The Heart of WA's Defence Industry

Defence already contributes an estimated $3 billion to the Western Australian economy and supports 7,500 jobs. Almost 2,000 of those jobs are based at Henderson, in Cockburn.

Maritime projects dominate WA’s defence landscape. 

• Henderson is a critical sustainment hub for Australia’s biggest naval base, HMAS Stirling, at nearby Garden Island 
• All Royal Australian Navy out-of-water repairs and upgrades for the WA fleet are done at AMC 
• $15 billion worth of ships will be built in Cockburn in the next decade 
• In October 2024, the Australian Government established a consolidated Commonwealth-owned Defence Precinct at Henderson, making an initial investment of $127 million over three years 
• $8 billion is being invested in HMAS Stirling as Henderson prepares to become the home port and sustainment location for Australia’s new nuclear-powered submarine fleet. 

The WA Government’s strategy is for WA to become “destination of choice” for the defence industry over the next 15 years.  

As the WA Defence and Defence Industry Strategy 2025 said, “WA is on the cusp of a shipbuilding and sustainment boom”.

Cockburn’s proximity to the Indian Ocean provides strategic advantages for naval operations. 

The Australian Government is committed to keeping the Indo-Pacific region secure, open, prosperous and resilient, and cooperates closely on defence and trade with the democracies in our region (Japan, Indonesia, India and South Korea). 

This emphasis on our region positions WA — and especially Cockburn — as vital future leaders in Australia’s defence industry. 

The Henderson Research and Innovation Hub (HRIH) is a multimillion-dollar facility where innovators, researchers, training organisations and investors in the ocean sustainability and defence industries come together to research, collaborate and commercialise their ideas, products and services. 

It has been developed by industry, for industry, and is facilitated by the City of Cockburn. Its purpose is to build the local defence and maritime industry supply chain capability and capacity. 

The HRIH is: 

• Soon to be home to 40+ businesses, entrepreneurs and innovators 
• A major research centre for Curtin University, UWA Oceans Institute and others 
• A new permanent home for the Henderson Alliance 
• Compliant with Sovereign Defence Industrial Priorities (SDIP) 
• A training hub for defence and maritime industry skills. 

The HRIH is positioned to maximise local opportunities from the Australian Government’s shipbuilding initiatives and leverage jobs from the $6 billion AUKUS submarine pathway, including:  

• Advanced technologies for AUKUS Pillar I capabilities (submarine) 
• Advanced technologies for AUKUS Pillar II capabilities (cybersecurity, data analytics, machine learning, quantum technology) 
• Shipbuilding and sustainment (SDIP 2) 
• Autonomous systems (SDIP 5) 
• Systems testing and evaluation (SDIP 7). 

Ensuring WA has enough workers with the right skills to deliver these defence projects will be fundamental to success.  

The WA Government has committed to ensuring “a continuous pipeline of skilled workers” and insists that requires “a coordinated approach across government, industry, and education and training providers”. 

The City of Cockburn has supported initiatives to provide clear skills pathways for the next generation of workers and strategies to attract talent, especially in maritime defence and shipbuilding: 

• South Metropolitan TAFE in Cockburn, next to AMC, is Australia’s only institution registered for defence manufacturing standards training 
• The expansion of South Metropolitan TAFE will provide additional training, upskilling and industry career opportunities 
• HRIH will provide access to specialised skills development initiatives and multidisciplinary educational programs. 

AUKUS — the trilateral security partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States — will create direct economic benefits for Cockburn. 

• Up to 8,500 direct jobs expected in the industrial workforce for building and sustaining nuclear-powered submarines 
• An additional 500 direct jobs to support rotational presence of US and UK submarines 
• Flow-on effects include 2,000+ additional workers and 500 US/UK sailors based in the area. 

For our community, Cockburn’s central role in the defence industry will lead to economic growth and other impacts beyond high-quality skilled jobs. 

• The increased population will require housing, schools, and other services
• Cockburn will have an enhanced international presence, through visiting US and UK naval personnel and vessels
• There’s incredible potential for growth in supporting industries and services, as Cockburn businesses seize the opportunity to join the defence supply chain
• Investment Attraction

Prosperity doesn’t happen by accident. The City of Cockburn plays an active role in encouraging economic development in our area, working with businesses and industry to create enterprise and employment and to ensure the long-term economic sustainability of our communities. 

• We’re working with industry partners to find ways to attract people with existing transferrable skills to the shipbuilding sector 
• We’re focused on building the pipeline of talent, getting high schools, TAFE and trades training organisations to encourage careers in the shipbuilding sector 
• We’re supporting efforts to bring in skills from beyond our border, including working with our Indonesian partners to embrace the opportunities of the Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership 
• We’ve facilitated the creation of the HRIH, a crucible of defence and maritime industry innovation 
• We’re actively helping local businesses become defence supply chain ready 
• We’re building the roads, community services and infrastructure the industry needs, to ensure Cockburn is an attractive place to live, work and play. 

By local government playing an active role in economic development, rather than sitting back and waiting for it to happen, everyone wins.  

The City of Cockburn is: 

• Supporting Federal and State Governments to meet the demands for jobs, skills, supply chains and innovation 
• Positioning Cockburn as a major national and global centre for the defence industry 
• Ensuring long-term employment prospects for our community and growth opportunities for local businesses in the defence industry supply chain.