The Carpenter government wants the federal government to build two 25,000-tonne amphibious naval vessels worth $2 billion in Australia and launch them at the Australian Marine Complex.
The Carpenter government wants the federal government to build two 25,000-tonne amphibious naval vessels worth $2 billion in Australia and launch them at the Australian Marine Complex.
The Commonwealth Defence Department has cast doubt on the wisdom of building the ships in Australia, reportedly saying there was 'no strong strategic reason' for doing so.
Science and Innovation Minister Francis Logan will today put the state's case to a Senate inquiry hearing in Perth that it makes economic and strategic sense to build the vessels in Australia.
Austal Ships chairman John Rothwell provided conditional support when he told WA Business News that with vessels the size of these large amphibious ships he would like to at least see some value-adding carried out in WA.
"WA is not truly set up to build vessels of this size efficiently. We don't have a conventional automated ship yard for this size of ship," he said.
"Also there is a shortage of skilled labour in WA. Austal would like to see the bulk of the construction done off-shore and some of the value-add fit-out of the vessels done locally."
Also, the AMC at Henderson plays a key role in this work, allowing Western Australia to increase its standing as a world-class defence shipbuilding hub.
The Minister's argument is supported by unions and the WA Chamber of Commerce and Industry, who will also be making submissions to the Senate inquiry.
Mr Logan said these ships should be built in Australia and the AMC should play a role in their construction.
"These contracts provide a clear opportunity to further enhance the international competitiveness of this important industry sector," he said.
"They give us the opportunity to further develop naval shipbuilding as part of a broader, compatible industry structure."
Mr Logan said much of the existing development in WA was clustered along the coast of Cockburn Sound, providing excellent facilities for expanded naval shipbuilding.
"The skills used in the work already carried out there fit well with the skills required to build naval vessels," he said.
The Minister said the State Government's investment in the AMC had boosted WA's capacity to carry out construction, fabrication and repair and maintenance work on ships.
"The area is already home to naval shipbuilding contractors and the common user facility enables businesses to lease facilities to complete projects without expensive set-up costs," he said.
