Western Australia’s defence spending is undergoing an unprecedented surge, driven primarily by a $12 billion federal and state investment to transform the Henderson Defence Precinct into the nation’s premier naval shipbuilding and sustainment hub. The multi-billion dollar investment plan will establish the Henderson facility as a strategic AUKUS asset in the Indo-Pacific region, bringing total project estimates to about $25 billion over the coming decade.

This presents significant opportunity for our Region through local Companies participating in supply chain opportunities and it is also likely that some non-defence industries will need to relocate from within the Henderson Precinct and could be attracted to the Bunbury Geographe region. Similarly, with ever increasing demand on the Western trade coast ports, we see opportunities for existing and future shipping trade to be transferred to Bunbury Port.

BGEA has been establishing key relationships in the defence network including with Defence West and the ADF, the head contractors managing the existing defence contracts as well as the Henderson Alliance and Kwinana Industries Council who represent most of the existing industries operating within the Henderson and Kwinana Industrial precincts. BGEA is working to ensure that the extensive capability within our Region is understood within the defence network as well as keeping its members informed of upcoming opportunities. Additionally, BGEA is promoting the region as a viable alternative for displaced industries and assisting in their evaluation.