Cook Government to transform Defence WA into stand-alone government agency amid scramble over submarines

The Cook Government will establish WA’s own defence authority to support the roll-out of AUKUS, continuous naval ship building and the State’s other military programs and investments. Under the proposal announced by the Premier on Tuesday, Defence West would become it’s own statutory body, overseen by a Government appointed-chief executive, and answerable to the appointed minister of the day. “As Western Australia’s first stand alone defence agency, Defence West will deliver and continue to progress our state’s economic diversification strategy to unlock opportunities,” Mr Cook said. “My Government will introduce legislation to transform Defence West into a new statutory body that will act as an engine for Western Australia’s defence sector.” It will be a race against the clock as the Government aims to have the authority established before UK and US nuclear powered submarines begin rotations at HMAS Stirling from 2027. Government sources close to the project say it’s early days but there is the possibility that an executive board could be appointed to to lead Defence West, drawing on the vast array of prominent West Australian talent. Former Governor and Federal Labor Leader Kim Beazley is considered a potential appointment, as is Rudd Government Foreign Affairs Minister Stephen Smith, who is currently Australia’s High Commissioner to London. Other board appointments from the other side of politics could include former Federal Liberal Party Defence Ministers David Johnston and Linda Reynolds. Senator Reynolds, who retired from federal parliament at this year’s election has been vocal in her criticism of progress made by the Commonwealth and state governments in getting ready for the arrival of nuclear-powered submarines. Drafting of the legislation to create the Defence West authority would take some months to complete before it’s presented to State Parliament in the second half of 2026. In the interim, Defence Industry Minister Paul Papalia said Defence West would continue to operate under the Department of Premier and Cabinet as it has done since it was established in 2017. “With defence, we’ve got AUKUS, we’ve got nuclear submarine sustainment about to happen - that is a massive task, which requires a focused effort from a specific agency, from dedicated professionals focused on that task,” Mr Papalia said. “What the agency will be able to do, which we’re currently not able to do, is attract specialists with the experience and knowledge to be able to talk directly to the most senior people in our own defence force, and our allies defence forces. “We can’t actually attract and retain those sorts of people at the moment.” Last month, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese committed to $12 billion in Commonwealth spending over the next 10 years to transform a large part of the Australian Marine Complex at Henderson into a dedicated defence precinct. The site will be a naval shipbuilding powerhouse, and a hub for maintaining and servicing nuclear submarines. The announcement by the PM is the latest in a plethora of defence commitments for WA in recent years but there’s been little movement on the ground - adding to speculation over whether the new precinct and other major infrastructure builds will be ready in time. Minister Papalia reiterated his confidence in working with the Albanese Government to meet the deadlines. “On the 26th of June, they (Commonwealth) closed a registering of interest for design, the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister came over about a month ago and announced a $12b down payment on $25b that the defence precinct will take to build,” he said. “I’ve been talking to the Deputy Prime Minister’s office. They will get the design for the precinct in the first quarter of next year, and then they’ll be moving forward.”