Defence may become WA’s second biggest industry as the state government eyes a shift away from its reliance on the resources sector.
A 42-strong delegation of small and medium enterprises exhibited at the recent 2025 Indo-Pacific (INDOPAC) global weapons expo in Sydney.
WA Defence Industries Minister Paul Papalia says “defence is on track to become Western Australia’s second-largest economic driver” and that INDOPAC is a platform for them to showcase their expertise.
“Through INDOPAC, the government is helping WA businesses break into global markets, attract investment, and develop advanced manufacturing skills that will secure our state’s economic future.”
WA is also helping its small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to compete for business in the US and UK supply chains with a new four-year $2 million fund.
Local businesses can qualify for supply chain entry with grants of up to 50% of their total costs up to $100,000, the government says.
DEFENCE BUFFER
Papalia claims the industry will provide “a buffer to the cyclical nature of the resources sector” and the fund will “open doors” to creating more local jobs and diversifying the economy.
He pointed out that WA businesses secured overseas deals after a recent bipartisan trade mission to the UK when more than 20 WA businesses attended the Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) expo in London.
Examples cited by him included:
- Fremantle’s CiTech, which builds self-deploying mobile phone towers, signed a MoU with Babcock to send its tech to Ukraine, funded by the UK and supported by NATO.
- Henderson (WA)-based Franmarine will provide biofouling services for US-UK submarines set to rotate through WA from next year under AUKUS.
- A state MoU with BAE, Europe’s largest defence contractor, to train workers at the new Henderson Defence Precinct and help state business to join global supply chains.
“Western Australia has the world’s largest resources sector and the skilled workforce to fill gaps in the UK defence supply chain,” Papalia claims.
“As home of our nation’s submarine fleet, WA is focused on the rapidly approaching task of sustaining nuclear-powered submarines from 2027.”
Skills and TAFE Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson says their efforts since 2017 to make WA the home of naval ship design and building “are paying off”.
“An increased investment in capabilities is set to create more than 10,000 new skilled jobs over the next two decades,” she says.
Sanderson says that to build such a workforce, the government is funding TAFE and employers to take on more apprentices.
Click here for the state’s defence strategy
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