The WA Government says its proposed new defence and advanced manufacturing hub has been oversubscribed with Expressions of Interest (EOI) from companies wanting to take part in the Western Defence Forge (WDF) project.
The WDF EOI process received 179 submissions from businesses across nine nations, including 28 international companies, including 13 international defence primes, 20 Australian companies, and 118 WA-based SMEs.
“The strong response to the Western Defence Forge demonstrates the scale of opportunity available to Western Australia as we look to deliver on our plan to make more things in WA,” said Premier, Roger Cook.
“This project has the potential to create highly skilled jobs, attract long-term private investment, and strengthen WA’s position as a nationally significant centre for advanced manufacturing and industrial innovation, as part of my government’s goal to put WA first.
“By bringing together industry, researchers, and technology developers, the Western Defence Forge can help local businesses access major projects, strengthen sovereign industrial capability, and create lasting economic opportunities for Western Australians, particularly in regional communities such as Collie.”
The submissions span a broad range of strategic capability areas including:
- Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance, energetics, and munitions manufacturing;
- autonomous and uncrewed systems across air, land, and maritime domains;
- space systems, satellite manufacturing, and space-based intelligence capabilities;
- advanced manufacturing, robotics, and additive manufacturing;
- defence electronics, sensors, communications, and digital engineering;
- maritime sustainment, naval systems, and propulsion technologies;
- critical minerals, advanced materials, and sovereign industrial inputs; and
- defence logistics, testing, evaluation, certification, and workforce development.
The Government said the WDF will create highly skilled jobs across engineering, manufacturing, technology, and trades, while attracting long-term investment and strengthening WA’s local capability to manufacture, maintain, and support complex defence products and technologies.
The EOI process will assist the government in determining the best place for the WDF to be located. While Collie is being considered, other locations may also be well placed to support large-scale advanced manufacturing through existing industrial land, energy infrastructure, and access to a skilled workforce.
“Manufacturing is the foundation of a strong economy and a secure nation,” said Minister Assisting the Defence Industries Minister, Amber Jade Sanderson.
“Western Australia has the skills, resources and the industrial capability to build more here.
“We want to see Western Australian workers and local businesses seize these opportunities to help grow our local manufacturing industry and strengthen our sovereign capability.”
