Western Australia Premier Roger Cook has announced plans to build a weapons manufacturing hub in southern Perth.

This is the third state in Australia planning to build combat weapons domestically for the Australian military to use.

Perth has been planned to be an important operational hub in the Australia’s AUKUS nuclear submarine deal.

“Western Australia is ready to play a far greater role in strengthening Australia’s sovereign defence capability,” Cook said.

“This will help diversify our economy, create quality jobs for the next generation, and deliver on our plan to make more things in WA.”

The Western Australian Government is currently running an expression of interest (EOI) for local, national and international companies to help shape the manufacturing hub. The EOI which is set to run for six weeks ending on July 8 will help identify companies that can influence infrastructure, workforce development, industrial land, research partnerships and export pathways.

Defence Industries Minister Paul Papalia said the EOI is about “bringing it all together and building something bigger”.

“Western Australia is not starting from scratch. We already have the skills, industrial base and innovation needed,” he said.

Australia’s first missile assembly facility launched in South Australia in December.

Article: Rayan Rashid and Jasper Davis

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