Defence Strategic Review: New submarine base needed on Australia’s east coast

A major review into Australia’s Defence system has revealed the need for a new submarine base. See why and where it could be located.

A new submarine base must be established on Australia’s east coast to turbocharge the operation of the future nuclear-powered fleet, the Defence Strategic Review has urged.

The much-anticipated whitepaper has also called for urgent government intervention to rescue Western Australia’s shipbuilding workforce in preparation of significant investments in maritime capabilities.

The federal government has “agreed in principle” to establish an east coast nuclear submarine base, which will spark fevered discussions about the preferred location.

Australia needs a new submarine base on the country’s east coast, the Defence Strategic Review has urged. Picture: Defence/Supplied

Port Kembla in NSW has been widely speculated to be the top choice for a new base. Newcastle and Brisbane have also been floated as options, but it’s understood the federal government is considering an even larger number of potential locations.

The Defence Strategic Review argued a new east coast facility would “provide redundancy and dispersal as well as increasing speed of transit to key east coast operational areas” for the submarines under the AUKUS security pact.

An east coast base would also give a new lease on life for the ageing Collins-class submarines, the operation of which would be “greatly enhanced” in the Pacific, the whitepaper said.

Responding to the recommendation, the federal government said: “The government will develop a process to consider all feasible options for an east coast facility to support Australia’s future submarine capability”.

“A decision on the location for this facility will be made late in this decade.”

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It also agreed to a recommendation to immediately begin work on a new shipyard at Osborne, Adelaide, which will become the home of nuclear-powered submarine construction.

WA’s HMAS Stirling base will still be integral for the AUKUS pact, with a higher frequency of visits of UK and US nuclear submarines.

The defence paper raised serious concerns about WA’s industrial shipbuilding workforce, which is at risk of being whittled down in the absence of major projects.

“Under current plans, there is simply not enough work to sustain the number of shipbuilders located at Henderson,” it said.

“We strongly recommend active and urgent Commonwealth and state government intervention in the Henderson shipyard to remedy significant challenges around the workforce.”

The paper also supported a new dry dock at Henderson to enable the “construction and sustainment of our naval vessels”, but recognised Osborne would be the premier shipbuilding precinct, also requiring “substantial investment” to grow its workforce.

Defence Minister Richard Marles labelled the review a “clarion call for action in light of our strategic circumstances”.

Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy vowed to slash red tape holding back the defence industry by removing “unnecessary barriers” to defence acquisitions and making “faster decisions” in the delivery of projects.

“We are determined to provide the clarity and guidance that industry needs to make informed business decisions based on Australia’s priorities,” Mr Conroy said.

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Originally published as Defence Strategic Review: New submarine base needed on Australia’s east coast