'Significant' AUKUS submarines milestone revealed

The location for a new Defence Precinct in Western Australia has been chosen by the state and federal governments as part of the extensive AUKUS defense initiative. This site is situated at the Henderson shipyard in Perth's southern suburbs. AUKUS commitments entail UK and US nuclear-powered submarines rotating through Western Australia starting in 2027, with the Henderson shipyard tasked with constructing army landing craft and general-purpose frigates for the navy.

Western Australian Premier Roger Cook described this as a crucial milestone for AUKUS, projecting the creation of thousands of high-skilled jobs. Cook dubbed it the construction of "the largest naval shipbuilding and maintenance hub in the Southern Hemisphere." He anticipates defense to become Western Australia's second-largest industry in years to come.

Defense Minister Richard Marles assured that existing users of the Henderson shipyard would not be adversely affected by the new defense precinct. The site plan unveiled on Monday indicates that non-defense facilities will maintain operations at the Henderson shipyard's northern and southern extremities. Federal Labor pledged $12 billion for the development of the Henderson precinct in 2025, with an additional $13 billion over a decade to support ongoing shipbuilding.

The proposed plans for the site since 2024 include a floating dock for in-water maintenance and another for unforeseen repairs on nuclear-powered submarines. The government is also earmarking up to $8 billion for the expansion of HMAS Stirling naval base, located south of the Henderson shipyard.