One state’s naval base boosted by $8bn facelift in AUKUS deal

A naval base is set to receive an $8bn boost to allow it to house Australia’s nuclear-powered submarines.

Western Australia’s HMAS Stirling naval base will benefit from an $8bn upgrade in order to house Australia’s nuclear-powered submarines.

The state will play a key role in AUKUS defence agreements between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States over coming decades.

Announcing the base’s expansion on Tuesday in Rockingham, an outer southern Perth suburb close to HMAS Stirling naval base, federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers said it’s the “biggest industrial undertaking in Australia’s history”.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers on-board the USS Asheville, a Los Angeles-class nuclear powered fast attack submarine, at HMAS Stirling naval base on Tuesday. Picture: NCA NewsWire

Mr Chalmers said the deal will create about 3000 jobs for WA, plus another 500 or so when the base is used to house UK and US nuclear subs as part of the Submarine Rotational Force West (SRF-West) from 2027.

“It will be all about making sure the infrastructure at HMAS Stirling can accommodate the increasing visits and the rotational forces, and when they arrive in the early 2030s, our own nuclear-propelled subs,” said Mr Chalmers.

WA’s Defence Industry Minister, Paul Papalia, who was also at the media conference, welcomed the investment.

“Western Australia will build on its already substantial capability to sustain conventional submarines; we will build an entire new capability to sustain nuclear submarines,” he said.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers aboard a submarine in Perth on Tuesday, where he announced an $8bn investment in the HMAS Stirling base. Picture: NCA NewsWire

“It means an opportunity for young Western Australians to enter an entirely new career path and know that there is an opportunity there for their entire lives.”

Mr Chalmers also said the federal government will continue working with Australian Naval Infrastructure and the state government at the Henderson shipbuilding dry-dock, as work building Australia’s own nuclear subs was given to South Australia.

More than 8000 jobs over 30 years are expected to come out of the agreement with SA, which will also see a $2bn federal government commitment to the state over the next four years.

The SA-built subs will then call WA home from the early 2030s.

The details of the AUKUS deal – costing $368bn over three years – was announced by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, US President Joe Biden and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in San Diego on Tuesday morning.

Originally published as One state’s naval base boosted by $8bn facelift in AUKUS deal