West Australian Premier Roger Cook has announced a defence mission to the UK in a bid to bolster the precarious AUKUS agreement and lobby for more nuclear-powered submarines to be built in WA.
The partnership between Australia, the UK and US has been in limbo since President Donald Trump took office and said he plans to review it.
Since the inception of AUKUS in 2021, all three leaders at the time – Scott Morrison, Boris Johnson and Joe Biden – have either lost elections or left politics. Despite this, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his UK counterpart Keir Starmer remain in favour of the deal.
Australia will acquire boats based on the Astute-class submarines in the long term and Virginia-class submarines from the US to fill a capability gap.Credit:
The state government says defence is set to become WA’s second-largest industry after mining – surpassing agriculture – and lobbying for UK Astute-class submarines to be built in WA will be a major focus of five-day talks.
“The defence industry is critical to our plans to diversify our economy, and that’s why this trip to strengthen AUKUS ties and unlock opportunities for local businesses is so important,” he said.
“We are working to make more things right here in WA, attract more international investment, and make our State one of the best in the world to do business.”
Defence Industries Minister Paul Papalia will join Cook on the mission, after he travelled to the US for similar talks in April where he said WA was also on the cusp of entering America’s Virginia-class submarine manufacturing industry.
“From submarines to frigates, defence is Made in WA, and our local businesses are strongly positioned to support the construction and sustainment of Astute-class submarines,” he said.
“It’s a win for WA and our AUKUS partners. This mission is about showcasing WA’s defence strengths to grow the sector and diversify WA’s economy.”
The roundtable meeting in London be joined by UK Minister of State for Defence Procurement and Industry Maria Eagle and British Trade Envoy to Australia John Lord Spellar. Both Eagle and Spellar have recently visited WA to discuss AUKUS and trade between WA and the UK.
Cook and Papalia will also visit His Majesty’s Naval Base in Devonport, the sole nuclear repair and refuelling facility for the Royal Navy.
If it goes ahead as planned, the AUKUS agreement will see US and UK nuclear submarines begin their rotational presence at Perth’s HMAS Stirling from 2027.