❓ The question from Mrs. Magenta Marshall inquires about the Cook Labor government's plan to attract new defence manufacturing industries to WA, focusing on job creation and economic diversification, and the response to these initiatives. The Minister's answer details the 'Western Defence Forge' concept, its alignment with state and federal strategies, and positive feedback from various stakeholders.
AnsweredQoN 335Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Defence industries—Manufacturing
335. Mrs Magenta Marshall to the Minister for
Defence Industries:
I refer to the Cook
Labor government's plan to diversify Western Australia's economy and to make
more things in WA.
(1) Can
the minister outline to the house how this government's efforts to attract new
defence manufacturing industries to WA will support new local jobs and
economies?
(2) Can
the minister advise the house of the response to the government's manufacturing
initiatives?
335. Mrs Magenta Marshall to the Minister for
Defence Industries:
I refer to the Cook
Labor government's plan to diversify Western Australia's economy and to make
more things in WA.
(1) Can
the minister outline to the house how this government's efforts to attract new
defence manufacturing industries to WA will support new local jobs and
economies?
(2) Can
the minister advise the house of the response to the government's manufacturing
initiatives?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I
thank the member for her question and offer my congratulations on the wonderful
news of the impending new Labor voter's arrival in Rockingham.
Several members
interjected.
Mr Paul Papalia: We'll take anyone!
On 27 May, the
Premier announced the opening of an expression of interest process, inviting
local, national and international companies and research organisations to
indicate interest in participating in advanced manufacturing in Western
Australia as part of the Western Defence Forge concept. That is designed to
meet the massive demand among our friends and allies around the world whose
global defence expenditure continues to increase, with total spending
approaching $4 trillion annually at the moment and growing. Heightened
geopolitical tensions, major power competition and the need to modernise
military capability are driving that demand. Most of our friends and allied
nations' industrial capacity is inadequate to meet that demand, as opposed to
our own in Western Australia, which represents a wonderful potential site for
supporting those ambitions. We offer a stable and secure operating environment;
a strong and resilient economy—the only one in the nation with a Aaa credit
rating; Indian Ocean geography, which enables international market
connectivity; and established strengths in advanced manufacturing resources and
industrial capability.
We have asked in the
expression of interest for indications of things like land and infrastructure
that might be required, workforce skills training and clearance requirements
that might be of assistance, approvals and regulatory processes, supply chain and
industrial capability, test and evaluation capabilities that might be needed
and many others. This initiative aligns with federal priorities under the Defence
Industry Development Strategy, the National Defence Strategy and AUKUS pillar 2,
and the state government's Made in WA, Diversify WA and WA Defence and Defence
Industry Strategy. All those things align with our objective to grow and
diversify the economy by utilising opportunities within the defence space.
The member asked
about responses that had been received. I can tell her that it was welcomed by
the defence minister of Australia, Hon Richard Marles, who said that it would
help:
… build the defence industry ecosystem
for WA, which will help support the other work that we are doing at Stirling, in
the building of the Mogami class vessels, in the sustainment of our future
nuclear submarines.
It was welcomed by Adjunct
Professor Jennifer Parker at the UWA Defence and Security Institute, a
well-renowned and respected commentator on defence, who says that it makes
strategic sense; the likelihood of conflict is changing, and we need to bolster
our defence industry. It was welcomed by the Chief of Navy, who is about to
become the Chief of the Defence Force, Vice Admiral Mark Hammond, who said that
any state that wants to build munitions for the Australian defence forces is a
welcome announcement in his mind. It was welcomed by Admiral Stephen Kayler of
the US Navy who said, "I need and want it all," which is an
insatiable appetite for readiness, and this opportunity can be pulled
specifically from allies and partners that have capacity and opportunity to do
that. It betters our ability to win.
I notice that is a
very orange tie that you are wearing there, member for Central Wheatbelt!
Several members
interjected.
Mr Paul Papalia: Job application?
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Mr Paul Papalia: Noting the leader of One Nation is
arriving in town, I would endorse the member for Central Wheatbelt trying
whatever he can to survive!
It was welcomed by
the Just Transition Working Group in Collie, which we had briefed a week
before. The shire president, who is a member of the just transition group,
wrote to my office and said that Minister Papalia's concept is truly exciting
and if some of the potential industry development could occur here in Collie,
we would as a whole community be extremely thrilled, and it really struck home
as an example of great thinking outside of the square. He said a lot of other
good things, but there were other responses, Mr Speaker, which is what I have
been coming to. Initially, the shadow Minister for Defence Industries, on
AUKUS, was enthusiastic and said that—the member for Vasse's initial
response—she welcomes anything that boosts the defence industry and grows jobs
in Western Australia. Immediately subsequent to that, however, having taken
advice from that world-renowned defence industry expert, Steve Thomas—Hon Dr
Steve Thomas, the vet from Donnybrook—
Several members
interjected.
Mr Paul Papalia: Having taken that advice, the man
sitting next to the person who actually knows what she is talking about in
defence industry chose a different path, and he came out and described the
initiative as a "thought bubble", contrary to all the other responses
and contrary to the obvious, significant nature of the announcement. I guess
that just reflects his regularly demonstrated incapacity to listen to women who
know what they are talking about.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Mr Paul Papalia: I would say, member for Vasse—
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Mr Paul Papalia: Member for Vasse, I would say—
Several members
interjected.
A member: Could you
be quiet!
Mr Paul Papalia: Yes, let me do the punchline! Member
for Vasse—
Several members
interjected.
Point of order
Mr Shane Love: This answer has been going on so long I
forgot what the initial question was! Could we please direct the minister to
wind up? We know we will not be here much longer; he is enjoying himself.
The Speaker: Thank you; yes. Minister, it would be
great—
Questions without notice resumed
Mr Paul Papalia: Member for Vasse, the only piece of
advice I would give is go with your instincts, because they are generally much
better than his! I would also just conclude by saying in the two weeks or so
since we announced the opening of the expressions of interest, there have been
19 submissions. There is another month or so to go. It is a significant
initiative, and the opposition rightly should support it.
The Speaker: Thank you, minister. The member for
Carine with the last question.
thank the member for her question and offer my congratulations on the wonderful
news of the impending new Labor voter's arrival in Rockingham.
Several members
interjected.
Mr Paul Papalia: We'll take anyone!
On 27 May, the
Premier announced the opening of an expression of interest process, inviting
local, national and international companies and research organisations to
indicate interest in participating in advanced manufacturing in Western
Australia as part of the Western Defence Forge concept. That is designed to
meet the massive demand among our friends and allies around the world whose
global defence expenditure continues to increase, with total spending
approaching $4 trillion annually at the moment and growing. Heightened
geopolitical tensions, major power competition and the need to modernise
military capability are driving that demand. Most of our friends and allied
nations' industrial capacity is inadequate to meet that demand, as opposed to
our own in Western Australia, which represents a wonderful potential site for
supporting those ambitions. We offer a stable and secure operating environment;
a strong and resilient economy—the only one in the nation with a Aaa credit
rating; Indian Ocean geography, which enables international market
connectivity; and established strengths in advanced manufacturing resources and
industrial capability.
We have asked in the
expression of interest for indications of things like land and infrastructure
that might be required, workforce skills training and clearance requirements
that might be of assistance, approvals and regulatory processes, supply chain and
industrial capability, test and evaluation capabilities that might be needed
and many others. This initiative aligns with federal priorities under the Defence
Industry Development Strategy, the National Defence Strategy and AUKUS pillar 2,
and the state government's Made in WA, Diversify WA and WA Defence and Defence
Industry Strategy. All those things align with our objective to grow and
diversify the economy by utilising opportunities within the defence space.
The member asked
about responses that had been received. I can tell her that it was welcomed by
the defence minister of Australia, Hon Richard Marles, who said that it would
help:
… build the defence industry ecosystem
for WA, which will help support the other work that we are doing at Stirling, in
the building of the Mogami class vessels, in the sustainment of our future
nuclear submarines.
It was welcomed by Adjunct
Professor Jennifer Parker at the UWA Defence and Security Institute, a
well-renowned and respected commentator on defence, who says that it makes
strategic sense; the likelihood of conflict is changing, and we need to bolster
our defence industry. It was welcomed by the Chief of Navy, who is about to
become the Chief of the Defence Force, Vice Admiral Mark Hammond, who said that
any state that wants to build munitions for the Australian defence forces is a
welcome announcement in his mind. It was welcomed by Admiral Stephen Kayler of
the US Navy who said, "I need and want it all," which is an
insatiable appetite for readiness, and this opportunity can be pulled
specifically from allies and partners that have capacity and opportunity to do
that. It betters our ability to win.
I notice that is a
very orange tie that you are wearing there, member for Central Wheatbelt!
Several members
interjected.
Mr Paul Papalia: Job application?
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Mr Paul Papalia: Noting the leader of One Nation is
arriving in town, I would endorse the member for Central Wheatbelt trying
whatever he can to survive!
It was welcomed by
the Just Transition Working Group in Collie, which we had briefed a week
before. The shire president, who is a member of the just transition group,
wrote to my office and said that Minister Papalia's concept is truly exciting
and if some of the potential industry development could occur here in Collie,
we would as a whole community be extremely thrilled, and it really struck home
as an example of great thinking outside of the square. He said a lot of other
good things, but there were other responses, Mr Speaker, which is what I have
been coming to. Initially, the shadow Minister for Defence Industries, on
AUKUS, was enthusiastic and said that—the member for Vasse's initial
response—she welcomes anything that boosts the defence industry and grows jobs
in Western Australia. Immediately subsequent to that, however, having taken
advice from that world-renowned defence industry expert, Steve Thomas—Hon Dr
Steve Thomas, the vet from Donnybrook—
Several members
interjected.
Mr Paul Papalia: Having taken that advice, the man
sitting next to the person who actually knows what she is talking about in
defence industry chose a different path, and he came out and described the
initiative as a "thought bubble", contrary to all the other responses
and contrary to the obvious, significant nature of the announcement. I guess
that just reflects his regularly demonstrated incapacity to listen to women who
know what they are talking about.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Mr Paul Papalia: I would say, member for Vasse—
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Mr Paul Papalia: Member for Vasse, I would say—
Several members
interjected.
A member: Could you
be quiet!
Mr Paul Papalia: Yes, let me do the punchline! Member
for Vasse—
Several members
interjected.
Point of order
Mr Shane Love: This answer has been going on so long I
forgot what the initial question was! Could we please direct the minister to
wind up? We know we will not be here much longer; he is enjoying himself.
The Speaker: Thank you; yes. Minister, it would be
great—
Questions without notice resumed
Mr Paul Papalia: Member for Vasse, the only piece of
advice I would give is go with your instincts, because they are generally much
better than his! I would also just conclude by saying in the two weeks or so
since we announced the opening of the expressions of interest, there have been
19 submissions. There is another month or so to go. It is a significant
initiative, and the opposition rightly should support it.
The Speaker: Thank you, minister. The member for
Carine with the last question.
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