will flow from the Defence white paper. I think
all Western Australians will strongly support that.
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