AUKUS: Richard Marles insists WA’s Henderson defence precinct is on track

Defence Minister Richard Marles has declared a multibillion-dollar push to revitalise Perth’s Henderson shipyard in preparation for AUKUS is happening “at pace” despite concerns the site is yet to have its new boundaries approved.

This week The West Australian revealed no final Commonwealth decision had been made on the “defence precinct definition”, despite the Albanese Government unveiling a $12 billion “down payment” for the project just days ago.

In a formal response to State Parliament last week, the WA government revealed it had also not been briefed on potential local environmental impacts because crucial decisions on the Henderson project were outstanding.

“Given no decision has been made by the Australian Government about the defence precinct definition, no briefings have occurred on potential impacts,” the State Government said in written answers to questions from the WA Greens.

From 2027 US and British nuclear submarines are expected to begin rotations out of Western Australia’s HMAS Stirling naval base, while the nearby Henderson defence precinct is slated to provide crucial maintenance support.

When announcing its $12b funding boost for Henderson earlier this month, the Albanese government also revealed the upgraded precinct could eventually be used to conduct “deep maintenance” for visiting US submarines.

On Tuesday during a visit to Tasmania, the defence minister, who is also acting Prime Minister, insisted progress in relation to the Henderson Defence Precinct “is all happening, and it is happening on time”.

“It is an important step in relation to AUKUS, but the important point to make in respect of all of this is it’s happening at a pace, and we are meeting every milestone that we committed to when we first announced AUKUS back in March of 2023,” Mr Marles said.

“Progress in Western Australia, progress at HMAS Stirling, which is where we will see the Submarine Rotational Force – West occur, and progress in relation to the Henderson Defence Precinct is all happening, and it is happening on time,” he added.

From the early 2030s Australia is scheduled to build new Japanese designed General Purpose Frigates at the Henderson precinct, but already other smaller shipbuilding projects such as Army landing craft are facing possible delays.

Former Naval officer and defence commentator Jen Parker says she’s concerned the Henderson precinct will be “deprioritised in focus” because of all of the AUKUS attention.

“WA shipbuilding is just as important as Submarine Rotational Force-West and if Henderson consolidation slips it will be WA shipbuilding that will be significantly impacted not impacted not SRF-W. Australia cannot afford another shipbuilding problem,” Ms Parker wrote online following revelations the boundaries of the new Henderson precinct had not yet been defined

“To address this concern and build confidence there should be a public plan for Henderson with capability, timeline and key milestones.”