WA OWNED AND RUN

employees’ claims on Scott’s Refrigerated Logistics total $25 million and warned the amount could rise as more details emerge, according to the first meeting of the company’s creditors.

Disruption to the key transport system and “uncommercial” customer arrangements due to intense competition also hit the group’s accounts. The final blow came when Scott’s failed to obtain further debt or equity funding, summarised McGrathNicol.

McGrathNicol said it is unclear how much will be left for employees’ claims due to the complexity of Scott’s financing structure, particularly around ScotPac, the owners of its receivables. As a secured creditor, ScotPac’s claims rank ahead of employee claims.

McGrathNicol said employees will have recourse to FEG, a government scheme of last resort that provides financial assistance for unpaid employee entitlements in the event of insolvency. The administrator noted that the last round of superannuation payments was potentially incomplete, but wages appeared up-to-date.

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We have all heard that Western Australia will be home to Australia's nuclear-powered submarines from the early 2030s, as part of an $8 billion expansion of Perth's naval base.

We also know that the Premier of WA, Mark McGowan has made it clear his government will not be volunteering to dispose of nuclear waste from AUKUS submarines in WA.

Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers made the announcement saying WA was set to play a key role in the AUKUS defence and security partnership with the United States and the United Kingdom on nuclearpowered submarines.

Speaking in Rockingham, near the HMAS Stirling naval base, he described it as the "biggest industrial undertaking in

Australia’s history”.

There will be four main elements for WA:

• Wharf upgrades and expansion of maintenance training, and expanded logistical capacity at HMAS Stirling;

• More frequent and longer visits of American submarines from this year, and UK subs from 2026;

• HMAS Stirling will host rotations of US and UK submarines from 2027 as part of Submarine Rotational Force West, known as SRF-West;

• WA will be home to Australian nuclearpropelled submarines from the early 2030s, the US Virginia class.

• Mr Chalmers said there would be 500 direct jobs to sustain the initiative from 2027 to 2032.

Australia’s nuclear submarine program will cost up to $368 billion over the next three decades, with confirmation that the federal government will buy at least three American-manufactured nuclear submarines and contribute" significant additional resources” to US shipyards.

"[In] its workers, its industries and its economy, which will create around 3,000 jobs, plus another 500 or so when it comes to SRF-West,” he said.

The deal is expected to see $1 billion invested over the next four years, with the overall amount committed over 10 years.

"It will be all about making sure the infrastructure at HMAS Stirling can accommodate the increasing visits and the rotational forces, and when they arrive in the early 2030s, our own nuclear-propelled subs,” Mr Chalmers said.

He said the federal government would continue to work with Australian Naval Infrastructure and the WA government to develop options for large vessel infrastructure.

The chair of the Australian Industry and Defence Network of WA, Kristian Constantinides, said the federal government’s announcements for WA were welcome, as they would enable long-term planning.

“It’s been about having the capability we have here recognised, the vulnerability that we have in our north west recognised, and acknowledging that WA has something to offer in that national endeavour,” he said.

He also said WA should be able to provide technological support under the ‘trilateral’ concept.

“There are pathways in Western Australia for companies to allow their innovations to be seen, to engage funding and to be supported.