Australia-Vietnam Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and Economic Partnership Meeting

This week the Australian Government welcomes Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam, His Excellency Bui Thanh Son, and Minister of Planning and Investment of Vietnam, His Excellency Dr Nguyen Chi Dung to Adelaide.

On Thursday, Minister Farrell and Minister Dung will hold the fourth Australia-Vietnam Economic Partnership Meeting to advance our shared goal of increasing two-way trade, tourism and investment, and deepening economic cooperation across Southeast Asia.

On Friday, Minister Wong and Deputy Prime Minister Son will hold the sixth annual Australia-Vietnam Foreign Ministers’ Meeting to advance cooperation under our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and address key regional challenges.

Minister Farrell will also give a keynote address at the inaugural Australia Vietnam Policy Institute Conference on trade diversification opportunities in Southeast Asia.

The meetings this week will deepen our partnership as we work together to implement our shared vision for a peaceful, stable, and prosperous region.

Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator the Hon Penny Wong:

“The Australia-Vietnam relationship has never been stronger.

“Our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership reflects the depth of cooperation and the ambition we hold for our future.

“This meeting will build upon my visit to Hanoi last year, where we marked 50 years of diplomatic relations, underscoring the deep friendship and strategic trust between our countries.”

the Trade & Tourism Minister, Don Farrell:

“Trade between Australia and Vietnam is booming, which means more opportunities for our exporters, businesses, and workers.

“Over the last three years, our two-way trade with Vietnam hit record highs of over $26 billion, and Vietnam has become one of the fastest growing sources of international visitors to Australia since the pandemic.

“Our Southeast Asia Economic Strategy is supporting Australian businesses to seize new opportunities in the region, and Vietnam is one of the many places right on our doorstep which holds a wealth of potential for our exporters.”

New monitoring team for violations of UN sanctions on North Korea

Australia is joining international partners to strengthen efforts to hold North Korea to account for violations and evasions of UN Security Resolution sanctions.

Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States have committed to establishing a member state-led Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team (MSMT) to monitor and highlight North Korea’s sanctions non-compliance.

This follows Russia’s March veto of the renewal of the mandate of the Panel of Experts (PoE) under the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1718. The PoE was responsible for reporting on North Korea’s non-compliance with sanctions.

Despite Russia’s obstruction, all North Korea-related UN Security Council resolutions remain in effect and all UN Member States are required to implement them.

North Korea’s ongoing pursuit of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems undermines international non-proliferation efforts. Its actions are contrary to Australia’s interest in an open, stable, and prosperous Indo-Pacific.

North Korea’s malicious cyber activities pose serious national security and economic risks and threaten the security and stability of the online environment.

North Korea’s supply of arms and related materiel to Russia, in support of Russia’s illegal war against Ukraine, directly violates United Nations Security Council resolutions and increases the suffering of the Ukrainian people.

Australia will continue to work with our partners to uphold international rules and norms and support global non-proliferation efforts to promote a safe and secure region and world.

Media statement – private health insurance

The Minns Labor Government met today with representatives of the private health insurance sector to discuss its members’ use of the public hospital system and refusal to pay their bills. 

While no alternative solutions were proposed, the parties agreed to continue dialogue. 

This ongoing standoff is costing taxpayers $140 million per year.  

The NSW Government will continue with implementing the same legislative approach as led by former Treasurer Mike Baird in 2013, enabling it to resolve the issue.

The Government has met with representatives of the private health insurance sector more than 20 times since May 2024.  

The Treasurer and Health Minister’s offices reiterated their commitment today that their doors remain open.

The Government applauds the majority of private health funds, including Teachers Health, Nurses and Midwives Health and Emergency Service Health, who continue to pay the correct amount.  

More homes for Orange to be delivered through new planning pathway

As part of the Minns Labor Government’s plan to confront the housing crisis, a proposal from Landcom to deliver 330 new homes in Orange, with 20 per cent of these homes being identified as affordable housing, is on exhibition for community feedback.

This rezoning proposal for Redmond Place Precinct at Orange is the first site recommended to progress through the Social and Affordable Housing Rezoning Pathway, one of the Government’s earliest policies to reform the planning system.

The policy implements a faster, simplified rezoning process for the state’s housing agencies; Homes NSW, Landcom and the Aboriginal Housing Office, to speed up the delivery of social and affordable housing.

This pathway adds to the planning reforms introduced by the Minns Labor Government over the past 12 months aimed at delivering more homes faster.

The proposal aims to amend the Orange Local Environmental Plan (OLEP) 2011 to allow the rezoning of vacant Council-owned land for a residential precinct.

The public exhibition opens on Monday 21 and will close on Monday November 12, 2024.

To make a submission or find out more, visit the NSW Planning Portal at https://www.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/ppr/redmond-place-orange

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:

“This proposal will deliver good housing outcomes for Orange.

“The NSW Government is committed to exploring suitable housing opportunities across the state which promote economic diversity, innovation and sustainability.

“We need to confront the housing crisis head on by using all levers we can pull to speed up the delivery of new homes.

“The Social and Affordable Housing Pathway is an important part of the NSW Government’s plan to boost affordable housing stock across the State.

“Our State’s future depends on more affordable homes being built for families. This is critical because if NSW loses our young people, then NSW loses its future.”

Member for Orange Phil Donato said:

“The proposal from Landcom in partnership with Orange City Council will help meet the growing demand for housing in regional New South Wales.

“I encourage everyone to have their say on this proposal from Landcom.

“Let’s make the great Australian dream of owning a home a reality!”

Orange Mayor Tony Mileto said:

“There is still work to do but this is a great milestone to reach for Orange. The community has some strong views on how the city should be developed and how we can address affordability. It’s great to see the vision reflected in the rezoning proposal. I urge Orange residents to get involved in this latest step to seek feedback.”

Landcom CEO Alex Wendler said:

“The development will provide new homes to accommodate the changing needs and demographics of the Orange region and offer more opportunity for households to buy their own home.

“I look forward to working with Council and the community as we progress with the project to deliver much needed housing.”

Forestry firefighters brief Minister on bushfire preparations

Minister for Agriculture and Minister for Regional New South Wales Tara Moriarty has met with Forestry Corporation fire specialists to discuss bushfire preparations on the Mid North Coast.

Minister Moriarty attended Forestry Corporation’s Wauchope depot to speak with fire crews, who are geared up and ready to put their training into action protecting forests and communities during the NSW bushfire season.

Forestry Corporation is one of the state’s four fire authorities joining the NSW Rural Fire Service, Fire and Rescue NSW and National Parks and Wildlife.

The organisation oversees land management, bushfire preparation and response across more than 2-million hectares of state forests.

Forestry Corporation has more than 500 trained firefighters rostered on to respond to state forest fires across NSW.

Firefighters are trained in national firefighting competencies and its highly experienced managers undertake Incident Management Team roles on major firegrounds.

Forestry Corporation has a statewide fleet of more than 450 fire appliances, 35 pieces of heavy plant, four contracted aircraft and over 130 drones and trained pilots.

Heavy plant machinery, which the broader forestry industry uses to harvest sustainable timber is also available to fight fires.

This machinery including bulldozers, excavators and specialist harvesting machines are used to create control lines for firefighting, set up back burns and remove dangerous trees for firefighting safety.

In 2023/24 Forestry Corporation firefighters and fire managers were engaged in a total of 184 fires, this impacted 98,250 hectares of land.

During the 2019-2020 Black Summer bushfires, this heavy plant machinery played an instrumental role in stopping the spread of fast burning bushfires saving life, property and assets across NSW.

Outside of the bushfire season, Forestry Corporation also conducts forest hazard reduction burns and undertakes cultural burns in partnership with local Aboriginal communities.

Forestry Corporation also sends its expert fire specialists abroad in the winter months to assist international firefighting agencies in the Northern hemisphere.

Six staff members deployed to the United States and Canada this year and last year Port Macquarie local Matt Model was one of Forestry’s fire specialists, who deployed to Canada bringing back firefighting skills and expertise to the region.

Minister for Regional New South Wales Tara Moriarty:

“The NSW Forestry Corporation has managed fire in state forests for more than 100 years.

“Forestry Corporation’s trained firefighters work in State forests every day of the year, protecting lives, the environment, forestry resources and local communities.

“They have decades of experience in managing forest fires, working with the RFS, managing heavy equipment across major firegrounds and maintaining thousands of kilometres of fire trails,

“When bushfires are reported in our NSW state forests, our forest firefighters rapidly respond using their large fleet of appliances and bringing in heavy plant machinery from the broader forest and timber industry.”

Forestry Corporation Senior Manager Fire and Natural Hazards Rebel Talbert:

“As one of the four statutory firefighting authorities in NSW, Forestry Corporation works collaboratively with the other agencies to protect communities, the environment and the State’s essential timber assets from the risk of fire.

“We are well prepared heading into the fire season with a workforce of skilled firefighters, a fleet of equipment, drones and heavy plant ready to deploy and networks of fire trails and fire towers maintained to aid rapid detection and early suppression of fires.

Forestry Corporation Fire and Operations Team Leader, Wauchope, Matt Model:

“In managing more than 200,000 hectares of state forests here on the Mid North Coast, we keep the Mid Coast Bush Fire Management Committee briefed on fuel loads and fire conditions in state forests.

“Since the Black Summer Bushfires here on the Mid North Coast firefighting technology has been rapidly expanded across NSW to include drones and satellite technology, which this summer will  help our crews with early detection, mapping, response and containment of forest fires.” 

Wagga Wagga added as second site for innovative paramedic pilot

A second NSW hospital has joined an innovative pilot scheme that has paramedics working alongside other healthcare professionals to improve access to care in regional settings.

Wagga Wagga Base Hospital has joined Mudgee Hospital’s emergency department in the Integrated Paramedic Workforce Model Pilot, which is seeing paramedics included in a multidiscplinary team to provide care to patients in the hospital’s Rapid Access Clinic.

The paramedics will be working alongside other clinical staff in the Rapid Access Clinic, which was originally developed in 2018 to help reduce waiting times in the hospital’s Emergency Department.

The Rapid Access Clinic has since been expanded to offer a range of healthcare services including diagnostics, allied health, Hospital in the Home, an Infusion Clinic, minor procedures and specialist team review.

The Wagga Wagga trial will see up to two NSW Ambulance paramedics rostered on in the Rapid Access Clinic and Hospital in the Home service, working alongside regular clinic staff for a period of eight weeks.

How a paramedic works with existing Rapid Access Clinic staff as part of the multidisciplinary team in treatment areas will depend on each patient’s individual needs and hospital staff will inform patients if a paramedic is involved in their care.

The trial, which is open to NSW Ambulance paramedics across the state, is evaluating how paramedics may be able to complement existing workforces in healthcare settings.

Minister for Regional Health Ryan Park

“In Wagga Wagga, paramedics will provide additional clinical care working alongside our dedicated doctors, nurses and allied health teams to provide treatment, and improve access to care.

“Attracting and retaining healthcare workers in regional settings is a longstanding challenge faced by every state and territory in Australia, and the NSW Government is committed to building a more supported regional health workforce through innovative initiatives like the Integrated Paramedic Workforce Model Pilot.”

Member for Wagga Wagga Dr Joe McGirr

“I welcome the news that Wagga Wagga Base Hospital has been selected to trial this innovative model to improve access to care.

“Access to care in regional and rural areas is something we need to improve, and I look forward to the results of this pilot.”

Murrumbidgee Local Health District Chief Executive Jill Ludford

“Murrumbidgee Local Health District has a long history of innovation in the delivery of high-quality care, so we are proud to join Mudgee Hospital in trialling another innovation – the Integrated Paramedic Workforce Model Pilot.

“Our District continues to work closely with our colleagues at NSW Ambulance to consider how and when paramedics will provide their skills, to ensure all patients receive appropriate care from appropriate staff.”

The Minns Labor government prioritises cage fights over cost-of-living relief

Premier Chris Minns and Minister for Sport Steve Kamper are more concerned with cage fighting as families across the state grapple with rising cost of living costs, rental stress, and a housing crisis.
 
NSW Opposition Leader Mark Speakman said families are hurting under the weight of rising rent, fuel prices, and skyrocketing groceries, and this Premier think’s cage fighting is the answer.
 
“This is a Premier who can’t read the room and is tone deaf, hosting an event where women’s safety advocates have warned glorifies violence — while households are scrambling just to keep the lights on,” Mr Speakman said.
 
This is not the first time the government has chosen to back the UFC despite public outcry. During the last UFC event in NSW, fighter Sean Strickland — who headlined the event — openly bragged about punching a fan at Bondi. Despite this behaviour, the Minns Labor Government continues to host these events.
 
The government has repeatedly talked about addressing violence, yet they are choosing to invest taxpayer money into promoting cage fighting.
 
Shadow Minister for Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Leslie Williams said women’s groups have warned these events sends dangerous messages about masculinity and violence.
 
“What kind of message does it send to struggling families when the government’s priority is cage fighting rather than providing cost of living relief in the lead up to Christmas,” Ms Williams said.
 
During a cost-of-living and housing crisis, people need real support, not distractions. The Minns Labor Government should be focusing on easing the burden on families, not investing in events that do nothing to address the challenges they are facing.

Toobeah Freehold Land Transfer to Indigenous Corporation Approved

A Queensland town has lost its war on a “secret” land transfer deal to an Aboriginal group, but the publican who led the battle is refusing to stand down.

A Queensland country publican has lost his one-man battle to stop his tiny town’s reserve being handed over to an Indigenous corporation as freehold land, but has vowed to continue the fight against Aboriginal Land Act transfers happening across the state alongside Pauline Hanson.

Michael Offerdahl, owner of the Toobeah Hotel near Goondiwindi, has been campaigning to prevent the town reserve from being given to the Bigambul Native Title Aboriginal Corporation.

The corporation sought the 210ha site under the Aboriginal Land Act which allows unallocated state land to be given to First Nations groups as “inalienable freehold”.

Mr Offerdahl railed against the transfer, which he claimed would result in 95 per cent of the town and $2m worth of land being given away and restrict access to locals.

This was hotly disputed by the Bigambul people, who said the reserve represented less than 1 per cent of the Toobeah district and was only meant to be used for travelling stock and camping. They also pledged to preserve a town water easement and rodeo grounds access on the reserve, on which it plans an “eco-cultural attraction”.

But land titles records reveal the site was transferred to the BNTAC late last month, after the state government revoked the Goondiwindi Regional Council’s 118-year-old trusteeship of the reserve.

A furious Mr Offerdahl, who had slammed Goondiwindi mayor and state LNP president

Lawrence Springborg’s tacit support of the land transfer, said the situation was ‘pretty s***’.

“There’s only one way that they win this and that’s Springborg – the council did this to us,” he said.

“The state government, the council, they haven’t backed up one thing. They haven’t even proven that (council) trusteeship (of the reserve) can be taken away. The council gave it up. You can’t take away trusteeship without talking to the community about it.

“It’s going to lock my kids out of the creek. They’ll have to go into an individual access agreement with a (Aboriginal) corporation in Cherbourg. We’ve been told we’ll have to go and have a yarn to them about swimming in our own f***ing creek. It’s bulls***.”

Mr Offerdahl, who lodged an unsuccessful Ombudsman’s complaint about the council’s handling of the matter, also took aim at Southern Downs MP James Lister’s support for the land transfer which he said flew in the face of the LNP’s opposition to Queensland’s Path to Treaty.

Mr Springborg has previously defended the Toobeah land transfer, saying claims locals would be losing a large slice of their town were “completely false” and “complete misrepresentation”.

“There is not one square metre of people’s private freehold land, or land that can be lawfully accessed by the community, that can be impacted by this,” he has said.

“These (Aboriginal) land transfers have been happening in Queensland since 1991.”

Mr Springborg said the Bigambul people had indicated they were “happy” to talk with Toobeah locals about giving them lawful access to the reserve which they currently did not have, “and there are members of the community who are keen to engage in that process”.

He said the council would also negotiate with the Bigambul and state government to purchase native title-designated land in Toobeah for the town’s future expansion.

Mr Springborg, a former LNP state leader and current party president, said the council had no control over the land transfer but he had told the government the process needed to be overhauled to provide better community engagement.

The Bigambul have taken a thinly-veiled swipe at Mr Offerdahl, saying he had known about the proposed land transfer for years.

Earlier this year, the state government revealed that Aboriginal corporations and groups were seeking freehold land transfers in 15 towns across Queensland, from Mt Isa and Maryborough through to the tiny Cloncurry Shire township of Duchess which has just 53 people.

The expressions of interest have sparked outcry in towns including Toobeah and Eurong and Happy Valley on K’gari (formerly Fraser Island).

The government also said that 6.7 million hectares of land, or 3.93 per cent of the state, had been transferred under the Aboriginal Land Act or Torres Strait Islander Land Act since 1991 – including 11 parcels of land transferred in 2023-24.

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson slammed the land transfers as “taking place in secret” and vowed her party would seek to “get rid of the Aboriginal Land Act” if the party is re-elected next week.

“The government and the council headed by Lawrence Springborg should apologise for keeping the Toobeah community in the dark while they actively worked against the community’s interests to transfer the land to some faceless indigenous corporation more than 400 km away,” she said.

Albanese Government to stop the rip offs from unfair trading practices

The Albanese Government is taking action to stop businesses ripping off Australians by banning unfair trading practices under the Australian Consumer Law.

This is about easing the cost of living and getting a fair go for consumers and suppliers.

From concert tickets to hotel rooms and gym memberships, Australians are fed up with businesses using tricky tactics that make it difficult to end subscriptions or add hidden fees to purchases.

These practices can distort purchasing decisions, or result in additional costs, putting more pressure on the cost of living.

The Government’s actions will address a wide range of practices, including:

  • ‘Subscription traps’ that use arduous and confusing steps to make cancelling a subscription difficult.
  • ‘Drip pricing’ practices where fees are hidden or added throughout the stages of a purchase.
  • Deceptive and manipulative online practices that aim to confuse or overwhelm consumers, omit or hide material information, or create a false sense of urgency or scarcity – this can include warnings that a customer only has limited time to purchase a product.
  • Dynamic pricing where a product’s price changes during the transaction process.
  • Requiring consumers to set up an account and provide unnecessary information to make an online purchase.
  • Where a business makes it difficult for a consumer to contact them when they have a problem with their product or service.

Treasury will consult on the design before the Government legislates a general prohibition on unfair trading practices. This will include specific prohibitions of a range of dodgy practices.

Today the Albanese Government has also released a consultation paper on reforms to strengthen protections for consumers and small businesses under the Consumer Guarantees and Supplier Indemnification provisions of the Australian Consumer Law.

The Government welcomes stakeholder feedback on the proposed reforms, which include introducing penalties for suppliers that refuse to provide consumers with a remedy such as a repair, replacement or refund when required under law.

Currently, it can be difficult for consumers to obtain a remedy, especially when engaging in the digital economy.

These reforms will empower the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and state and territory consumer protection agencies to issue infringement notices or pursue penalties for breaches of the Consumer Guarantee and Supplier Indemnification provisions of the Australian Consumer Law.

Following consultation, the Government will work with states and territories to settle a final reform proposal in the first half of 2025.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese:

“We’re taking strong action to stop businesses from engaging in dodgy practices that rip consumers off.

“Today’s announcement puts businesses engaging in unfair trading practices on notice.

“Hidden fees and traps are putting even more pressure on the cost of living and it needs to stop.”

Treasurer Jim Chalmers:

“We’re taking important steps to ban unfair trading practices and ease the cost of living for Australians.

“Whether it’s traps that make it difficult or confusing to cancel a subscription, hidden fees and charges at different stages of a purchase, deceptive or manipulative practices online or making it difficult for people to report problems with their products or services, we’re going to change the rules.

“Most businesses do the right thing by Australians and they’ve got nothing to worry about.

“This is all about cracking down on dodgy deals to save Australians money if we can, and where we can.”

Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Financial Services Stephen Jones:

“Consumer protections shouldn’t stop at the internet. Whether you are shopping online or at a brick and mortar store, the Albanese Government is protecting Australian consumers.

“This is all about ending the rip offs so people don’t fall into subscription traps or added fees when they purchase things like airline or concert tickets.”

New Defence Precinct at Henderson to deliver continuous naval shipbuilding and nuclear-powered submarine maintenance

The Albanese Government will establish a consolidated Commonwealth-owned Defence Precinct at Western Australia’s Henderson shipyard to underpin tens of billions of dollars of investment in defence capabilities in the West over the next two decades and support in the order of 10,000 well-paid, high-skilled local jobs.

The establishment of a consolidated Defence Precinct at Henderson is the critical next step in delivering continuous naval shipbuilding in Western Australia.

This builds on the Albanese Government’s announcement last year of a strategic partnership between Defence and Austal Limited at Henderson.

It also represents a major milestone on the AUKUS pathway as Australia develops the capability to safely and securely own, operate and sustain conventionally‑armed, nuclear‑powered submarines.

The Defence Precinct will support the build of new landing craft for the Australian Army and new general purpose frigates for the Navy announced by the Albanese Government, with requisite large vessel infrastructure to form part of the Precinct.

These capabilities are vital to transforming our Defence Force’s ability to meet Australia’s complex strategic circumstances.

The Albanese Government has also determined that the Defence Precinct at Henderson will be the home of depot-level maintenance and contingency docking for Australia’s future conventionally‑armed, nuclear-powered submarines.

These vital maintenance capabilities will be established at Henderson in accordance with domestic processes and regulatory requirements, and consistent with Australia’s international obligations to maintaining the highest standards for nuclear safety, security and safeguards.

Contingency and depot-level maintenance alone will create around 3,000 jobs in Western Australia.

This is in addition to the thousands of jobs that will be supported through construction of the Defence Precinct, delivery of continuous naval shipbuilding in the West, and the establishment and operation of Submarine Rotational Force-West at HMAS Stirling.

Coupled with the $8 billion the Albanese Government has already committed to expand HMAS Stirling, these investments and capability programs in Western Australia will be worth tens of billions of dollars over the next two decades.

Cooperation Agreement

To deliver this ambitious long-term program, the Albanese and Cook Governments have today signed a Cooperation Agreement, which provides a foundation for collaboration to deliver the Defence Precinct and related activities. This will include:

  • Developing a dedicated joint forum to deliver the skilled workforce required to deliver and sustain critical Defence capabilities.
  • Establishing the necessary infrastructure, including common user facilities, to support industry across the Defence Precinct at Henderson.
  • Ensuring effective engagement across Federal, State and Local governments and communities.

The Albanese Government will make an initial investment of $127 million over three years to progress planning, consultations, preliminary design and feasibility studies as well as enabling works for the Defence Precinct at Henderson.

This work will inform future decisions on delivery options and models for the Defence Precinct at Henderson.

The Albanese Government is committed to working with the Cook Government to deliver the infrastructure, industry, workforce and training for a defence future made in Western Australia.

A copy of the agreement will be available here: Cooperation agreement between the Commonwealth of Australia and the State of Western Australia to deliver and sustain Australia’s future Defence capabilities | Defence Ministers

Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese:

“The Albanese Government’s commitment to the Defence Precinct at Henderson is a game changer for WA industry – it will create thousands of jobs for West Australians and underpin billions of dollars of investment in defence capability in the West.

“Henderson already plays a critical role in the delivery and sustainment of Australian Defence Force capabilities and this will see the important role of WA industry grow further.”

Deputy Prime Minister, Richard Marles:

“The Albanese Government’s commitments represent the most consequential defence investment in Western Australia in nearly four decades, since the commissioning of HMAS Stirling in 1978 and its expanded role as Australia’s Indian Ocean fleet base under the 1987 two-oceans navy policy.

“The Defence Precinct at Henderson will optimise Australia’s shipbuilding and sustainment industry while supporting continuous naval shipbuilding in Western Australia and Australia’s nuclear-powered submarine pathway.

“The Albanese Government is committed to investing in the growth of a productive and resilient defence industry and workforce to keep our nation safe and deliver a future made in Australia – which is exactly what the Defence Precinct will deliver.”

Minister for Defence Industry and Capability Delivery, Pat Conroy:

“Successful consolidation of the Henderson precinct will secure decades of continuous shipbuilding in Western Australia, providing generational benefits for locals who play a vital role in keeping Australia safe.

“This investment by the Albanese Government will not only create thousands of high-skilled and well paid jobs in Western Australia but also ensures a future made in Australia.”

Premier of Western Australia, Roger Cook:

“This is a momentous announcement for Western Australia – one that will set up our State for an exciting future and puts us at the centre of the nation’s defence capability.

“The new Defence Precinct at Henderson will deliver tens of billions of dollars in investment and thousands of local jobs.

“This massive investment delivers on my Government’s mission to develop and diversify our State’s economy by providing another economic pathway for our State for decades to follow.

“It is a win-win for Western Australia and the nation.”

Western Australian Minister for Defence Industry, Paul Papalia: 

“The investment of tens of billions of dollars will turn Western Australia into a defence powerhouse.”

“The Defence Precinct at Henderson will be the home of depot-level maintenance for nuclear-powered submarines as part of AUKUS. It will also be the maintenance hub for Australia’s nuclear submarines.”

“This historic agreement will result in generations of jobs and diversify the economy like never before.”

Note: Media can access imagery/vision at Defence imagery