❓ The Premier outlines actions taken to support WA businesses entering international markets, particularly in the defence industry in preparation for AUKUS, highlighting a recent delegation to the UK and MOUs signed with BAE and Rolls-Royce.
AnsweredQoN 471Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Defence industries—Delegation to UK and Europe
471. Ms Caitlin Collins to the Premier:
I first acknowledge
the year 11 students from Harrisdale Senior High School on behalf of the
members for Oakford, Jandakot and Southern River.
I refer to the Cook
Labor government's commitment to diversifying our economy and creating jobs for
the future.
(1) Can the Premier update the house on what
actions this government is taking to create opportunities for Western
Australian small to medium-sized businesses to enter international markets?
(2) Can the Premier advise how this will assist
our defence industry prepare for AUKUS?
471. Ms Caitlin Collins to the Premier:
I first acknowledge
the year 11 students from Harrisdale Senior High School on behalf of the
members for Oakford, Jandakot and Southern River.
I refer to the Cook
Labor government's commitment to diversifying our economy and creating jobs for
the future.
(1) Can the Premier update the house on what
actions this government is taking to create opportunities for Western
Australian small to medium-sized businesses to enter international markets?
(2) Can the Premier advise how this will assist
our defence industry prepare for AUKUS?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member
for the question.
(1)–(2) Last night members would have
observed that King Charles hosted the US President at Windsor Castle for a
royal banquet. Just like here in Western Australia, the AUKUS defence pact was
amongst the main topics discussed at the banquet. In fact, the King used his
welcoming remarks to highlight the importance of AUKUS to the 160 influential
guests. He framed the AUKUS partnership as follows, and I quote:
… our AUKUS submarine
partnership, with Australia, sets the benchmark for innovative and vital
collaboration.
On this we can all agree.
Another
high-profile individual recently visited the UK. That, of course, was our very
own Minister for Defence Industries, Hon Paul Papalia. Although Hon Paul
Papalia did not receive the royal banquet treatment or attract global
headlines, his visit was nevertheless very productive. His mission was about
ensuring that as much of this, as the King said, innovative and vital
collaboration, is made in WA. The minister led a delegation of more than 20 WA
businesses to the world's largest defence expo in London where they met with
some of the biggest defence companies on the planet. Not only that, but also he
secured two memoranda of understanding to grow WA's defence capabilities. The
first is with BAE, Europe's largest defence contractor. The collaboration with
BAE will support workforce training and development in WA. It will also help to
integrate local businesses into international supply chains. The second MOU was
signed with Rolls–Royce, a company that has powered the Royal Navy's
nuclear submarines for more than six decades. Like the first MOU, it will focus
on advancing the WA workforce in preparation for the AUKUS sustainment.
But it was not just government
agreements. Local WA companies already entered into their own strategic
international partnerships, like Critical Infrastructure Technologies in
Fremantle, which builds self-deploying mobile phone towers for remote and
hostile locations, signing an MOU with global defence firm Babcock, and Franmarine
in Henderson, which was chosen to provide biofouling services for AUKUS
submarines set to rotate through WA from next year.
Growing our defence industries
is a major part of our plan to diversify the Western Australian economy. It is
a big part of Made in WA, but it is just one part. Another is WA becoming a
renewable energy powerhouse. Another is growing tourism and hospitality. Then
there is agriculture, life sciences and medical research and space industries,
all of which will contribute to making more things here and all of which will
restore pride in the words "made in WA".
for the question.
(1)–(2) Last night members would have
observed that King Charles hosted the US President at Windsor Castle for a
royal banquet. Just like here in Western Australia, the AUKUS defence pact was
amongst the main topics discussed at the banquet. In fact, the King used his
welcoming remarks to highlight the importance of AUKUS to the 160 influential
guests. He framed the AUKUS partnership as follows, and I quote:
… our AUKUS submarine
partnership, with Australia, sets the benchmark for innovative and vital
collaboration.
On this we can all agree.
Another
high-profile individual recently visited the UK. That, of course, was our very
own Minister for Defence Industries, Hon Paul Papalia. Although Hon Paul
Papalia did not receive the royal banquet treatment or attract global
headlines, his visit was nevertheless very productive. His mission was about
ensuring that as much of this, as the King said, innovative and vital
collaboration, is made in WA. The minister led a delegation of more than 20 WA
businesses to the world's largest defence expo in London where they met with
some of the biggest defence companies on the planet. Not only that, but also he
secured two memoranda of understanding to grow WA's defence capabilities. The
first is with BAE, Europe's largest defence contractor. The collaboration with
BAE will support workforce training and development in WA. It will also help to
integrate local businesses into international supply chains. The second MOU was
signed with Rolls–Royce, a company that has powered the Royal Navy's
nuclear submarines for more than six decades. Like the first MOU, it will focus
on advancing the WA workforce in preparation for the AUKUS sustainment.
But it was not just government
agreements. Local WA companies already entered into their own strategic
international partnerships, like Critical Infrastructure Technologies in
Fremantle, which builds self-deploying mobile phone towers for remote and
hostile locations, signing an MOU with global defence firm Babcock, and Franmarine
in Henderson, which was chosen to provide biofouling services for AUKUS
submarines set to rotate through WA from next year.
Growing our defence industries
is a major part of our plan to diversify the Western Australian economy. It is
a big part of Made in WA, but it is just one part. Another is WA becoming a
renewable energy powerhouse. Another is growing tourism and hospitality. Then
there is agriculture, life sciences and medical research and space industries,
all of which will contribute to making more things here and all of which will
restore pride in the words "made in WA".
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