Western Australia is strategically important to our nation’s defence, facing the Indian Ocean and a gateway to our west and north. As a result of the Coalition Government’s $200 billion investment in defence capability over the next decade, WA’s defence industry is booming.

This did not happen by magic, but is the result of the industry- led advocacy of the WA Defence Industry Council.  Senator Reynolds is proud to have co-founded this body with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA.  By working alongside the Commonwealth Government, the Council has been able to deliver for Western Australia.

Vital Australian Defence Force operational bases and training facilities are located in our state, including more than 6,400 Defence personnel. The Government’s $200 billion capability plan will deliver substantial benefit for our defence presence in Western Australia.

As part of the Government’s $90 billion national endeavour to regenerate our maritime capabilities, Western Australia is contributing to the growth of our sovereign naval shipbuilding capability by building 33 of the 57 naval vessels. 

Last year, Senator Reynolds was joined by the Prime Minister and Senator Slade Brockman, where the Morrison Government announced a further investment of $1 billion to build two mine warfare support vessels and a hydrographic vessel. This will boost the state economy and maintain the 1,000 new jobs created to support the naval sector in WA.

Beyond the naval shipbuilding enterprise, Defence is spending more than $1.5 billion annually in WA to support key capabilities such as Special Forces, Air Force training at RAAF Base Pearce, sustainment of the Collins submarines, ANZAC Class frigates and supply ships, and space-based capabilities such as C-Band radar at the Harold E Holt Base.

Today, the Government’s capability plans are delivering substantial benefit to our Defence presence in Western Australia which will ensure that we can defend our nation and protect our interests today and into the future.

While the national interest will always come first, it makes me proud that our state is up to the task of delivering world class capability.

Space

Senator Reynolds is a proud champion of Western Australia's growing space sector. The Coalition Government established the Australian Space Agency in July 2018 – with the goal of tripling the space industry and creating 20,000 new jobs. The creation of an Australian Space Agency presents exciting new opportunities for Western Australia to contribute to global space capability, research and interplanetary missions. This industry will continue to grow, even though the Labor State Government failed to put in a proposal for the headquarters to be based in Western Australia.

Senator Reynolds has been working hard with industry and academia to ensure Western Australia continues to be a global leader in research and technology development. Curtin University’s new Space, Science and Technology Centre, which has been created in partnership with NASA and Lockheed Martin, is a significant advancement.

Senator Reynolds looks forward to continuing to work with space industry stakeholders in Western Australia to ensure this critical new sector continues to grow despite the State Government’s inaction.