WA DEFENCE REVIEW 2022-23 PUBLICATION

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SEE WHAT’S INSIDE HON RICHARD MARLES: DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER & MINISTER FOR DEFENCE HON PAT CONROY: MINISTER FOR DEFENCE INDUSTRY HON ROGER COOK: PREMIER WESTERN AUSTRALIA HON NATASHA FYLES: CHIEF MINISTER NORTHERN TERRITORY ADM ROB BAUER: CHAIR, MILITARY COMMITTEE NATO

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2022-23 ANNUAL

EDITOR’S FOREWORD

Serge DeSilvaRanasinghe, Founder & Managing Editor,

Welcome to the fifth and largest edition yet of our Annual Publication. Not only is it still the largest defence sector publication of its kind in Australia and, increasingly, beyond, this year’s edition also contains dozens of additional pages of informative and thoughtprovoking content.

INDUSTRY | TECHNO LOGY SEE WHAT ’S

| CRITICAL INFRAST RUCTURE & RES OURCES

INSIDE

| POLICY | GEO-POL ITICS | NATIONAL SECURITY

HON RICHARD MARL DEPUTY PRIME MINISES: TER & MINISTER FOR DEFENCE HON PAT CONROY: MINISTER FOR DEFENCE INDUSTRY HON ROGER COOK : PREMIER WESTERN AUSTRALIA HON NATASHA FYLES CHIEF MINISTER : NORTHERN TERR ITORY ADM ROB BAUER: CHAIR, MILITARY COMMITTEE NATO PADDY GREGG: CEO, AUSTAL

Like the publication itself, WA DEFENCE REVIEW – now in our seventh year – continues to go from strength to strength as an institution, and as an independent, nationally focused WAbased voice. We’ve built upon our strong and proven foundations as one of Australia’s leading platforms covering the defence sector, with indepth coverage across the spectrum of politics, government, Defence, industry and academia.

As part of that growth, we are pleased to welcome a number of new and accomplished members to our editorial team, namely respected aviation journalist Emma Kelly, international relations and Indian Ocean specialist Leighton G. Luke, defence writer Stephen Haydon, and our Resources Sector Correspondent, the experienced Ross Louthean.

We are delighted to welcome LCDR Samuel Sheppard to the ranks of our Advocates. Joining Cherish McNamara (Advocate - STEM) and Andre De Barr (Advocate - Veterans’ Engagement), LCDR Sheppard brings a wealth of experience to the role of Advocate - Indigenous Defence Engagement, further ensuring WA DEFENCE REVIEW’s commitment to achieving positive outcomes for these key sectors and communities.

Again this year, we have introduced a number of new columns to the Annual Publication to markedly widen our coverage of issues germane to the defence sector. In addition to our regular featured sections, this year’s edition also includes columns addressing highly topical matters such as Critical Minerals, Energy Resilience, Disaster & Emergency Response, Academia & Universities, International Relations & Diplomacy, and International Trade & Export.

Leading this year’s edition is an exclusive feature interview with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, The Hon Richard Marles.

In the interview, which is wide-ranging, Minister Marles discusses strategic matters such as AUKUS, the recently released Defence Strategic Review 2023 and the shift in posture for the ADF from a balanced to an integrated force, and key

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EDITION 5 • 2022-23

diplomatic and Defence partnerships with Indo-Pacific partners, together with the economic benefits expected to flow from those developments, particularly for WA.

(RRP) $29

Welcome to the fifth and largest edition yet of our Annual Publication. Not only is it still the largest defence sector publication of its kind in Australia and, increasingly, beyond, this year’s edition also contains dozens of additional pages of informative and thought-provoking content.

.95

WA DEFENCE REVIEW

Noting the centrality of the defence industry to the government’s vision for the future, and its role as a crucial partner in delivering and supporting Defence capabilities, The Hon Pat Conroy, Minister for Defence Industry, explains both the need for a strong, sovereign and internationally competitive defence industry and the importance of WA in achieving that national goal.

WA DEFENCE REVIEW is equally pleased to have had the opportunity of speaking directly with WA’s Minister for Defence Industry, The Hon Paul Papalia. In another exclusive interview, Minister Papalia explores the WA government’s defence industry initiatives and the next steps forward for the state in the wake of AUKUS and the Review.

In our Northern Australian Security section, NT Chief Minister The Hon Natasha Fyles provides an update from the Top End, while the implications of the Review for each of the three services are considered in National Security Affairs.

Headlining the new International Relations & Diplomacy column, and confirming again WA DEFENCE REVIEW’s unique ability to bring the views of key senior international officials directly to our readers, is a rare and exclusive interview with ADM Rob Bauer, Chair of the NATO Military Committee, a role which has been filled in the past by such renowned military professionals as GEN Omar Bradley of the US and ADMF Earl Mountbatten of Burma.

As Chair of the Military Committee, ADM Bauer is NATO’s senior military officer, the group’s spokesperson on all defence matters and the principal military adviser to the SecretaryGeneral. Speaking exclusively with WA DEFENCE REVIEW, ADM Bauer shares his insights on regional and global strategic challenges, including cyber security and climate change, as well as the growing cooperation between NATO and Australia.

Turning to our Naval & Maritime Affairs section, among the highlights is an in-depth interview with Paddy Gregg, CEO of Australia’s

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leading defence shipbuilder, Austal, who shares details of the company’s operations and how it is positioning itself to meet the challenges lie ahead, while continuing to grow and further strengthen its commercial position.

Over the last year, the WA DEFENCE REVIEW Video Channel has further increased in reputation and exposure, with its range of announcements, interviews and events highlights and profiles of defence sector organisations now receiving in excess of 56,000 views.

Meanwhile, our events program continues to provide an array of different events, including a series of industry and networking cocktail functions, VIP and corporate breakfasts, luncheons and dinners, keynote speakers and industry site visits. Among our many and varied events, the most significant was our 4th Strategy, Defence & Industry Dialogue, held in partnership with the Australian Naval Institute and chaired by its President, VADM Peter Jones AO DSC, RAN (Rtd). Taking the theme ‘The Future of Australia and the Indian Ocean Region: Shared Economic and Security Interests’, distinguished senior officials, decision-makers and representative peak bodies discussed defence policy, strategic affairs and industry collaboration.

An edited and unattributed record of the Chatham House Rule proceedings will be published on the new-look and revamped WA DEFENCE REVIEW website. Look for it soon while exploring the wealth of information and features available on our updated website.

While the economic, workforce and industry implications of AUKUS and the Review are obviously at the forefront of this edition, it nonetheless contains a full slate of diverse viewpoints and in-depth information from across the industry, to technology, international relations and veterans’ affairs.

The team at WA DEFENCE REVIEW trusts that you enjoy this year’s unique edition and looks forward to exceeding expectations again next year!

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EDITION 5 • 2022-23

3

MEET THE TEAM

Leighton G. Luke

Associate Editor & Senior Correspondent

Stephen Bunce

Emma Kelly

Dr Peter Layton

Terry Booth

Ross Louthean

Thomas Hage

Stephen Hayden

David Nicolson

Eddy Lidya

Associate Editor & Defence Writer

Senior Correspondent

Senior Correspondent

Serge DeSilva-Ranasinghe Founder & Managing Editor

INDUSTRY | TECHNOLOGY | CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE & RESOURCES | POLICY | GEO-POLITICS | NATIONAL SECURITY

2022-23 ANNUAL

PUBLICATION

Serge DeSilva-Ranasinghe is the author of over 500 articles on topics spanning strategic policy, geo-politics, political risk, maritime security, military affairs, transnational security and CDRE Brett Dowsing, defence industry. He has interviewed numerous RAN (Rtd) senior political, government, military and Senior Defence Writer industry figures, with his work featured in publications such as The Diplomat, Harvard International Review, Forbes Asia, Jane’s Defence Weekly, Jane’s Intelligence Review, Military Technology, NAVAL FORCES, The Australian, Australian Financial Review, and many more. He has appeared on radio and television, chaired dozens of events and been invited to deliver presentations for organisations such as the Committee for the Economic Development of Australia (CEDA), Australasian Council of Security Professionals, Australian Defence College, Special Operations Command, Defence Imagery and Geospatial Organisation and numerous others. Serge is an Associate of Security Professionals Australasia, an honorary fellow with the National Security Institute, University of Canberra, is an Ambassador for the Veterans’ Transition Centre Jarrahdale, and is the former President of the Australian Industry & Defence Network of WA.

SEE WHAT’S INSIDE HON RICHARD MARLES: DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER & MINISTER FOR DEFENCE

HON ROGER COOK: PREMIER WESTERN AUSTRALIA HON NATASHA FYLES: CHIEF MINISTER NORTHERN TERRITORY ADM ROB BAUER: CHAIR, MILITARY COMMITTEE NATO PADDY GREGG: CEO, AUSTAL

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Front Cover: In November 2022, HMAS Parramatta entered a dry dock at Henderson shipyard to commence maintenance as part of the Anzac-class AMCAP upgrade in Perth. © Department of Defence.

Photographer: LSIS Ernesto Sanchez.

EDITION 5 • 2022-23

Defence Writer

Resources Sector Correspondent

Photographer

Defence Writer

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Disclaimer: Any opinion expressed is the honest belief of the author based on all available facts, but is not necessarily the view of WA DEFENCE REVIEW or its employees. Comments and facts should not be relied upon by the reader in taking commercial, legal, financial, or other decisions. Articles are by their nature general, and readers are advised to seek specialist advice before acting on information published within which may not be appropriate for readers’ particular circumstances. WA DEFENCE REVIEW will not accept liability for any error or omissions printed, however caused. All rights reserved. WA DEFENCE REVIEW is the owner of the trademark WA DEFENCE REVIEW (Registered in Australia No. 2010538). No part of this publication may be reproduced, communicated, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form without the prior written permission of WA DEFENCE REVIEW. Copyright © 2023 WA DEFENCE REVIEW. 5th Edition – published 25 June 2023. ISSN 2652-5860 (Online) ISSN 2652-5852 (Print)

HON PAT CONROY: MINISTER FOR DEFENCE INDUSTRY

4

Special Correspondent

Acknowledgements: WA DEFENCE REVIEW acknowledges our valued clients for their ongoing support, and also appreciates the support from our stakeholders: the ADF, Defence Force, Defence Media, WA Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science & Innovation, Defence West, AIDN and the Henderson Alliance. Last, but not least, we extend our gratitude to the following individuals whose commitment and support have enabled WA DEFENCE REVIEW to deliver another successful edition: Aleisha Lavers, Alexander Bunney, Andre De Barr, Ash Boddy, Bernadine White, Cam Dumesny, Cameron Clark, CAPT Gary Lawton, Carlos Fortuna, CDRE Brett Dowsing, RAN (Rtd), CDRE Ivan Ingham, Chad van Heemst, Cherish McNamara, Colin Cairnes, Colleen Yates, David Nicolson, Dr Gregor Ferguson, Dr Peter Layton, Dr Stephanie Koorey, Eddy Lidya, Emma Kelly, Gary Holder, Geoff Wilkinson, Gia Spencer, Guy Provan, Hon David Johnston, Hon Kim Beazley, Hon Paul Papalia CSC MLA, Ian Martinus, Jessica Keogh, John McIntosh, Julian Talbot, Justin Fromm, Kiki Stokar von Neuforn, Leidy Rincon Dugarte, Leighton G. Luke, Linda Dawson, Lindsay Hawke, Lynda Neoh, Mark Musarra, Matt Moran, Michael Edwards, Michael Faulkner, Michael Williams, Michele Clement, Michelle Hutchins, Mike von Bertouch, Nathan Organ, Navin Vij, Nihar Rai, Peter Dancewicz, VADM Peter Jones (Rtd), RADM Phil Spedding (Rtd), RADM Raydon Gates (Rtd), the late RADM James Goldrick AO CSC, Richard Baker, Rohan Green, Ross Louthean, Sam Sheppard, Simon Bell, Simon Grosser, Stephen Bunce, Stephen Haydon, Steve Duffield, Tamryn Barker, Terry Booth, Thomas Hage, Toff Idrus, Tony Wills, Vanessa Oliver and Victoria Green.

EDITION 5 • 2022-23

5

CONTENTS

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW RARE FOREWORD 168 Paddy 276 AUSTRALIA’S 2 ByEDITOR’S Gregg EARTHS CHALLENGE Serge DeSilva-Ranasinghe Chief Executive Officer

By Ross Louthean ENTRAPMENT? Austal 8 ByAUSTRALIA’S BOLSTERING NATIONAL Prof Jingdong Yuan 280 SECURITY THROUGH BAE SYSTEMS AUSTRALIA: QUO VADIS: LESSONS FOR 182 HENDERSON SHIPYARD ENERGY RESILIENCE 16 AUSTRALIA FROM THE PREPARES FOR

By Shannon O’Rourke UKRAINE CONFLICT? TRANSFORMATIVE ERA THE ZERO EMISSION

By Prof Sascha-Dominik Dov

By Blake Pilgrim 284 HIGHWAY: A VISION Bachmann PREPARING FOR FUTURE FOR A CARBON-FREE STRIKE 206 CAPABILITIES: HMAS AUSTRALIAN ROAD 22 PRECISION SYSTEMS POSE A RAPIDLY STIRLING NETWORK EVOLVING THREAT

By Dr James Bosbotinis

26

WILL THE DEFENCE STRATEGIC REVIEW 2023 USHER IN A NEW ERA OF AUSTRALIA-INDONESIA RELATIONS?

By Dr Greta Nabbs-Keller

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW 32 Hon Richard Marles MP Deputy Prime Minister & Minister for Defence Australian Government

42

WESTERN AUSTRALIA’S ROLE IN THE VISION FOR A TRUE SUSTAINABLE SOVEREIGN AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRY CAPABILITY

By Hon Pat Conroy MP

56 Hon Paul Papalia CSC, MLA

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

By CAPT Gary Lawton, RAN

AIRPORT: 216 JANDAKOT WESTERN AUSTRALIA’S

PRINCIPAL GENERAL AVIATION HUB ASTRIDE THE INDIAN OCEAN

230

OUR DEFENCE 78 RAISING INDUSTRY WORKFORCE

HUB FOR SPACE OPERATIONS AND EXPLORATION: WESTERN AUSTRALIA

By Thomas Hage & Serge DeSilva-Ranasinghe

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW 96 ADM Rob Bauer

DEFENCE STRATEGIC 242 THE REVIEW 2023 AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR THE ARMY IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA

110 128

By Dr Peter Layton

UP A BIG YEAR 136 WRAPPING FOR DEFENCE IN THE NORTH-WEST

By Stephen Bunce & Dr Gregor Ferguson

By Geoff Robinson

FLOOD 258 AUSTRALIA’S CRISIS: HARBINGER OF

262

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FUTURE CHALLENGES

By Brendan Moon STRENGTHENING AUSTRALIA’S CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE SECURITY AND RESILIENCE

By Hamish Hansford

264

PROTECTION OF CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE: SECURING AUSTRALIA’S NATIONAL INTERESTS VIA GOVERNMENT AND INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIPS

By Jason Brown

268

MAKING CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE SYSTEMS RESILIENT, ROBUST AND RELIABLE

By Toby Horstead

AUSTRALIA: 272 WESTERN TRANSFORMING OUR

OPERATING BASE FOR THE ADF AND OUR ALLIES

WORLD-LEADING MINING SECTOR INTO A GLOBALLY SIGNIFICANT MINERAL PROCESSING AND CHEMICAL MANUFACTURING HUB

By Hon Natasha Fyles

By Hon Bill Johnston MLA

TERRITORY: 144 NORTHERN THE FORWARD

EDITION 5 • 2022-23

AND RESOURCES 292 DEFENCE SYNERGIES: HOW TO MAKE A SUCCESSFUL TRANSITION FROM OIL AND GAS TO DEFENCE INDUSTRY

By Steve Duffield & Mark Musarra

INNOVATION: 294 DISRUPTIVE DEVELOPING SOLUTIONS

HEALTH SECTORS: THE AUSTRALASIAN MILITARY MEDICINE ASSOCIATION

THE BAY OF BENGAL 122 WHY MATTERS TO AUSTRALIA WHITHER AUSTRALIA’S INDIAN OCEAN TERRITORIES?

DISRUPTION

By Tamryn Barker & Brodie McCulloch

THE MILITARY 250 SUPPORTING MEDICINE AND VETERANS’ 296

By CMDR Tilo Kalski

By Dr Rajat Ganguly

INNOVATION HUB: 290 CORE USHERING IN POSITIVE

By Thomas Hage & Dr Gregor Ferguson

Chair of the Military Committee North Atlantic Treaty Organization

ENDEAVOUR IN THE INDOPACIFIC: VOYAGE OF THE FGS BAYERN

By Dr Kathie McGregor

By Hon Roger Cook MLA

TO THE NEXT LEVEL

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TAKING ‘THE ULTIMATE HIGH GROUND’: AUSTRALIA’S DEFENCE SPACE COMMAND

SOUTHERN 236 THE HEMISPHERE’S GLOBAL

By Hon Simone McGurk MLA

STATE OF THE DEFENCE SECTOR IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA: 2022-23

TO SOLVE REAL-WORLD PROBLEMS

By Stephen Haydon & Emma Kelly

BIG DEFENCE 64 2022-23: YEARS FOR WESTERN AUSTRALIA

PARTNERING WITH 288 CSIRO: DEFENCE AND INDUSTRY

By Emma Kelly

Minister for Defence Industry, Government of Western Australia

By CDRE Ivan Ingham AM, RAN

By Dr Adam Osseiran & Peter Kasprzak

FOR DEFENCE-RELATED PROBLEMS

By Toby Swingler AUKUS PROVIDES AN EXCITING NEW CONTEXT FOR THE ROLE OF UWA DSI

By Prof Gia Parish

HELPING 300 AUSTRADE: ASPIRING DEFENCE

EXPORTERS TO NAVIGATE INTERNATIONAL MARKETS

By Anthony Weymouth

308

DEFENCE AND INDIGENOUS ENGAGEMENT: BUILDING PERMANENT RELATIONSHIPS BASED ON MUTUAL RESPECT AND LONG-TERM OUTCOMES

By LCDR Sam Sheppard, RAN

ARE COMMITTED TO A 322 “WE DEFENCE AND VETERANS’ FAMILY SUPPORT STRATEGY TO DESIGN BETTER POSTING CYCLES, HOUSING SOLUTIONS AND TRANSITION SERVICES”

By Hon Matt Keogh MP

VETERANS 332 JARRAHDALE TRANSITION CENTRE: GOING FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH

By Marisa Leccese & Tony Wills

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ANALYSIS

NATIONAL SECURITY AFFAIRS

AUSTRALIA’S ENTRAPMENT?

By Associate Professor Jingdong Yuan,

Associate Senior Fellow, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.

While the war in Ukraine continues to command media attention and remains the focus of the United States and NATO efforts in responding to Russia’s aggression and the threat to Europe, the geo-political landscape of the IndoPacific is rapidly evolving in ways that over the longer term, will be more consequential in international politics. The tangled China-India-US triangle is of particular interest as it could have serious implications for the region’s stability and, by extension, Australia’s security, given its own complex relationships with all three powers.

Australia’s Deputy PM and Minister for Defence, Hon Richard Marles MP met with China’s Minister for National Defence, GEN Wei Fenghe, on the margins of the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus in Cambodia on 22 November 2022. ADMM-Plus plays a central role in facilitating dialogue on security issues in the region. It is an important forum for practical defence cooperation between the 10 ASEAN member states and eight ‘Plus’ countries. © Department of Defence. Photographer: Kym Smith.

INTENSIFYING RIVALRIES The China-US strategic rivalry has intensified in recent years. The Trump administration first identified China as a peer competitor challenging US interests and primacy in the Indo-Pacific and launched a series of measures against Beijing’s growing influence and diplomatic assertiveness. Those included a trade war

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EDITION 5 • 2022-23

aimed at reversing Beijing’s long-standing unfair practices, but increasingly shifted the focus from imposing tariffs on Chinese imports to banning Chinese tech companies, such as ZTE and Huawei.

The Trump administration also ushered in the ‘Free and Open Indo-Pacific’ concept to preserve the rulesbased regional order and fully supported the revival

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EDITION 5 • 2022-23

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ANALYSIS

NATIONAL SECURITY AFFAIRS

of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) that includes Australia, India, Japan and the US. It was also during the Trump presidency that the US went beyond ‘Strategic Ambiguity’ in Washington’s ‘One China’ policy by increasingly engaging in official contacts with Taiwan, as well as allowing arms sales of greater value and more types of weapon systems to it. The hawkish and adversarial approach replaced the longheld policy of engagement since the Nixon visit, and represented a major inflection point in US-China relations.

“

Both Beijing and Washington are actively competing to promote their visions of, and approaches to meeting, the mounting political and economic challenges in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.

On the security front, Beijing and Washington are entangled in multiple tensions, from the South China Sea to the Taiwan Strait.

In its first two years in office, the Biden administration has shown every sign of continuing Trump’s hard-line policy. Indeed, the 2022 National Security Strategy and National Defence Strategy both identify China as “the only competitor with both the intent to reshape the international order and, increasingly, the economic, diplomatic, military, and technological power to do it”.

TECHNOLOGICAL COMPETITION The only difference has been a decidedly greater emphasis by Washington on working with allies and partners across the Atlantic and in the Indo-Pacific to manage Chinese challenges. While recognising the imperative of setting “common-sense guardrails” and engaging in “responsible competition” with China, the Biden administration nonetheless has focused attention on the contest for technological dominance by introducing a series of restrictions on technology transfers to China.

China-US technology competition extends to several sectors. Some are primarily about gaining commercial advantages, for instance, electronic vehicles; others, such as quantum computing, artificial intelligence, robotics,

HMA Ships Canberra, Hobart, Stuart, Arunta and Sirius taking part in a trilateral passage in the Philippine Sea with US Navy ships, USS Ronald Reagan, Antietam and Mustin and the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force’s Akizuki-class destroyer JS Teruzuki. The ADFs regional deployments in Southeast Asia and Hawaii demonstrate Australia’s commitment to the security and stability of the Indo-Pacific region. © Department of Defence.

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EDITION 5 • 2022-23

ANALYSIS

5G technologies, semiconductors, and the Internet of Things, are emerging and disruptive technologies, dual-use, and have significant potential for military application.

Beyond technology contestation, China-US strategic rivalry in the IndoPacific extends to geo-political and geo-economic re-alignments of countries in the region, with contending security architectures and concepts, and competing economic/free trade initiatives and blocs.

Both Beijing and Washington are actively competing to promote their visions of, and approaches to meeting, the mounting political and economic challenges in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. On the security front, Beijing and Washington are entangled in multiple tensions, from the South China Sea to the Taiwan Strait.

CHINA-INDIA TENSIONS China-India relations can be characterised as both cooperative (as

emphasised by climate change, Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS), and with the World Trade Organisation) and competitive (as exemplified by maritime South Asia, the Indo-Pacific, and the global nuclear order).

Since the late 1950s, territorial disputes have been, and remain, the most serious sticking point in the relationship, and a major impediment to normalisation.

Despite decades of negotiations, little progress has been made in resolving the border disputes. In recent years, both countries have invested in infrastructure on their respective sides of the Line of Actual Control (LAC), allowing more rapid responses to any contingencies. Over the past decade, multiple clashes have occurred along the LAC, including the widely publicised standoffs of June-August 2017 in Doklam (the tri-junction border area between Bhutan, China and India), Ladakh in June 2020, and Tawang in December 2022.

NATIONAL SECURITY AFFAIRS

Apart from territorial disputes, Indian concerns include China’s relationship with Pakistan and growing presence in maritime South Asia where, through investments in infrastructure and expanding trade ties, Beijing is making significant inroads and increasing its influence in what New Delhi considers to be its sphere of influence.

At the same time, the Modi government has turned what used to be the more moderate ‘Look East’ intention of his predecessors into the more concrete ‘Act East’ policy, whereby India has developed broader contacts with ASEAN countries. In addition, India has also joined the Quad and formed security partnerships with Australia, Japan, and Vietnam.

While such trends suggest ChinaIndia relations could become even more contentious, there are also important factors that will mitigate the risks of open confrontation between the two nuclear-armed powers. One relates to the

EDITION 5 • 2022-23

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ANALYSIS

“

NATIONAL SECURITY AFFAIRS

While such trends suggest China-India relations could become even more contentious, there are also important factors that will mitigate the risks of open confrontation between the two nuclear-armed powers. One relates to the two countries’ near-term priorities and the mixed nature of their relationship. Clearly, given their large populations, economic growth remains imperative for Beijing and New Delhi.

two countries’ nearterm priorities and the mixed nature of their relationship. Clearly, given their large populations, economic growth remains imperative for Beijing and New Delhi.

While there are serious territorial disputes, existing confidence building measures and established protocols on the ground have served, and should continue to provide some degree of restraint on both sides, as those disputes do not pose existential threats to each other’s security.

At the same time, despite a growing imbalance in bilateral trade to the disadvantage of India, economic ties remain stable. As a result, there are likely sufficient incentives for the two sides to manage their disputes to prevent them from escalating to more serious military confrontation, even to the nuclear level.

INDIA-US COOPERATION The India-US relationship, both diplomatically and especially in the security realm, can cause serious concerns in China. Washington and New Delhi share many common interests. These range from supporting a rules-based regional order and a free and open IndoPacific, to growing defence cooperation in equipment procurement, joint exercises and expanding economic ties. India is also deepening security ties with US allies in the region and, as a member of the Quad, participates in public health diplomacy, infrastructure, and supply chains in critical technologies and materials.

The US is clearly interested in promoting bilateral ties with India and supporting the latter’s desire to play a larger and more active role as a potential counterforce against China. However, the Modi government’s reticence on the Ukraine war reveals both New Delhi’s dilemma given its longstanding ties with Moscow and the limitation of US-India ties.

AUSTRALIA’S BALANCING ACT How the China-India-US triangle evolves will have significant implications for Australia. Canberra has a deep commitment to a rules-based regional order and sees its alliance with the US, the Quad and AUKUS as critical bedrocks of Australia’s security. Canberra also sees a trustworthy security, and potentially economic, partner in India and has accordingly expanded and deepened its ties with New Delhi.

Australian Army personnel from 13th Brigade conducting a joint training exercise with the Indian Army in the Rajasthan Desert. Exercise Austrahind 22 promoted mutual understanding and tactical-level information sharing, and exposed participants to other countries military cultures to further enhance the skills and experiences of soldiers and officers. © Department of Defence.

ANALYSIS

Further deterioration of China-US and/or ChinaIndia relations would not only affect how Australia manages its relationship with China, but could also entrap Australia in any military conflict between China and the US. The Albanese government will need to navigate the geo-political ménage à trois with diplomatic skill, balancing its above commitments with the need to restore and stabilise relations with China, a security challenge but also a critical economic partner for Australia.

In that context, the recently released Defence Strategic Review 2023, which the ALP government called for last August, seeks to provide both the geo-political compass and the direction of Australia’s Defence priorities for the coming decade. Given the continuing challenge of China’s economic power, military capabilities and diplomatic influence in the region, Canberra needs to anticipate scenarios where it will have to take on more defence responsibilities, including protecting the homeland and contributing to allied military operations well beyond its near environs.

Expanding Australia’s network of security partnerships, as shown by the recent agreement with Indonesia, represents yet another important step toward building regional security resilience with likeminded countries in an era likely to be characterised by greater geo-political instability, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region.

NATIONAL SECURITY AFFAIRS

“

Further deterioration of ChinaUS and/or China-India relations would not only affect how Australia manages its relationship with China, but could also entrap Australia in any military conflict between China and the US. The Albanese government will need to navigate the geo-political ménage à trois with diplomatic skill, balancing its above commitments with the need to restore and stabilise relations with China, a security challenge but also a critical economic partner for Australia.

EDITION 5 • 2022-23

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ANALYSIS

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS & DIPLOMACY

QUO VADIS: LESSONS FOR AUSTRALIA FROM THE UKRAINE CONFLICT?

By Professor Sascha-Dominik Dov Bachmann, University of Canberra & Coconvenor National Security Hub.

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The Ukraine War began in February 2022, with the unprovoked attack on that country by Russia. What Vladimir Putin and the Russian leadership envisaged as a quick regime change operation, optimistically termed a ‘Special Military Operation’ to ‘demilitarise’ and ‘de-nazify’ Ukraine, has completely failed. Indeed, many months on, Ukraine is not only resisting, but fighting back and has liberated 54% of territories lost since 24 February 2022.

An Australian Army instructor from the 5th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, patrols with Ukrainian Trainees during the field phase of the first rotation of Operation Kudu in the United Kingdom. © Department of Defence.

Photographer: CPL Jonathan Goedhart.

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L-R: BRIG Jim Bliss, Military Representative for New Zealand, GEN Koji Yamazaki, Chief of Defence for Japan and GEN Angus Campbell, Chief of Defence for Australia, participate in NATO Chiefs of Defence Session, 19 May 2022. © NATO.

WAR RETURNS TO EUROPE The Russian invasion has not only led to the biggest military conflict in Europe since World War II. While this European tragedy seems to be far from Australia, its impact on our political, economic, defence and overall security is guaranteed. Australia joined the international coalition of over 40 states providing military, financial and humanitarian aid to Ukraine, but our contributions come at a financial cost.

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Moscow’s use of hybrid and grey-zone warfare is a blueprint for Beijing’s global power ambitions. Australia, as the target of Beijing’s economic extortion, lawfare and influence operations, needs to step up its vigilance in respect to such threats.

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If the West were to call for the establishment of a ‘Marshall Plan’ for Ukraine, Australia would be expected to carry its fair share as a wealthy country.

As a chain reaction, the geopolitical and geo-strategic impacts of the Ukraine War can also be felt here, from the possibility of global recession and its impacts on financial markets, global supply chains and Australian homeowners.

Australia has a national interest in working towards more Australian-owned defence capabilities and improved

supply chain resilience and ownership. The sabotage of the Nord Stream gas pipelines in October 2022 hit a key node of European gas infrastructure and should serve as a warning to Australia on the vulnerability of key offshore and subsea infrastructure. As an example of that vulnerability, Australia’s fuel security depends on just two oil refineries.

GREY ZONE TACTICS Russia’s use of coercive statecraft involving threats short of the use of war has been rather successful: the current weaponisation of energy against Germany and Western Europe has been made possible by Germany’s overdependence on Russian gas – a historical mistake by then-Chancellor Merkel and her colleagues.

Australia is particularly vulnerable to supply chain disruptions due to COVID-19 and overdependence on China as our biggest trading partner. Related to that vulnerability is foreign-owned critical infrastructure, particularly if such ownership is by China. Chinese foreign influence and interference have become a global problem and Australia is not exempt from such tactics, which are part of the Chinese Communist Party’s so-called ‘Three Warfares’ approach to influence and disinformation.

Moscow, and its strategic partner China, might well have an interest in weaponising diplomacy by actively

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working towards the failure of the Iran nuclear deal which, now seems to be all but dead. With its end, the dangers of both war and nuclear proliferation are once more alive and well in the Middle East.

HYBRID WARFARE THREATS Moscow has been using Hybrid Warfare (defined as multi-modal warfare, including unconventional warfare along various attack vectors within the Diplomatic, Information, Military, Economic, Financial, Intelligence and Law Enforcement (DIMEFIL) spectrum, including cyber warfare), aggressively and successfully since 2014, as part of its illegal annexation of the Crimean Peninsula. The overall objective is to disrupt and disable an opponent’s actions without engaging in open

HMAS Warramunga gets up close and personal with a resource platform on the North West Shelf as it conducts patrols throughout the region. © Department of Defence. Photographer: POEW Owen Negus.

hostilities. Staying below the threshold of kinetic action is aided by both deniability and a lack of attribution.

Since 2014, Russia has tried with varying success to attack Ukraine and the West using hybrid threat/warfare vectors, from cyber-attacks on critical infrastructure, political disinformation, election meddling, influence operations, and economic extortion to the weaponisation of refugees and migrants.

The failed attempt to force Poland and the EU into surrendering to the weaponisation of migration last winter was the likely moment President Putin realised that his mastery of such ‘warfare’ had been checked and that only a reversion to conventional warfare could achieve ‘success’ in Ukraine.

© WA DEFENCE REVIEW. Author: Josh Spencer.

Moscow’s use of hybrid and grey-zone warfare is a blueprint for Beijing’s global power ambitions.

Australia, as the target of Beijing’s economic extortion, lawfare and influence operations, must step up its vigilance in respect to such threats. Former defence minister Linda Reynolds was right in identifying both hybrid warfare and grey zone tactics as new forms of warfare and Australia needs to work towards greater awareness and resilience.

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Cyber-attacks have breached the privacy of millions of customers of Optus, Medibank and other companies. While such attacks are in the cyber domain and fall under the jurisdiction of both the Australian Cyber Security Centre and law enforcement in terms of detection, prevention and prosecution, we should not forget that such malicious operations were originally included in the definition of Hybrid Threats

by NATO.

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Australia is today experiencing a plethora of conventional and unconventional threats. Our defence posture must account for this new reality. the need to prepare for both scenarios as part of our defence capabilities.

SAFEGUARDING AUSTRALIA The Ukraine War has shown that the tank is not obsolete and, although Australia is an island continent, we should still recognise that lesson.

On the other hand, we have to look at some of the weapons which are cheaper and being used successfully by the Ukrainians, drones (including smaller models), easy-to-use anti-tank weapons, such as the Javelin and mines, as well as MANPADS for close air protection.

With an overall strength of 85,000 active fulltime and reserve personnel, only slightly more than Singapore’s 71,000, Australia effectively has a boutique defence force. What is needed is to work on a viable reserve force model to boost numbers in times of war and state emergencies, adopting a ‘whole-of-government-plus’ approach to not only utilise a maximum of government agencies at both federal and state levels, but also features a comprehensive approach to bringing in the civilian sector. Each threat has its own character, potentially requiring particular responses from both the public and private sectors.

The Defence Strategic Review 2023 prioritises investment in both force posture and structure to ensure Australia’s overall defence capability, so that we are fully able to counter any emergent threats.

The Strategic Update 2020 aimed at increasing the ADF’s capability mix. Given Ukraine, the need arises to accept altered realities prioritising a new era of warfare. AUKUS and Land 400 Phase 3 are crucial, and additional consideration of more autonomous systems and smaller disposable systems to close any capability gaps an urgent necessity.

The creation of a dedicated Australia-based and -led Hybrid Threat Centre (Indo-Pacific), given our geographic position in the region, strategic vulnerability and close relationship to the Pacific island countries, is another action we should take to raise our own resilience and awareness of such threats. Ukraine has also shown that an adversary might very well move from grey zone and hybrid warfare to conventional warfare, thus highlighting

The success of the Turkish TB2 drone in Libya, Syria, the Caucasus and, to a certain extent, in Ukraine, has been internationally recognised. The strengthening of our own combat capabilities and, more importantly, our defensive capabilities, against ‘cheap’ drones and even drone swarms, must be stepped up.

Australia is today experiencing a plethora of conventional and unconventional threats: strategic competition between China the US, the COVID-19 pandemic –which is still not over yet – and the Russian aggression in Ukraine, have made Australia’s security and prosperity even more precarious. Our defence posture must therefore account for this new reality.

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PRECISION STRIKE SYSTEMS POSE A RAPIDLY EVOLVING THREAT

By Dr James Bosbotinis,

Defence & International Affairs Analyst.

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The advent of the hypersonic age is leading the world into a new and potentially more dangerous era. The Russian invasion of Ukraine has seen the extensive use of air, ground and sealaunched cruise missiles, and the first combat use of hypersonic weapons, namely the Kinzhal Air-Launched Ballistic Missile (ALBM). Despite Moscow’s flawed deployment of its cruise missile capabilities attacking Ukrainian civilian targets and critical infrastructure, this serves to highlight the rapidly evolving threat posed by precision strike systems.

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Hypersonic missiles, through their combination of speed, endoatmospheric manoeuvrability, unpredictability of trajectory, and lower flight altitude compared to ballistic missiles, pose significant defensive challenges, while offering advantages in terms of prosecuting time-critical and or heavily defended targets.

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EVOLVING CAPABILITIES The introduction of the Kinzhal reflects a longstanding Russian interest in the development of a robust long-range precision strike capability, an interest also seen in China, Iran and North Korea. They have been, in part, influenced by the United States’ use of cruise missiles, alongside its wider precision strike capabilities, in the 1991 Gulf War, and its development of missile defences.

The latter in particular was a major factor in the accelerated development of hypersonic strike systems by Russia and China.

Hypersonic missiles, through their combination of speed, endoatmospheric manoeuvrability, and with it, unpredictability of trajectory, and lower flight altitude compared to ballistic missiles, pose significant defensive challenges, while offering advantages in terms of prosecuting time-critical and or heavily defended targets.

RUSSIAN TECHNOLOGY Over the past two decades or so, Russia has sought to develop a robust long-range precision strike capability, centred primarily on air and sea-launched cruise missiles, namely the extended-range Kh-101, replacing the Kh-55 and Kh555, and the Kalibr. The Kh-101 and Kalibr have both been extensively employed against Ukraine, alongside anti-ship cruise missiles such as the Oniks and Kh-22/32, which have a secondary land-attack capability. Russia is pursuing the development of an expansive hypersonic strike capability.

It has begun deploying the Avangard nuclear-armed hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV), equipping a small number of SS-19 Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs), Kinzhal, and the Tsirkon hypersonic cruise missile (HCM). The Tsirkon will equip the Russian Navy’s Yasen/Yasen-M and modernised Oscar II-class nuclear-powered submarines and UKSK vertical launch system (VLS)-equipped warships (that is, all Kalibr-capable ships), and is believed to be operationally deployed, with a ground-launched variant following. An air-launched longrange HCM, the Kh-95, is under development, while plans to develop a 25004000km range HGVequipped intermediate-range ballistic missile, Zmeyevik, have been reported.

While hypersonic weapons are seen as central to Russia’s long-term military development, and multiple projects are believed to be underway, the impact of the war in Ukraine and the resulting sanctions on the Russian economy are likely to act as a significant constraint on Moscow’s plans, not least as stockpiles of existing Kalibr, Kh-101, and other missiles, need replenishing.

CHINA’S SYSTEMS

The development of China’s mobile hypersonic strike capabilities has advanced significantly, and includes capabilities such as DF-ZF hypersonic glide vehicle seen here mounted on the DF-17 ballistic missile. Source: Wikipedia. Licensed under Creative Commons licence Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International Original Image: 颐园居

Beijing is investing in the development of a significant long-range strike capability, including air, ground- and sea-launched cruise missiles, namely, the CJ-10/20, DF-100 and YJ-18, and hypersonic missiles. The latter include the DF-17 HGV-armed mediumrange ballistic missile, the YJ21, and a potential HGV-armed

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Although hypersonic weapons, due to their characteristics, constitute a significant defensive challenge, it is not insurmountable. The interception of threats in flight is but one component of air and missile defence, alongside counter/antiproliferation efforts, deterrence, conventional counterforce, and passive defence. Central to an effective defence against hypersonic threats will be an ability to detect and track missiles, as close to launch as possible, so that they can be tracked and engaged.

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© WA DEFENCE REVIEW. Author: Orshi Joni.

ALBM (possibly the CH-AS-X-13). The Australian Strategic Policy Institute noted with regard to the CH-AS-X-13, that it “if deployed forward, could strike as far south as Pine Gap and the naval communications facilities at North West Cape from the South China Sea”.

In addition, two notable new missiles were revealed at the November 2022 ‘Airshow China’. One, an ALBM, with the designation 2PZD-21; the second, designated AKF93A, appears to be a low-observable, stand-off weapon similar to the US AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Stand-off Missile (JASSM). The US has reported that China is “investing heavily in HGVs”, including conducting in 2021 a test of an ICBM-launched HGV with a fractional orbital bombardment capability. China is also developing the technologies required for HCMs and hypersonic aerospace vehicles.

US & ALLIED CAPABILITIES The US is undertaking multiple programs relating to the development of offensive and defensive hypersonic weapon systems, for tactical, theatre and conventional strategic use, although

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interest in an intercontinental HGV capability has also been reported. In contrast to Russia and China, the US will deploy its first hypersonic missiles in 2023, the land-based Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon, which utilises the Common-Hypersonic Glide Body HGV; this will also equip the US Navy’s Conventional Prompt Strike missile, which will be deployed on the Zumwaltclass destroyers from 2025 and Virginiaclass submarines from 2028.

The US continues to develop its already considerable cruise missile capability centred on the Tomahawk and variants of the AGM-158. Japan is pursuing an enhanced long-range strike capability, including the development of HGVs, HCMs the potential acquisition of the Tomahawk cruise missile, and collaborating with the US on hypersonic defence; South Korea, France and the United Kingdom are also developing hypersonic systems.

The air-launched AGM-183A may also be deployed in 2023, with the US Air Force and Navy looking to introduce air-launched HCMs into service: the Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile and Hypersonic Air-Launched Anti-Surface Warfare missile by 2027 and 2028, respectively. The SM-6 Block 1B may offer a hypersonic strike capability. In April 2022, it was announced that the US, UK and Australia, under the auspices of AUKUS, will collaborate on hypersonic and counter-hypersonic capabilities, with Australia and the US also working together on the Southern Cross Integrated Flight Research Experiment (SCIFiRE) HCM.

MISSILE DEFENCE Russia’s war against Ukraine has vividly demonstrated the requirement for robust Integrated Air and Missile Defences (IAMD), with the emerging hypersonic missile threat compounding that. While some aspects of defending against hypersonic threats will be specific to that mission, much will also be applicable to wider air and missile defence.

Although hypersonic weapons, due to their characteristics, constitute a significant defensive challenge, it is not insurmountable. The interception of threats in flight is but one component of air and missile defence, alongside

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INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS & DIPLOMACY

adversary’s supporting ISTAR network will be critical to degrading its strike capabilities.

The hypersonic and cruise missile THE THREAT threat will continue to develop as CONTAINING The hypersonic and cruise missile technologies proliferate; North threat will continue to develop as proliferate; North Korea Korea has claimed to have tested technologies has claimed to have tested an HGV, an HGV, with Iran also making with Iran also making similar claims. potential that Russia may transfer similar claims. The potential that The sensitive technologies to Iran and Russia may transfer sensitive North Korea in return for assistance in its war against Ukraine cannot be technologies to Iran and North Korea in return for assistance in dismissed.

The compressed detection its war against Ukraine cannot be and engagement times created by hypersonic threats, together with the dismissed. increasing complexity of the multi-

counter/anti-proliferation efforts, deterrence, conventional counterforce, and passive defence. Central to an effective defence against hypersonic threats will be an ability to detect and track missiles, as close to launch as possible, so that they can be tracked and engaged.

domain battlespace, points to a role for artificial intelligence as a key enabler.

Ultimately, defending against hypersonic and cruise missile threats will require a multi-faceted approach encompassing both military and wider elements of statecraft to deter, and if necessary, rapidly defeat an adversary.

The US is seeking to achieve that through the development of the Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor satellite system and possesses a nascent interceptor capability with the SM-6, while seeking to develop a Glide Phase Interceptor. The targeting of an

CONSIDERATIONS FOR AUSTRALIA The proliferation of advanced missile systems, together with the deteriorating geo-political environment highlighted by Russia’s war against Ukraine, and growing US-China rivalry, emphasises the need for investment in robust defence capabilities.

Canberra has recognised this, with its 2020 Defence Strategic Update and accompanying 2020 Force Structure Plan, acknowledging that “Australia now faces an environment of increasing strategic competition”. Cruise and hypersonic missiles represent both a threat to Australia, especially given the extended-range capabilities of certain systems deployed by Russia and China, but also provide options for an enhanced Australian conventional long-range strike capability.

The 2020 Force Structure Plan, for example, included the provision of A$6.2bn to 9.3bn in funding through to 2040 for development, test and evaluation of long-range, including hypersonic, strike systems and missile defence, to inform future investment decisions. Moreover, in January 2022, the Hypersonic Research Precinct at Eagle Farm, Brisbane, was opened; this centre brings together stakeholders from academia, industry, and the Australian Defence Force, to research and develop hypersonic technologies.

Together with other efforts underway, and the opportunities presented by AUKUS, Australia is well-placed to acquire a hypersonic weapons capability in the medium-term, and respond to the growing threat posed by hypersonic and other long-range strike systems.

The 9-S-7760 Kinzhal hypersonic missile is integral to Russia’s arsenal of new generation precision strike weapons, as seen here being deployed by a Mikoyan MiG-31K interceptor. Source: Wikipedia. Attribution: www.kremlin.ru Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0.

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ANALYSIS

By Dr Greta Nabbs-Keller,

Associate Director of Defence, Space and National Security, The University of Queensland.

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS & DIPLOMACY

WILL THE DEFENCE STRATEGIC REVIEW 2023 USHER IN A NEW ERA OF AUSTRALIA-INDONESIA RELATIONS? There is currently a paradox at the heart of Australia-Indonesia relations.

Despite the fact that bilateral relations are on a high, buoyed by the Albanese government’s policy prioritisation of South-East Asia, Jakarta and Canberra are increasingly divergent in their responses to the deteriorating regional strategic environment. This paradox has only become more evident since the AUKUS announcement by Canberra in September 2021, when former Prime Minster Scott Morrison revealed details of a new tripartite agreement on military and technological cooperation with London and Washington.

PARADOXICAL INTERESTS? The AUKUS announcement came just days after a highly successful Seventh Indonesia-Australia Foreign and Defence Ministers’ 2+2 Meeting, which revealed, in an expansive joint statement, the seemingly common and intertwining interests of the two countries across the health, economic, maritime, environmental, cyber, energy, infrastructure, technological, defence and security domains. But for Indonesia, Australia’s decision to acquire nuclearpowered submarines, and without the courtesy of

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prior consultation, represented a reckless escalation of strategic tensions. It also raised serious doubts about the risks of nuclear proliferation and Australia’s compliance with the Nuclear NonProliferation Treaty.

Naturally, there is a plurality of views in both Australia and Indonesia on the AUKUS agreement, including the merits of acquiring nuclear-powered submarines. But, as strategic tensions have escalated, Canberra has retreated to the comfort of the ‘Anglosphere’, as some Indonesia commentators

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term it, revealing the enduring friction between the geographic and cultural determinants of Australian foreign and defence policy, and highlighting how that complicates our relationship. Meanwhile, Indonesia, under the two-term presidency of Joko Widodo, is as close to Beijing than at any time since the mid1960s, despite opinion polls revealing broader residual distrust and ongoing concerns about China on a range of labour, economic and maritime sovereignty issues.

GEO-POLITICAL REALITIES Indonesia has legitimate historical reasons to distrust both China and the US. Both countries interfered in Indonesia’s internal affairs in the 1950s and’60s, the latter with tragic consequences in the deaths of around half a million Indonesian citizens following an alleged coup attempt by the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI). As a Muslim-majority country which has long championed Palestinian statehood and condemned US military interventions in Iraq and Afghanistan, Indonesia views the US relationship very differently to Australia. Moreover, Indonesia’s free and active foreign policy, borne out of Cold War polarisation, eschews membership of military pacts and alliances.

Indonesia has invested significant diplomatic capital over the last six decades in building ASEAN as a strategic buffer against external power influence.

It has also sought to enmesh major powers, and particularly China, in a web of multilateral arrangements that would socialise the powerful communist state and help mediate interstate rivalries.

Following on from the reinvigorated Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) between the US, Australia, Japan and India, AUKUS, however, has proved a substantive blow. It has heralded the emergence of

another exclusive bloc outside of ASEAN, signifying a lack of faith in South-East Asian multilateralism and further diminishing ASEAN’s relevance.

As Australia, the US, Japan, India, South Korea, the UK and European states like Germany and France, intensify preparations for possible armed conflict in the Taiwan Strait, Senkaku Islands, South China Sea or Himalayan border region, Indonesia’s foreign policy executive places its faith in the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP). The AOIP is an enunciation of broad principles, which identifies areas for functional cooperation in the maritime, economic and development spheres. Although it reaffirms ASEAN centrality and norms of inclusivity, non-intervention and peaceful dialogue, it offers no meaningful prescription to ameliorate a dynamic of escalating strategic distrust and resulting military build-up.

In fact, under President Widodo (2014-present) Indonesia has appeared notably complacent given other countries’ experience of China’s economic, military and diplomatic coercion. Prioritisation of trade and investment in infrastructure and extractives with China has seemingly come at the expense of territorial sovereignty and moral fortitude. In 2022, for example, the Indonesian government remained mute as a Chinese survey vessel remained in Indonesia’s Exclusive Economic Zone over a seven-week period.

Then, in October, Indonesia opposed a UN Human Rights Council motion to debate alleged human rights violations against Uighurs and ethnic minorities in Xinjiang.

More broadly, ASEAN unity and efficacy has suffered without sustained diplomatic leadership from Indonesia on a range of compelling problems, including the egregious violence and repression

A 35 Squadron C-27J Spartan aircraft participating in Exercise Rajawali Ausindo 2022 at RAAF Townsville. Rajawali Ausindo is an air mobility exercise between the RAAF and the Indonesian Air Force (Tentara Nasional Indonesia – Angkatan Udara), and is part of a series of bilateral exercises conducted by both air forces © Department of Defence.

Photographer: LACW Annika Smit.

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INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS & DIPLOMACY

There is no doubt that Indonesia’s relationship with China is multi-dimensional and complex, based on a range of ethnic, historical, ideational and political variables.

Although there is closeness at the government-to-government level in political and economic terms, at the strategic level, however, Indonesia’s military ties with Beijing remain limited, shaped by negative perceptions of Chinese-made military equipment and enduring strategic distrust about China’s territorial ambitions.

carried out by the Myanmar military junta or the failure to advance a legally binding ASEAN-China Code of Conduct for the South China Sea. There is no doubt that Indonesia’s relationship with China is multidimensional and complex, based on a range of ethnic, historical, ideational and political variables. Although there is amity at the government-to-government level in political and economic terms, at the strategic level, however, Indonesia’s military ties with Beijing remain limited, shaped by negative perceptions of Chinese-made military equipment and enduring strategic distrust about China’s territorial ambitions.

That contrasts strongly with the enduring links of Indonesia’s Armed Forces (TNI) with US and Australian militaries, forged through joint exercises, training courses, defence dialogues, military sales and staff college exchanges dating back to the 1950s. In recent years, ADF exercises with Indonesia, numbering around 18 annually, have “deepened in complexity”, as noted by

the Department of Defence Annual Report 2021-22. Similarly, Indonesia-US defence cooperation has also intensified. For example, longstanding bilateral army exercise Garuda Shield, was prefaced last year with ‘Super’ in reflection of its expansion from a bilateral exercise into one of the Indo-Pacific’s largest multinational joint exercises, involving approximately 4000 personnel.

SYNERGIES WITH INDONESIA As Australia’s Defence Strategic Review 2023 supports the acquisition of more lethal, long-range strike and asymmetric capabilities, it also considered components of our regional defence engagement.

Indonesia is important to the strategic calculus of Australia and its allies and partners not only due to the country’s demographic weight and political influence in South-East Asia, but also because of access to the sea lines of communication which run through Indonesia’s expansive archipelago.

Securing diplomatic approval to enter Indonesia’s air and maritime space will

Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Navy, ADM Yudo Margono, salutes the Australian flag as he inspects the Federation Guard during his official welcome to Canberra, May 2022. © Department of Defence. Photographer: POIS Bradley Darvil.

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become critical in the event of a conflict. Moreover, Indonesia’s proximity to Darwin and the expanding US military footprint in the Northern Territory, further highlights the significance of Indonesia’s strategic geography to Australia and its allies.

Despite policy pronouncements suggesting the contrary, Australia and Indonesia are not aligned diplomatically in their responses to the regional threat environment. But, fortunately, their respective militaries are closer in thinking and more familiar in operational, personnel and training terms. The Review has rightly acknowledged South-East Asian states as critical partners in maintaining the regional strategic balance. Its subsequent implementation should ensure that Indonesia is considered a beneficiary of the increased exercising, intelligence and tech exchange facilitated by the Review and AUKUS, cognisant that export controls and non-alignment will impose natural limits on cooperation with Jakarta.

Clever consideration on how to integrate Indonesia’s defence and security apparatus, at least informally, into the emerging strategic complex represented in the AUKUS Plus and Quad mechanisms will enhance TNI readiness. It will also make Indonesia’s cooperation as a key partner much more likely in the event that a military conflict does flare in the Indo-Pacific.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, Hon Richard Marles MP, meeting with Indonesia’s Defence Minister, Prabowo Subianto Djojohadikusumo, for an official visit and bilateral talks in Siem Reap, Cambodia, ahead of the 9th ASEAN Defence Minister’s Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus), in November 2022. © Department of Defence.

Photographer: Kym Smith.

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Indonesia is important to the strategic calculus of Australia and its allies and partners because of access to the sea lines of communication which run through Indonesia’s expansive archipelago, as well as the diplomatic approval required to enter Indonesia’s airspace, both of which will become critical in the event of a conflict. Indonesia’s proximity to Darwin and the expanding US military footprint in the Northern Territory, further highlights the significance of Indonesia’s strategic geography to Australia and its allies.

Chief of the Australian Army, LTGEN Simon Stuart hosted GEN Dudung Abdurachman, Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Army, during an official visit to Canberra in October 2022. © Department of Defence. Photographer: SGT David Said.

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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

NATIONAL SECURITY AFFAIRS

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

By Stephen Bunce, Associate Editor & Defence Writer,

WA DEFENCE REVIEW

&

Serge DeSilvaRanasinghe, Founder & Managing Editor,

NATIONAL SECURITY AFFAIRS

HON RICHARD MARLES MP: “WE ARE WITNESSING THE BIGGEST CONVENTIONAL MILITARY BUILD-UP SINCE WORLD WAR II” The release of the Defence Strategic Review 2023 and the announcement of the pathway towards the acquisition of conventionally armed, nuclearpowered submarines by the Royal Australian Navy under the AUKUS framework herald a new era for both the Australian Defence Force and Australian defence industry. Speaking exclusively to WA DEFENCE REVIEW on 25 May, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, Hon Richard Marles MP, discusses these initiatives and some of the key opportunities that may flow and their overall implications for Australia.

WA DEFENCE REVIEW

Thank you for your time today, Minister. The Defence Strategic Review 2023 clearly reinforces the notion that Australia is facing an array of major threats to our national security not seen since at least the Cold War. Given the Review’s ambitious intent, is it likely that Defence expenditure will eventually rise to around 2.5-3% of GDP? Right now, the global rules-based order is under pressure in a way we have not experienced in decades.

Indeed, the world around us has become more uncertain and more precarious than at any time since the end of World War II. In Europe, we see Russia seeking to impose itself on its neighbour not by reference to the rule of law, but by reference to power and might. Australia is standing with Ukraine because we acknowledge that our interests lie in seeing the global rules-based order upheld. We are also seeing the rules-based order under pressure closer to home in the Indo-Pacific, as well. At the same time, we are witnessing the biggest conventional military build-up we’ve seen since World War II. The Review and the Commonwealth Government’s response to it is providing the ADF with clear direction for a new strategic posture. We have outlined six priority areas we will pursue in response to the Review, which, over the forward estimates, will be over $19bn. Much of that is already provided for in the budget, and we are making the difficult but necessary decisions to reprioritise $7.8bn worth of programs to enable us to focus on those priorities.

One recommendation of the Review is that we do need to see a growing Defence budget, and it is absolutely our expectation that Defence spending over the medium-term will grow above the existing trajectory of growth that we inherited from the former government. In the 2023-24 budget, the Albanese government made a provision for Defence spending to rise an additional 0.2% above its existing trajectory by the end of the decade.

In a rational world, the size of Defence spending is a function of strategic complexity and strategic threat, and we are rational people. We want to ensure that the ADF has the equipment, the capability, the people and the funding required to keep Australians safe, and our government is absolutely committed to that.

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In thinking about the strategic challenges we face, it is also right to remember that, in 2023, Australia is much more reliant upon our economic connection with the world. In the 1990s, our trade as a percentage of GDP was around 32%.

In 2020, it was up to 45%.

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The Prime Minister, Hon Anthony Albanese MP, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, Hon Richard Marles MP, Minister for Defence Industry, Hon Pat Conroy MP, Chief of the Defence Force, GEN Angus Campbell, and Secretary of the Department of Defence, Greg Moriarty, at Parliament House, Canberra, for the release of the public version of the Defence Strategic Review 2023. © Department of Defence. Photographer: Jay Cronan.

The Review also recognises the IndoPacific’s increasingly precarious strategic environment. How will Australia specifically contribute to and shape the geo-political architecture of the region to minimise conflict and retain stability, while simultaneously deterring our adversaries?

In thinking about the strategic challenges we face, it is also right to remember that, in 2023, Australia is much more reliant upon our economic connection with the world. In the 1990s, our trade as a percentage of GDP was around 32%. In 2020, it was up to 45%.

One example of this shift lies in the way Australia obtains its liquid fuels. In 1990, almost all of our domestic liquid fuel demands were met from crude oil emanating from Australian oil fields, which was refined onshore by the eight refineries that existed at that time.

Today, we import almost all of our refined liquid fuels, and mostly from one country: Singapore. The two refineries that still exist refine a lot of their product from crude oil which is also imported from overseas.

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The change in our strategic landscape is what is driving our priorities and the government’s response to the Review. We recognise the importance of working and engaging with our neighbours in the Pacific – an approach we have actively demonstrated since day one of coming to government.

Similarly, the Albanese government recognises the importance of Australia’s relationships with South-East Asia and engagement with ASEAN. We are working together on shared challenges like climate and energy, and promoting deeper economic engagement to capture untapped opportunities.

In response to the Review, the Albanese government has outlined immediate action to deepen our diplomatic and defence partnerships with key partners in the Indo-Pacific. That is one of our six priorities and is why, in the 2023-24 Defence budget, we committed additional funding for key defence partnerships in the Indo-Pacific, which builds on the Albanese government’s extensive engagement in the region. That funding formed part of the whole-ofgovernment package in the budget which saw a $1.4bn boost to our contribution to Pacific security priorities;

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

supporting a ‘Pacific family’ approach, as agreed by regional leaders at the Pacific Islands Forum.

Since coming to office, we have rebuilt our relationships with the countries of our region and beyond by being transparent, respectful and engaging meaningfully. And that is the approach we will continue to take.

The Review highlighted that Defence needs to markedly increase its number of personnel. Yet, it is apparent there are major challenges to the recruitment and retention of APS and ADF personnel in meeting the stated goals. Can a realistic solution be drafted to address this perennial problem?

Our government recognises the challenges Defence faces in recruiting, retaining and growing its workforce. Investing in our ADF personnel was one of the six priorities that we identified in the government’s response to the Review.

As I have said previously, Defence is not immune from the factors that we’re seeing in the broader

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economy. One of the issues that we have faced over the last few years, particularly during and in the aftermath of the pandemic, is that skills challenge across the entire country and Defence is experiencing that as well.

But that should also be seen in the light of providing opportunities. Defence does a lot of skilling and training, so ADF personnel are highly sought after in the wider economy, and there are lots of opportunities for people who have had a career in Defence to pursue their career in the wider economy.

This creates a challenge for Defence in terms of retaining its workforce. With all of those challenges, though, we still need to be growing the ADF. And we certainly need to be retaining it at the funded strength levels that are in place right now, which is why this measure is so important. Already, in the wake of the Review, the government has announced a $400mn package to support ADF personnel through a continuation bonus.

Similarly, we need to be attracting the workforce which will ultimately ensure that we have a sovereign defence industry. That is why, in the 2023-24 budget, we have committed nearly $150mn towards 4000

Australian Deputy Prime Minister, Hon Richard Marles MP speaks to the media during a visit to HMAS Stirling, on 16 March 2023, in which he outlined the government’s plan for the acquisition of nuclear-powered submarines by the Royal Australian Navy. © Department of Defence.

Photographer: LSIS Ernesto Sanchez.

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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

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NATIONAL SECURITY AFFAIRS

Australia’s nuclear-powered submarine program will be the most transformative industrial endeavour in our history – exceeding in scale, complexity and economic significance the creation of an Australian automotive manufacturing sector and the construction of the Snowy Hydro Scheme.

university degrees and extending the Defence Industry Pathways Program right here in WA. This will see a more than doubling of supported places in defence industry, and promote job opportunities and careers in WA.

The Australia-US alliance is underpinned by long-standing and deepening cooperation in nearly every aspect. In particular, the growing US military presence in Australia is notable, including the increased frequency of US submarines visiting Australia for extended deployments. How do you envisage Australia-US defence ties evolving in the years ahead, and do you see any limitations to the continued advancement of the relationship?

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, Hon Richard Marles MP, meeting His Excellency Shri Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of the Republic of India, at a dinner held at the Sydney Opera House, as part of Mr Modi’s May 2023 visit to Australia. © Department of Defence. Photographer: Kym Smith.

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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

The alliance between Australia and the US is fundamentally important for both countries. It is critical to ensuring that both are equipped to deter aggression, counter coercion and support security and prosperity. As I have made clear, the alliance also enhances and supports Australia’s sovereignty.

Force posture cooperation with the US has been a key feature of our alliance since Prime Minister Julia Gillard first announced it in 2011 with the establishment of the US Marine Rotational ForceDarwin, and has been expanded in the years since. At AUSMIN in Washington DC last year, Australia and the US committed to pursuing increased activity and cooperation between our two countries, across the air, land and maritime domains, as well as engaging trilaterally with Japan to increase those opportunities.

In the years ahead, we look forward to further deepening our cooperation – bilaterally and with regional partners and institutions – to ensure an Indo-Pacific region that is free, open, stable, peaceful, prosperous and respectful of sovereignty.

In terms of AUKUS, how would you characterise its implications for Australian interests? Further, do you see other countries in time also being considered for potential inclusion?

Australians should be under no illusion about the significance of the US and the UK working together to provide Australia with a conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarine capability under the AUKUS partnership. It is clear that there is a shared sense of mission between the three countries in seeing Australia acquire this important capability.

AUKUS cooperation on nuclear-powered submarines under Pillar I is focused on the three partner countries. When we talk about the potential for enhanced cooperation for Japan, we do so in respect of Pillar II activities. When I visited Japan at the end of last year, I spoke about AUKUS becoming part of a broader network Australia seeks to build with our technology partners, to which Japan is central.

But we are mindful that the priority in respect of Pillar II is to ensure it is delivering new capabilities for Australia, the US and the UK in the first instance.

Although we are not a NATO member country, Australia has long enjoyed strong ties with NATO. What is the status of the relationship today, and how do you foresee future cooperation developing in the near and longer term, including, but not limited to, the fractious Indo-Pacific region?

As a NATO Enhanced Opportunities Partner, Australia works with NATO to address shared security challenges and that relationship continues to evolve in line with the changing security environment. In June 2022, the Prime Minister attended the NATO leaders’ summit in Madrid, as part of the first formal AsiaPacific partners delegation (consisting of Australia,

NATIONAL SECURITY AFFAIRS

Japan, the Republic of Korea and New Zealand) – a demonstration of the importance NATO places on our region.

Relations with India are on the rise.

What is the significance of this emerging partnership and what does Australia hope for as meaningful immediate and longterm outcomes? Given India’s close and historic ties with both Russia and Iran, do you see any potential limitations to the long-term development and strengthening of this relationship?

When we talk about our relationship with India, I think we have a greater strategic alignment today than we have had at any point in our countries’ histories. This year, India became the largest country in the world by population. It is a growing, massive economy. There are great opportunities for us there and, in a security sense, we share both values and a sense of strategic alignment. We are both invested in the global rules-based order. We share an ocean. We want to see open trade occurring in all of that. So, we really do have a joint interest in cooperating.

Our relationship is underpinned by our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and our cooperation in key regional groupings such as the Quad – which met just recently on the sidelines of the G7 summit. India was among the first bilateral visits I made as Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister last year, and that was no accident.

When I visited India, I had the opportunity to fly aboard an Indian Navy P-8 aircraft from Goa to New Delhi. I did that to highlight two other flights which occurred last year in April and June, where an Indian P-8 flew from Goa to Darwin and then an Australian P-8 flew the same journey in reverse. Both exercises grew interoperability between our two defence forces, in which we were using each other’s facilities. That is just one practical example of how we are looking for every opportunity to have our defence forces work more closely together and the next step will be Australia hosting Exercise Malabar in August this year.

Now that Australia has established its intention to acquire a nuclear-powered submarine capability, can you reiterate and further illustrate the significance of that decision for Australia, including its immediate and long-term political and economic implications?

In March this year, under the banner of AUKUS, Australia, the US and the UK announced the optimal pathway by which Australia would acquire conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines.

The acquisition of this formidable capability is the single biggest leap in Australia’s defence capability since World War II. It will see Australia become one of only seven nations to operate nuclear-powered submarines.

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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

NATIONAL SECURITY AFFAIRS

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, Hon Richard Marles MP, and the Minister for Defence Industry, Hon Pat Conroy MP, are greeted by Marine Technicians Australia employees in Perth before announcing an $11.4mn extension to the Defence Industry Pathways Program in WA. © Department of Defence. Photographer: Jay Cronan.

It will strengthen our capacity to defend Australia and its national interests, and it will significantly enhance our contribution to the security and stability of the region. And we will develop the capacity to build these submarines right here in Australia.

Doing so will see huge opportunities for Australian companies to be a part of this supply chain and, in the process, have the chance to participate in corresponding supply chains in the US and the UK. It will also see US and UK companies invest more in Australian industry.

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Here in WA for example, the Commonwealth Government will invest up to $8bn over the next decade to expand HMAS Stirling, creating around 3000 direct jobs. Another 500 direct jobs will be created to sustain the Submarine Rotational Force-West (SRF-West) initiative over the period 2027-2032. And, in this year’s budget, we announced $11.4mn over three years to expand the Defence Industry Pathways Program within the WA shipbuilding sector, to continue the pipeline of skills and talent into industry and provide pathways that will see those skills continue into the future.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Australia’s nuclear-powered submarine program will be the most transformative industrial endeavour in our history – exceeding in scale, complexity and economic significance the creation of an Australian automotive manufacturing sector and the construction of the Snowy Hydro Scheme.

Developing a pipeline of highly skilled STEM graduates and a talented skilled workforce will build Australia’s sovereign industrial capabilities, play a crucial role in delivering on our AUKUS commitments, and strengthen national security.

Over the last decade, a global contest has arisen to secure critical minerals deemed vital to the Western alliance’s economic prosperity and military superiority. How is Australia addressing this issue from the vantage point of Defence and national security?

Australia’s critical minerals sector is one that contributes to our national security and economic prosperity. Critical minerals are key to current and future defence capabilities in a range of Defence applications, such as the lanthanum in night vision goggles and rare earths in F-35 stealth fighter jets. In December last year, the government opened public consultations on the future of Australia’s critical minerals industry, which will inform a new critical minerals strategy.

You are one of the few Australian Defence Ministers who has developed a sound appreciation of Indian Ocean geo-politics and security. How did you come to develop this expertise, and do you have a vision that you could share with us about the future of Australia’s engagement with the Indian Ocean region from a strategy, defence and national security perspective?

I’ve long been interested by the Pacific and have spent more time there probably than any other part of the world. From 2010 to 2013, I had the honour of serving as Australia’s parliamentary secretary for Pacific Island affairs, during which time I was fortunate enough to travel the region and experience the generous spirit and character of our Pacific Island family and nearest neighbours many times over.

This is not a new interest – I fell in love with the Pacific while on a school trip to Papua New Guinea in 1984 where, as a young sixteen-year-old far from Geelong, my eyes were opened to its unique culture and way of life. It’s still home to many of my friends today and, despite all my trips over the years, still amazes me.

In the decade since my time as parliamentary secretary, Australia’s engagement in the Pacific has been underdone. When the former government did show up in the Pacific, they did so without an

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“

Australia’s geography makes us stewards of the Indian Ocean region, an ocean accounting for about half the world’s container traffic and a crucial conduit for global trade. We have an appreciation for the fact that many of our interests lie west in South Asia and the Indian Ocean, which underpins both our security framework and economic opportunities in the region.

appreciation for Pacific culture, or the circumstances they faced in terms of climate change – which is an existential threat for our Pacific family, particularly low-lying coral atoll islands like Kiribati and Tuvalu.

Our government is different, and the Pacific is a priority focus for us, and we will be a more engaged and responsive partner to our Pacific neighbours.

That is true in all aspects, but especially so in responding to the complex traditional and nontraditional security issues we now mutually face.

My interest in the small island states of the Pacific naturally led to an interest in the small island states of the Indian Ocean, as well. I’ve visited Mauritius, Comoros, Seychelles and Réunion on a number of occasions. I’ve also attended a meeting of the Indian Ocean Commission. And it seems to me that we have an ability, in understanding the small island state story, to work very closely with these countries as well.

As it turns out, these countries have very large diasporas in Australia. For both Mauritius and Seychelles, for instance, their largest diaspora is in Australia. So, Australia is very familiar to them.

Australia’s geography makes us stewards of the Indian Ocean region, an ocean accounting for about half the world’s container traffic and a crucial conduit for global trade. We have an appreciation for the fact that many of our interests lie west in South Asia and the Indian Ocean, which underpins both our security framework and economic opportunities in the region.

That’s why you’ve seen our regional architecture expand over the years to include greater cooperation with India, in multilateral groupings such as the Quad, and in our bilateral relationship.

You see it also in our work with other countries, such as Sri Lanka.

EDITION 5 • 2022-23

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COMMENTARY

By Hon Pat Conroy MP,

Minister for Defence Industry, Australian Government.

NATIONAL SECURITY AFFAIRS

WESTERN AUSTRALIA’S ROLE IN THE VISION FOR A TRUE SUSTAINABLE SOVEREIGN AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRY CAPABILITY This will be a consequential year for Australia, as we shape our defence force for the strategic circumstances we face now and into the future. WA will have a critical role to play in the defence of our nation. With strategic geography, established infrastructure and a dedicated workforce, the West is vital to defence planning.

DEFENCE POLICY The Albanese government recently released a public version of the Defence Strategic Review 2023, setting out a blueprint for Australia’s strategic policy, Defence planning and resourcing over the coming decades.

The Review made it clear that too much time has been lost on key Defence acquisitions and capabilities, and our strategic circumstances demand these issues be addressed urgently.

Later this year, the Australian Government will release a Defence Industry Development Strategy which will set the framework for the future direction of our defence industry. The Strategy will guide the development and expansion of our sovereign industry to deliver the reforms and capabilities identified in the Review.

In developing the Strategy, Defence is engaging in nationwide consultation, listening to a range of businesses, universities and research organisations, industry associations and state and territory governments, including those in the West.

We also announced this year with our UK and US partners the optimal pathway for delivering a conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarine capability for Australia. Work on fully implementing

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Australia must innovate quickly and scale up our industrial capacity to translate good ideas into a capability edge for the ADF and our close allies and partners.

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our AUKUS partnership is accelerating. AUKUS will offer new opportunities for domestic and international industry to be involved in the future nuclear-powered submarine program and advanced capabilities in undersea warfare, electronic warfare, hypersonic and counter-hypersonic, advanced cyber, quantum technologies and artificial intelligence.

The government is working in a focused and purposeful way to strengthen the ADF’s ability to deter conflict and protect our national interests. We are accelerating investments in capabilities that enable us to hold potential adversaries’ forces at a greater distance and increase the cost of aggression against Australia and our interests.

Already this year, we have announced acquisitions which will substantially increase Australia’s guided weapons and explosive ordnance stocks. Navy ships will have a powerful maritime strike capability with the Naval Strike Missile. Army will have the advantage of the land-based, long-range, surface-to-surface High Mobility Artillery Rocket System. Smart, modern sea mines will secure sea lines of communication and protect Australia’s maritime approaches.

To achieve all our objectives we will need a strong, sovereign and internationally competitive Australian defence industrial base. My vision is for true Australian industry capability, not just content, to grow a sustainable sovereign capability with many more medium-sized businesses. We are determined to reform Defence and its capability acquisition processes to ensure our defence forces have the capabilities they need and sooner.

WHOLE-OF-NATION APPROACH One thing is clear: defence industry is central to our government’s vision for the future of Australia’s defence and will be our crucial partner in delivering and supporting Defence capability, now and into the future.

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COMMENTARY

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Minister for Defence Industry, Hon Pat Conroy MP speaks to the media during a visit to HMAS Stirling, WA. On 14 March 2023, the Australian Government announced the first initiative under the AUKUS trilateral security partnership that will identify the optimal pathway for the acquisition of at least eight nuclear-powered submarines for the Royal Australian Navy. © Department of Defence. Photographer: LSIS Ernesto Sanchez.

One of the biggest challenges we face is rapidly advancing technology, particularly in hypersonic weapons, quantum technology and artificial intelligence. The war in Ukraine has highlighted the importance of providing game-changing technology to the warfighter at a much faster pace, and it has strengthened the Australian Government’s commitment to growing a strong sovereign defence industrial base that also leverages our close allies’ and partners’ technology and industrial bases. In short, Australia must innovate quickly and scale up our industrial capacity to translate good ideas into a

capability edge for the ADF and our close allies and partners.

Since becoming the Minister for Defence Industry, I have had the opportunity to speak with defence industry researchers and specialists around the country. There is no doubt that Australia has an abundance of innovative potential. We need to do more to make the most of that potential. I would like a narrower set of priorities that will allow them to be fully resourced and continue on a faster path to commercialisation.

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COMMENTARY

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Minister for Defence Industry, Hon Pat Conroy MP (centre), receives a tour of the Luerssen facilities during a visit to the Henderson Maritime Complex in Perth, in November 2022. © Department of Defence. Photographer: LSIS Ernesto Sanchez.

We need to focus on: (a) harnessing innovation; (b) growing the capacity of our industrial base; (c) attracting investment capital in areas of priority; and (d) becoming more agile and embracing risk in procurement.

Under the Albanese government, Defence will work in partnership with industry to deliver a better-designed, whole-of-nation approach to defence industry. This will include frank discussions about breaking down some of the barriers to Defence procurement.

IMPLICATIONS FOR THE WEST COAST In WA’s world-leading resources sector, there is great potential for technology to be applied by Defence. Similarly, many technologies that start out with a Defence purpose could, potentially, be applied in the agricultural or resources sectors. To thrive, defence industry needs to be internationally competitive. New markets and opportunities to diversify through exports are needed if we are to

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unlock the full potential of Australian industry to grow and to support the ADF’s future needs.

Naval shipbuilding and sustainment will continue to be of vital strategic importance to Australia. WA and the Henderson Maritime Precinct play a critical role in building and sustaining Australia’s current and future naval capability. On my visits to Henderson in November, I was inspired to meet apprentices motivated to develop their skills because they want to contribute to Australia’s national security. The importance of strong partnerships between industry and Defence was obvious to see.

More than $300mn will be invested across WA this financial year on Defence capital facilities and infrastructure projects. Projects will be delivered in collaboration with local industry, with advice provided to local industry on upcoming project opportunities and how to engage.

Over the next decade, the Australian Government will invest up to $8bn to expand HMAS Stirling, creating around 3000 direct jobs. This investment

COMMENTARY

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WA’s defence industry plays a critical role in the defence of our nation. WA defence industry workers are fundamental in delivering and sustaining the capabilities the ADF needs to meet the strategic challenges we face.

will ensure HMAS Stirling has the scale of infrastructure required to accommodate nuclear-powered submarines – both visiting UK and US submarines and Australia’s own nuclear-powered submarines in the future.

The Albanese government has allocated $3bn over the forward estimates and $30bn over the life of the AUKUS program on industrial uplift, including training Australians. It is important that we work to ensure that Australians are encouraged to embark on careers in the defence industry, as well as the ADF, and that they have the necessary skills and training.

NATIONAL SECURITY AFFAIRS

The Minister for Defence Industry, Minister for International Development and the Pacific, Hon Pat Conroy MP takes a tour of the Rheinmetall Military Vehicle Centre of Excellence in Ipswich Minister Conroy announced a $180mn contract with Rheinmetall Defence Australia in May 2023 for the production of a Multi-Ammunition Soft-Kill System (MASS) to modernise the anti-ship missile defence capabilities on RAN ships. at © Department of Defence. Photographer: LACW Taylor Anderson.

To match the investment in Australian industry, we must also invest in the workforce and skills which will deliver this ambitious program. This government is investing nearly $150mn over the next four years to provide the skills and training for a home-grown workforce to build and maintain Australian nuclearpowered submarines – including $11.4mn over three years to extend the Defence Industry Pathways Program in WA. On my recent visit to Perth, I was able to meet local trainees who have entered the program, some of whom are still undertaking training and others who are now employed within the industry or are completing further training and apprenticeships within the sector.

The 12-month traineeship, fully funded by the Commonwealth Government, provides WA school leavers

with the range of skills needed to jump into one of the thousands of jobs in Australia’s growing defence industry.

With more than 70% of graduates successfully securing employment in the maritime defence industry so far, taking on roles such as apprenticeships and follow-on traineeships to logistics, scheduling, administration, project administration and technician roles, this program is ensuring a continued flow of talent into the naval shipbuilding and sustainment industry.

The Albanese government is committed to increasing Defence funding – as demonstrated by our first budget, which shows Defence funding will rise to over 2% of GDP over the forward estimates: the highest level in decades.

These investments are about ensuring Australia’s security into the future.

I look forward to working with industry in WA to build a stronger and more resilient Australia.

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ANALYSIS

By CDRE Richard Menhinick, AM CSC RAN (Rtd),

Contributing Naval & Maritime Affairs Analyst.

NATIONAL SECURITY AFFAIRS

THE DEFENCE STRATEGIC REVIEW 2023 STRATEGEM MAY EXACERBATE, AND NOT AMELIORATE AUSTRALIA’S EMPHASIS ON CONTINENTAL DEFENCE The Defence Strategic Review 2023 emphasises the importance of protecting our connection to the world and the centrality of the US to our security. It also states that for the first time in 80 years we must go back to fundamentals, to take a first-principles approach as to how we manage and seek to avoid the highest level of strategic risk. This all boded well for a punchy and reformist report.

DYNAMIC ENVIRONMENT The previous stratagem of Defence of Australia was always a narrow way to define Australia’s strategic reality.

Use of a term “National Defence” is an improvement. It reflects that today Australia is at the centre of a dynamic and uncertain strategic environment.

There is increasing competition, political warfare, instability, and erosion of international conventions.

For our region, partners and neighbours, the Review is nonthreatening. The focus on statecraft, expanding regional strategic partnerships and a whole of nation approach is sensible and should be welcomed. This is a strong point, required to counter the coercion we are subject to within a campaigning in competition reality.

VEXED CONCLUSIONS It is a welcome statement that the ADF’s operational success will depend on the ability of the integrated force to apply critical capabilities. In the maritime, the Review states these include, persistent and long-range undersea warfare, strike and enhanced all-domain maritime capabilities for sea denial operations, localised sea control and networked expeditionary air operations. The use of the term ‘localised

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sea control’ did however set off warning bells, as doctrinally speaking sea control is always localised, both in area and time.

For navy, while the rhetoric seemed strong, certainly initially, with words such as integrated and all-domain mirroring the need to preserve our maritime connection to the world, the danger lays in the detail. The navy’s problem is that it has limited effectiveness or persistence at distance.

Using a sporting parlance, we are essentially always playing defence and rarely venture down the other end of the field to score. The doubling down on the 1980s era idea of unmitigated reliance on northern bases for air support, air control, denial and deterrence is worrying. It was bad strategy then for an island continent, and it remains bad strategy now.

There is a lot of blue in the map of the Indo-Pacific on page 27. The region is emphasised as the primary area of military interest, but other than the nuclear submarine project, the force structure that is recommended has a defensive feel.

Despite its welcomed emphasis on whole-of-nation strategies and accelerated military preparedness, the Review retains and even reinforces a continental strategy with maritime aspects. While it is true that the

acquisition of conventionally-armed nuclear-powered submarines will transform navy’s capability, they cannot do this in isolation to air control over and from the sea, nor can they do this without a sizeable surface force, with elements based forward in the region.

CRUX OF THE MATTER The strategy of denial, which permeates this document is worrying.

The crux of the issue for navy is that it is too small, both in workforce and power projection capability to achieve sea control at distance.

The Review does focus on undersea warfare capabilities, but then, reading between the lines, the one genuine surface-based theatre undersea project, the Hunter-class frigate, is threatened with a significant cut. Within naval circles it is understood that steel is cheap and air is free. The cost of a ship is not based proportionally on its size. Being big is generally more efficient than small when it comes to naval platforms.

The reality is that navy not only needs an expanded number of capable large surface combatants, including all nine Hunter-class frigates to prosecute undersea warfare persistently at distance in concert with air force, submarines and undersea sensors, but it also requires more air warfare destroyers, as well as

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For navy, while the rhetoric seemed strong, certainly initially, with words such as integrated and all-domain mirroring the need to preserve our maritime connection to the world, the danger lays in the detail. The navy’s problem is that it has limited effectiveness or persistence at distance. The doubling down on the 1980s era idea of unmitigated reliance on northern bases for air support, air control, denial and deterrence is worrying. It was bad strategy then for an island continent, and it remains bad strategy now. smaller, but well-armed, surface vessels.

Mine warfare and hydrography must also be considered. Cutting one to achieve the other is not the answer.

The navy’s sea going workforce must be increased substantially, probably doubled, and the real issue isn’t just financing this, it is attracting and retaining the people to do it. The bureaucracy is expanding and too many competent people are matching APS and contractors’ roles in shore policy and paperwork focused positions, not actually in active sea going or operational roles.

A review of the Reserves is needed and supported, but even with this the navy workforce is probably deficient by 10,000 personnel. Ameliorating this is a 15-year task, at least, unless there is a policy revolution tomorrow.

The need for a larger enhanced lethality surface fleet isn’t helped by the reintroduction of the term ‘Tier 1’ and ‘Tier 2’ for surface combatants. Those with a memory will know that that term in the 1990s led to a severely under-armed Anzacclass frigate that it has taken navy some 20 years to rectify. An implied reduction in larger vessels and a bigger number of smaller surface vessels, even armed with missiles, is an anathema to a strategy of sea control and integrated force projection, required to assure the protection of our connection across three of the largest oceans in the world.

ANALYSIS

NATIONAL SECURITY AFFAIRS

NUSHIP Sydney off the NSW coast during her commissioning ceremony. During the ship’s return to its homeport at Sydney’s Fleet Base East, HMAS Adelaide joined up with NUSHIP Sydney as the Royal Australian Navy’s newest warship undertook her commissioning ceremony at sea, off the coast of NSW. © Department of Defence. Photographer: LSIS Shane Cameron.

just the surface fleet and not the air forces’ combat arm which is subject to an upcoming independent analysis.

The Review notes that the air force must be optimised for all aspects of air warfare, but it focuses on vulnerable, isolated and hard to supply network of northern air bases. Why? If the ADF is supposed to be integrated and more capable across five domains in the IndoPacific, surely an independent analysis of the air force’s ability to achieve this from a network of static fixed bases in northern Australia should be undertaken as well.

Australia’s strategic geography, as defined in the Review, includes the maritime to our northeast and across the Indian Ocean. This, I presume, includes the requirement to gain and maintain air control in the vicinity of Papua New Guinea or over the Bismarck Sea, thousands or many thousands of kilometres from these bases. Yet the Review does not examine options for the air force, such as a squadron of F-35B short take off and vertical landing fighter aircraft operating from surface ships or island air strips. It merely doubles down on the 1980s idea of northern air force bases.

CONCEPTUAL INCONSISTENCIES

No diplomatic agreements are needed to operate from the sea. No costly airfields necessitating hardening, fuel and weapon storage and security are required. The impact of weather or local thunderstorm issues are minimised, while the concerns of communications, or defects at distance are all reduced.

The focus on AUKUS and the need to expedite the nuclear submarine capability is welcome, but it is strange that it is

Just about every conflict at sea over the last 100 years has proven the need for seabased fixed-wing air to supplement that

from the land. Yet the Review maintains, without independent analysis, that we can continue to rely totally on fixed-wing land-based air. We will be the only nation in the world with a nuclear submarine capability and no sea-based fixed wing air combat capability. Odd indeed, especially as we are an island.

FINAL ANALYSIS The Review does many good things and highlights many issues that are critical. It states that more funding will be required. An integrated force is certainly required. The review supports an east coast submarine base, so vital for attracting and retaining submariners.

It also addresses continuous naval shipbuilding as a sovereign industrial capability and mentions the significant workforce challenges on navy, the parlous state of guided weapons and explosive ordnance, fuel and the need for improvements at Henderson shipyard.

However, as a report that purports to protect Australia’s economic connection to the world and defend Australia and our immediate region, the air and surface warfare maritime aspects of it are disappointing. If they result in a plethora of smaller vessels and fewer larger vessels, a reintroduction of the concept of a Tier 1 and Tier 2 surface fleet, and a focus on fixed air bases in the north of Australia for air power, this will be a step backwards. Seen in this light, the Review may well exacerbate, and not ameliorate Australia’s near 40-year strategic emphasis on continental defence in the absence of Indo-Pacific maritime power projection.

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ANALYSIS

By Professor Peter Leahy AC, LTGEN (Rtd), Director, National Security Institute, University of Canberra.

“

NATIONAL SECURITY AFFAIRS

DEFENCE STRATEGIC REVIEW 2023 AUGURS ‘GUNS VERSUS BUTTER’ ERA FOR THE AUSTRALIAN ARMY Although the Defence Strategic Review 2023 is a groundbreaking document framing a new way of thinking about “National Defence”, it is not without problems, some of which will be explained by the fact that the detailed findings will be hidden from public access in the classified version.

The Review recognises the changes in our strategic circumstances and confirms the obvious. Australia has chosen security with the United States over prosperity with China. Of course, we should try to maintain both, but the move towards the US as a strategic partner under AUKUS and the Quad is irreversible.

NATIONAL DEFENCE The Review purposefully expands on the 2020 Defence Strategic Update’s strategic objectives of Shape, Deter and Respond. It recognises that new approaches to Defence planning and force design are required.

On the positive side, the Review heralds the end of cumbersome Defence White Papers and introduces the requirement for biennial reviews based on this one. It is a refreshingly short, direct and well-written paper that packs a lot into its 116 pages.

It openly states how China’s actions continue to adversely impact Australia’s national security.

The Review recognises the changes in our strategic circumstances and confirms the obvious. Australia has chosen security with the United States over prosperity with China. Of course, we should try to maintain both, but the move towards the US as a strategic partner under AUKUS and the Quad is irreversible.

An overwhelmingly positive aspect of the document is its focus on “National Defence” and its demand for a much more whole-of-government and whole-of-nation approach to security. For too long Defence has been acting as a lone actor without adequate support from the rest of government. The call for the harmonisation of domestic and external security portfolios is welcome.

As is the focus on statecraft and the utilisation of all elements of Australia’s national power, towards a

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consistent strategic narrative and a properly resourced diplomatic effort. The Review also provides welcome coverage and direction on important issues that have been previously neglected, such as climate change, the role of the military in domestic disaster relief and clean energy.

RISK FACTORS Disappointingly it doesn’t provide a full coverage of recommendations as it proposes a range of subsequent studies and reviews. This is its first problem. More reviews are called for. The one that stands out introduces a delay to shipbuilding decisions. Surely, we know enough to determine our own naval strategies and solutions and start now.

Another key problem is that it demands a move from a ‘balanced force’ to a ‘focused force’. It also bravely assumes that the Review’s stated priorities and derived capabilities will provide a latent capability to deal with lower-level contingencies and crises. This is similar language to that used in White Papers in the 1980s and 90s, which argued for niche forces.

This approach meant that army was ill-prepared and struggled to provide adequate responses to contingencies such as East Timor, Afghanistan and Iraq. Can the authors guarantee that these types of contingencies won’t arise again and that if they do occur government will choose to abstain from them?

There is no argument that our geography and present circumstances require a strong maritime capability, but the effort to rebalance the force has potentially created an imbalanced force. This creates political risk for government in not being able to provide a military response to prosecute the full range of national interests. For deployed troops it introduces battlefield risks of the wrong equipment and training for unanticipated but directed tasks.

Strategy is as much about budgets as it is about

ANALYSIS

NATIONAL SECURITY AFFAIRS

Troops from the 2nd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, and the Royal Brunei Armed Forces come to shore during a joint military exercise, as a part of Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2022 (IPE22). The IPE22 is Australia’s flagship regional engagement activity, supporting the Australian Government’s commitment to strengthen military partnerships across South-East Asia and the north-east Indian Ocean. © Department of Defence. Photographer: LSIS Jarryd Capper.

the reality of the geo-strategic situation. The Review moves the dial towards strategic reality but hasn’t yet introduced the necessary budget.

The Prime Minister has stated that Labor will spend whatever is necessary on Defence in an increasingly unstable world. However, the chapter on Finances and Resources doesn’t even cover two pages, which is worryingly reminiscent of the 2009 Defence White Paper. We all know what happened then.

The money was redirected out of Defence almost immediately on publication.

FUNDING & INDUSTRY PARTICIPATION Be in no doubt that we are entering a ‘guns versus butter’ era in Australia. To meet Australia’s Defence needs in the future more money will need to be allocate.

Defence can only fund so much internally, so something on the butter side of the ledger will have to give.

In important comments on industry, the Review notes that Australian industry content and domestic production must be balanced against timely acquisition. Despite promises to Australian industry that it will benefit from the Review, this is not readily apparent in the short term. There may be room for Australian industry later, but not just yet.

In perhaps one of the better recommendations is the call to adopt a system to oversee the implementation of the Review. However, Defence has a history of selectively listening to reviews and pulling-up short on their full implementation. That said, this is a big impactful report that sets a new path for Australia’s national defence. It is generally the right path, but in order for it to be truly impactful, it needs to be fully implemented and properly funded.

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ANALYSIS

By AM John Harvey AM PhD (Rtd),

Former Chief of Capability Development Group, Department of Defence.

NATIONAL SECURITY AFFAIRS

AIR FORCE LARGELY FIT FOR PURPOSE IN DEFENCE STRATEGIC REVIEW 2023 CALCULUS In recognising the contested and deteriorating regional security environment, the Defence Strategic Review 2023 identifies the need for the ADF to move from a so-called ‘balanced force’ to a ‘focussed force’, the focus being on long-range strike, both land and maritime.

“

Overall, the Review sees air force as largely ‘fit for purpose’, albeit with the need for some capability and preparedness enhancements. While major enhancements in air force capability have been ruled out at present, a number of relatively lowrisk enhancement options exist that could be incorporated reasonably quickly if circumstances change or other capabilities do not progress as planned.

GENERAL RAMIFICATIONS For the navy, that means a quantum shift in capability (and associated cost) to conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarines and a surface fleet focused on land and maritime strike and reshaped as a two-tier system of ships. Ideally the impending further review to determine the surface force composition and strength will take a broad view of Defence capability so as to fully consider the most cost-effective and operationally flexible mix of ship, air and, potentially, land platforms to deliver the capability needed as a Joint Force.

For the army, systems designed for close combat are to be significantly reduced and replaced by land and maritime strike missiles with range

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expected to be up to 500 km and enhanced amphibious capabilities.

Effective employment of these systems will be contingent on the coincidental development of an integrated targeting capability.

IMPACT ON AIR FORCE

For the air force there are no major project cancelations and no major project additions – the Review presumably accepting that air force is already largely ‘fit for purpose’. This is the result of many years effort and major investments to become a Fifth Generation air force. The need for some enhancements is identified, however, including the upgrading the F-35 aircraft to Block 4 configuration, which could perhaps lead to additional aircraft if that is the most cost-effective way to achieve the upgraded capability.

Ongoing collaborative development of the stealthy, multirole Ghost Bat unmanned aerial vehicle will also significantly enhance air force capability.

Speculation that air force might acquire the B-21 strategic bomber proved wrong, though the fact that it was specifically referred to in the Review shows that it was seriously considered. Monitoring ongoing B-21 developments by Defence would seem to be prudent, given the very

long-range, responsive, flexible strike options it offers.

While today’s air force may be seen as largely ‘fit for purpose’ there is recognition of the need to ‘fill out’ air force capability through enhanced preparedness in some specific areas. The first of these preparedness enhancements is hardening, dispersal and better supporting the northern air bases, including fuel supplies, access, and accommodation.

The northern air bases are now to be viewed as an essential element of a holistic capability system and managed as such by the Chief of Air Force (CAF).

The next element in terms of preparedness is workforce. The Review specifically identifies the need for additional crews for the P-8 as essential to maximise the effective capacity of these essential Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities.

Critically, the need for much expanded weapon stocks and associated weapon storage is also identified.

The Review announces some interesting decisions regarding lead for capability management. As well as gaining responsibility for northern air bases, CAF retains capability management responsibility for Integrated Air and Missile Defence (IAMD), the Review noting that CAF “has the appropriate underpinning organisational structure for its delivery and ongoing sustainment.”

Given the position on IAMD, it is somewhat surprising that the Review has transferred the space domain from

ANALYSIS

NATIONAL SECURITY AFFAIRS

Two Royal Australian Air Force F-35A Lightning II multirole fighter aircraft enroute to their new home at No. 75 Squadron, RAAF Base Tindal, Northern Territory. With two, of the unit’s eventual 16, F-35As arriving at their new Top End home on 2 December 2021, and an additional two arriving on 8 December 2021. The F-35As travelled to their new home with air-to-air refuelling support provided by a No. 33 Squadron KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport aircraft. The F-35A has replaced the F/A-18A/B Classic Hornets, that were operated by No. 75 Squadron for 33 years. © Department of Defence. Photographer: CPL Jesse Kane.

CAF to Chief Joint Capability (CJC). While space is clearly a joint activity, air force has to date taken an effective lead in the development of Space Command and there would appear to be considerable synergies with the IAMD capability.

Transfer to CJC may be very challenging, particularly in terms of the availability of suitably qualified personnel.

The Review has a strong focus on strike capability and identifies the need for an

enhanced integrated targeting capability – targeting being absolutely critical to effective strike operations. It is surprising, therefore, that no overall capability manager for strike is identified. For air force, strike is one of its two core roles, the other being control of the air. It would seem sensible for CAF to be identified as the ADF capability manage for strike, given air force’s experience in managing all aspects of targeting, particularly for long-

range strike and extensive ISR capability.

Overall, the Review sees air force as largely ‘fit for purpose’, albeit with the need for some capability and preparedness enhancements. While major enhancements in air force capability have been ruled out at present, a number of relatively low-risk enhancement options exist that could be incorporated reasonably quickly if circumstances change or other capabilities do not progress as planned.

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Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation GOVERNMENT OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Western Australia A robust defence industry A unique geostrategic location with a broad defence industrial base

An industry that is respected, innovative and competitive

A leader in underwater capabilities, advanced robotics, remote operations and cyber security

We’re working to build a stronger, smarter and more integrated defence sector

Learn more about Western Australia’s world-class defence capabilities. wa.gov.au/defencewest linkedin.com/showcase/defence-west

Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation GOVERNMENT OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Western Australia Committed to recognising and supporting our veterans and their families Developing clear pathways to employment for veterans in Western Australia Providing a central suite of services for veterans and family members Commemorating the service and sacrifice of Australian service personnel

Learn more about how Defence West supports our veterans www.wa.gov.au/defencewest

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

By Thomas Hage, Defence Writer,

WA DEFENCE REVIEW

&

Serge DeSilvaRanasinghe, Founder & Managing Editor,

WA DEFENCE REVIEW

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HON PAUL PAPALIA CSC MLA: “THE THE DEFENCE STRATEGIC REVIEW 2023 IS A NATIONAL STRATEGY, AND WESTERN AUSTRALIA WILL ACT TO SUPPORT IT” In the wake of the AUKUS announcement and the release of Defence Strategic Review 2023, WA has entered a new and exciting era in the development of its growing defence sector. Speaking exclusively to WA DEFENCE REVIEW on 5 May, Hon Paul Papalia CSC MLA, WA’s Minister for Defence Industry, shared his views on the implications of the announcements, and the way forward for the state.

Minister, thank you once again for the opportunity to talk. Let’s focus on AUKUS to begin with, and the Pillar I and Pillar II initiatives and WA’s potential to service those capabilities. How would you envisage the prioritisation taking place?

We have to build up our submarine sustainment capability from conventional to nuclear as a matter of urgency. It will be done in stages, but we have got to get going on that immediately, because nuclear submarines will be operating from WA in the very near future.

“

Another thing about AUKUS that I think needs to be acknowledged is we have a lot of space in this state, and there are very few Defence exercise areas in WA in comparison to others. Our AUKUS partners could be coming here to exercise and become familiar with the region, but Defence needs to develop exercise areas to enable that.

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Beyond that are the AUKUS Pillar II activities. WA should be the location for the nation’s underwater warfare capability development as this is the only state which has a true offshore oil and gas sector, whereas the east coast Bass Strait fields are all in very close proximity to the coastline. WA has worldleading capabilities in that field, and they can be applied to defence as a matter of urgency. Our researchers are

second to none and our industry players are world leading. We should be tapping into them as a matter of priority.

In addition, our cyber capabilities are very good and again, in terms of autonomy, we are world leaders. There are more than a dozen operations centres right here in Perth, controlling and operating remote vehicles up in the Kimberley region and even thousands of kilometres away in Africa.

Defence doesn’t do that, but if they want to learn about autonomy and how to acquire and apply the capabilities that are available to the commercial world, they should come to WA and see them in action as a way of leapfrogging the otherwise often slow research and development processes.

Another thing about AUKUS that I think needs to be acknowledged is we have a lot of space in this state, and there are very few Defence exercise areas in WA in comparison to other jurisdictions. Our AUKUS partners could be coming here to exercise and become familiar with the region, but Defence needs to develop exercise areas to enable that.

In terms of the infrastructure that will be required to support AUKUS, what does WA currently have that is appropriate and what do you see as needing to be done from both the state and Commonwealth Government perspectives?

In the Pillar I context, we have a conventional submarine sustainment capability in WA that took

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

© WA DEFENCE REVIEW. Photographer: David Nicolson.

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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

“

A lot of the skill sets that are required to sustain naval assets are very similar to the skill sets that are required in the resources sector.

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35 years to build. We have ASC, which is essentially the prime coordinator of activity, but there are 150 other SMEs that deliver submarine sustainment.

It took decades to build that capability. As I indicated before, what we need to do now is to build that up from the conventional level of sustainment to the nuclear, and the state government provided the planned pathway for achieving that to the Commonwealth

© WA DEFENCE REVIEW. Photographer: David Nicolson.

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Government in August last year. It provides a good basis for planning what needs to be done and building our submarine sustainment capability.

To that end, we’ve also formed a working group with the Commonwealth Government to coordinate federal and state action to build that capability in WA. ADM Matt Barkley is the lead from the federal side and, on our side, Linda Dawson, the Deputy Director-General of the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation is our lead, assisted by RADM Phil Spedding, who is our Defence Advocate. They will be working to identify and coordinate activity to expand our submarine sustainment capabilities from conventional to nuclear.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

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© WA DEFENCE REVIEW. Photographer: David Nicolson.

In terms of the Pillar II aspects of AUKUS, such as space and the other technologies you referred to, where does WA stand from your vantage point?

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WA has had an active space industry for 60 years.

It’s mostly in recognition of the attractiveness of WA for ground stations, but it also means that we have a lot of players already present in that sector – many of which are international, too – and a lot of expertise in the commercial world with respect to space. So, we have a contribution to make there, as well.

We have trained thousands of tradespeople and specialist skilled workers in the past for the resources sector in different waves, and we’ve met that demand. We can do it again, but we just need specialist advice in nuclear submarines, because that’s something that we don’t yet have.

How do you respond to the Defence Strategic Review 2023? Does it sufficiently represent WA interests?

Overall, it is a good and valuable document.

It refocuses the nation on Defence and says a lot of the right things about the importance of the Indian Ocean region and the North-West of the nation.

In the end, it’s the federal government’s document and it’s a national strategy, and WA will act to support it.

We gave a submission to the Commonwealth Government in advance of the Review, as well. It largely identified what is happening with the nuclear submarines. For instance, the idea that you might host allied submarines in advance of buying or building your own and embarking Australians on those and building capacity for operating and sustaining nuclear submarines from the very near term, was in accordance with our submission.

One of our key points was that WA, the NorthWest, and in particular the Pilbara region, generates a huge component of our national export revenue and yet is not the subject of much ADF activity or presence. We have one under-strength Army Reserve unit that operates there as the Pilbara Regiment. The navy and air force transit through there, but barely have any presence, and the Regular Army really hasn’t had much presence there for many years. So, the ADF is not familiar with, or operating in, that part of Australia that generates a huge amount of our national wealth.

It is not about suggesting that we’re necessarily going to be invaded, but it is about the potential for the wider environment to disrupt our trade and threaten our interests. Most of that wealth leaves our shores from the Pilbara and goes through chokepoints in the Indonesian archipelago, and, as I said, there’s not much in the way of Defence presence in that part of the country now. The Review talked about hardening bases in the north and a range of other bases, but should be very much more focused on putting more effort and Defence presence into the Pilbara region.

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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

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WA has a whole range of skills and capabilities derived from meeting the demands of the mining and offshore oil and gas sectors which can be applied to defence very effectively.

WEST COAST DEFENCE The Pilbara is important.

That’s not necessarily just because of the iron ore, gas and other critical minerals and battery metals departing Australia from there. It is also the closest point to so many other areas of interest; it’s the closest place in Australia to that part of the Indo-Pacific, which should be of vital interest to all of us.

Defence needs to contemplate stockpiling or redundancy in the manufacturing of vital assets, like ammunition and fuel. We have seen in WA that we are very sensitive to the fact that a storm in South Australia can cut us off for weeks on end. Australia is vulnerable, and you have to consider things like how many munitions factories do we have? How many small arms factories do we have? We only have individual sites for those activities now, and they’re all on the other side of the country, yet half the navy is here, and the nuclear submarine fleet is going to be here. We should have a lot more army and air force activity over here, too.

The Review identified vulnerabilities at Henderson and acknowledged the need for industry consolidation and to work with the WA government to address issues such as the shortfall in work there. How do you respond to those concerns?

I would begin by saying, that particular observation has been misinterpreted by some people. The previous federal government gave no certainty to the WA shipbuilding sector, unlike South Australia, to which it gave a commitment to continuous shipbuilding.

That enabled SA to be assured that people could be employed, trained and retained because there would be a sustained demand over time - that was never done for WA. That was a critical failure, and so my observation about that part of the Review is that it recognises something has got to be fixed.

Another point is that the demand and market for naval shipbuilding in Australia is very small and probably not large enough to sustain multiple players.

That is one thing that the previous federal government did do, in saying that SA would build the large vessels, while we in WA would build the smaller vessels. They didn’t really create a cohesive plan to deliver that, though, and so now we’ve got multiple players and not enough work.

Commonwealth Defence Industry Minister, Pat Conroy, has described it as a case of having one shipbuilder with lots of workers and an approaching cliff in terms of work, while the other shipbuilder has lots of work and not enough workers. So, my view is that what that part of the Review refers to is the need to rationalise what we do in the national interest, but the big decisions there need to be made by the federal government.

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In implementing AUKUS and the Review’s recommendations and initiatives, both alluded to the current national workforce shortage, while the WA Government identified some of the challenges posed by that shortage in its Defence Industry Workforce Development Plan 2022-27, released in November last year. How does the plan aim to address the issue of workforce shortages and how does it interact with the requirements laid out in AUKUS and the Review?

The Defence Industry Workforce Development Plan 2022-27 is a good and effective plan, and it involves tens of millions of dollars in state taxpayer money being committed to training people for the defence industry in WA. But it needs to be recalibrated, because that was all originally commenced prior to the AUKUS decision, meaning that we now have to acquire that nuclear submarine sustainment capability, which is a different level of effort with a specific focus.

One of the first things that I’ll be asking our joint working group to deliver is guidance from the federal government as to who we can look to for advice on what we need to do in terms of building our industry capability from conventional to nuclear: who we can go to, who can we talk to in terms of commercial operators that might already be engaged in nuclear submarine sustainment activity so that we can get our workforce and training needs modelled.

The WA Department of Training and Workforce Development is very good at modelling demand for skilled labour and then creating plans to deliver it.

But, in this case, we need to seek specialist advice from overseas because there is as yet no nuclear submarine sustainment knowledge in Australia.

As I said, having been advised of a suitable commercial nuclear submarine sustainment operator from one of our allies, we would then encourage our relevant agencies to go and seek advice from them.

We have trained thousands of tradespeople and specialist skilled workers in the past for the resources sector in different waves, and we’ve met that demand.

We can do it again, but we just need specialist advice in nuclear submarines, because that’s something that we don’t yet have. It is perhaps more of a federal government problem, particularly as it may relate to

“

WA should be the location for the nation’s underwater warfare capability development as this is the only state which has a true offshore oil and gas sector.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

© WA DEFENCE REVIEW. Photographer: David Nicolson.

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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

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© WA DEFENCE REVIEW. Photographer: David Nicolson.

immigration, because there was an agreement at the national level between the AUKUS partners that we do not poach each other’s nuclear submarine specialists, in particular the sustainment workforce. Having said that, a lot of the skill sets that are required to sustain naval assets are similar to the skill sets that are required in the resources sector.

We presented our plan for moving our submarine sustainment capability from conventional to nuclear to the federal government in August last year. Under that plan, the initial phase was for minor maintenance; little more than crew-level maintenance, really. That would be achieved within the first 18 months. Then, between 18 months to three years, it would build to a more intrusive assisted maintenance level. Beyond

“

WA, and in particular the Pilbara region, generates a huge component of our national export revenue and yet is not the subject of much ADF activity or presence…

The Review talked about hardening bases in the north and a range of other bases but should be very much more focused on putting more effort and Defence presence into the Pilbara region.

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that, over time, we see it building to depot-level maintenance. We must have achieved that before we build our own submarines.

The plan essentially means seeking out advice from those who do nuclear submarine sustainment in the UK or the US and then formulating the steps required to move from conventional up to nuclear.

It incorporates modelling of the skill sets that will be needed, together with achieving security clearances and other necessary hurdles for our SMEs and the workforce that we have. It is not beyond us, it’s just something that we’ve got to dedicate ourselves to and get moving on.

I think the key element was identified by the Western Australian Defence and Defence Industries Strategic Plan back in 2018, which stated that WA has a whole range of skills and capabilities derived from meeting the demands of the mining and offshore oil and gas sectors which can be applied to defence very effectively.

Further, unlike some other jurisdictions, WA’s defence sector is not entirely reliant on Defence. That means that it’s more robust, more capable and that there are alternatives to shield the industry against the vulnerability of the Defence sector in Australia. In WA, our defence industry can apply itself to the challenges, and help the nation in that way, while also ensuring there is a varied range of opportunities to work with.

Minister, we thank you for your time and for sharing your views with us.

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COMMENTARY

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2022-23: BIG DEFENCE YEARS FOR WESTERN AUSTRALIA

By CDRE Ivan Ingham AM RAN, Senior ADF Officer Western Australia

As I wrote this article, members of the ADF again found themselves providing support to the community, this time under the banner of Operation Flood Assist 23-1, assisting the Kimberley region of WA in response to the postTropical Cyclone Ellie floods.

HMAS Perth berths alongside Fleet Base West after a 12-week regional deployment, which included visits to Indonesia and participation in Exercise Kakadu. © Department of Defence.

Photographer: POIS Richard Cordell.

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UNIQUE CONTRIBUTION A year ago, when I assumed the role of Senior ADF Officer Western Australia (SOWA), Defence was similarly involved supporting communities across New South Wales and south-east Queensland as part of Operation Flood Assist 2022.

At the same time, Defence continued to maintain delivery of Operation COVID-19 ASSIST support.

That support involved over 19,000 navy, army, air force and Defence department personnel conducting more than 26,000 deployments across the country, providing medical responses, critical quarantine measures, compliance checks, virus testing, vaccine rollouts and, importantly, giving direct assistance to the most vulnerable of those affected by the virus.

Operation Covid Assist continued throughout most of last year until the operation finally concluded after more than two-and-a-half years in October 2022.

Meanwhile, last year’s enhancement of army’s 2nd Division, now established as an independent functional command, intends to situate army as part of the joint force, better placed to respond to events of that nature.

Commenting on it, the Commander of 2nd Division, MAJGEN David Thomae, highlighted that the move to an independent functional command recognised and reinforced 2nd Division’s unique contribution to warfighting, national security and service to the community. “The 2nd Division is conducting operations and training for contingencies every day, but is uniquely made up from a predominantly part-time reserve workforce,” he said. “These members often balance commitments to a civilian job while dedicating their time and skills to ensure Australia’s interests are supported at home and abroad.”

ARMY READINESS Here in WA, our own 13th Brigade finds itself spread across large swathes of provincial, rural and outback WA, while being headquartered at Irwin Barracks, Karrakatta. Of note, 13th Brigade is now at the forefront of developing and generating exciting new opportunities and initiatives to bolster permanent fulltime and reserve part-time defence and military capabilities for the brigade, 2nd Division, army and, ultimately, the current and future joint force.

That work includes their ongoing emphasis on Joint Task Group (629) structures and response capabilities for navy, army and air force headquarters staff by strengthening professional skills and networks and increasing organisational agility. That emphasis underpins 13th Brigade’s efforts to contribute to military readiness capabilities and workforce capacities through the exploration and integration of newly emerging tech and innovation.

Arguably most important in that work is the focus being placed on new opportunities to exploit existing and future availability of human capital, skills and resources through closer Defence collaboration with our partners and stakeholders across WA industry and in the fields of research and academia.

AIR & FLEET OPERATIONS The year was equally busy for all our other WA-based uniformed and civilian defence personnel. A significant part of the fleet, in terms of our ANZAC frigates, the Supply-class auxiliary oiler replenishment vessel, HMAS Stalwart, and our Collins-class submarines delivered a busy operating programme achieving raise, train and sustain milestones, with many of the platforms and personnel then going on to contribute significantly to national strategic and operational objectives through joint force deployments across the Indo-Pacific region.

Parallel RTS and operational deployments continued to be mounted from Campbell Barracks, Swanbourne. Meanwhile, with essential pilot training underway, other national and regional air movements were managed from RAAF Base Pearce. Importantly, from a WA-perspective, many other air force training and air-movement requirements were frequently supported through our forward bare bases at Curtin and Learmonth.

The deployment of the RAAF P-8A Poseidon aircraft, as part of the Joint IndiaAustralia maritime surveillance activity in the Indian Ocean in June and Exercise Koolendong, a mid-intensity warfighting exercise involving ADF combat personnel from army’s 1st and 13th Brigades and the air force’s 36th, 37th and 75th Squadrons,

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At a ceremony at the Austal shipyard at Henderson, in March 2022, CDR Paulino Yangitesmal, of the Federated States of Micronesia, signs the handover certificate for the Guardian-class patrol boat, FSS Toshiwo Nakayama, with CDRE Ivan Ingham, Senior ADF Officer WA. © Department of Defence. Photographer: LSIS Ernesto Sanchez.

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In terms of importance, the visit to Perth in October by Prime Minister Albanese and the Prime Minister of Japan, His Excellency Mr Kishida Fumio, to sign the landmark Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation charting a path for closer cooperation between Australia and Japan over the next decade, highlighted WA’s significance in contributing to the national effort to progress AUKUS, the Quad and our strategic policy development, while strengthening our international partnerships and relationships.

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alongside troops from the US Marine Rotational Force-Darwin (MRF-D), staged in part through RAAF Base Curtin and Yampi Sound in July, provide additional examples of the types of ADF activities occurring in, across and from WA.

INDIAN OCEAN MUSINGS The Defence Strategic Review 2023, announced by the Prime Minister on 3 August 2022, provided an excellent backdrop and great context for a WA-centric focus for the briefs and discussions that followed three weeks later at the WA government-sponsored ‘Indian Ocean Defence and Security Conference’ on 25-26 August.

Considered a huge success in terms of content, attendance and engagement, the event, supported at Commonwealth and state ministerial levels and with the newly-appointed Chiefs of Navy and Army as keynote speakers, the theme of ‘Beyond Transits: The Emerging Security Relevance of the Indian Ocean’, sought recognition of WA’s national and strategic importance to defence and security thinking while promoting a wider discussion on the security challenges facing those dependant on the Indian Ocean for transit and trade.

Addressing those themes, Minister for Defence Personnel and Veterans’ Affairs Matt Keogh acknowledged that WA, “By virtue of its geography, its resources, its industrial base and the deep reservoir of knowledge and skills, in both industry and the ADF, has a critically important part to play in defending Australia and our interests.” He also added that, “Western Australia’s strategic position has national implications ... from HMAS Stirling to the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, from RAAF Base Curtin to our training areas at Bindoon, Lancelin, Northam and in the north-west, from infrastructure to capability to fleet basing, Western Australia is essential to Australia’s IndoPacific strategy and a core consideration for Australia’s defence.

Our work with near neighbours and friends across the north-eastern Indian Ocean emanates from WA, in sharing and developing capability, knowledge and innovation.”

OFFICIAL VISITS In parallel, but separate, to the work being undertaken by the Review team and the Nuclear-Propelled Submarine Task Force (NPSTF), the state saw an increase in the tempo of strategic engagement

COMMENTARY

in WA defence and security matters involving Commonwealth, state and Defence stakeholders, as well as a number of official visits from overseas.

The visit to Fremantle by the Indian Navy Ship Sumedha in August 2022 as part of India’s global celebrations to mark its 75th anniversary of independence is a key example. So, too, was the visit by the US Navy Virginia-class nuclear submarine USS Mississippi to Fleet Base West in November last year.

That was the second US SSN visit of the year, following an earlier visit by USS Springfield in April. In terms of importance, the visit to Perth in October by Prime Minister Albanese and the Prime Minister of Japan, His Excellency Mr Kishida Fumio, to sign the landmark Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation charting a path for closer cooperation between Australia and Japan over the next decade, highlighted WA’s significance in contributing to the national effort to progress AUKUS, the Quad and our strategic policy development, while strengthening our international partnerships and relationships.

INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENTS Progress in the WA defence and security sphere throughout 2022 was not just confined to domestic support, policy development, collaboration, cooperation, agreements, partnerships and relationships, given some important advancements in several other strategic projects, investments and initiatives.

In March, the government announced its intention to support the future development of WA’s first Large Vessel

Dry Berth (LVDB) at the Henderson shipyard. The delivery of the LVDB capability is expected to create a worldclass precinct enabling the construction and sustainment of large vessels, as well as supporting even greater commercial shipbuilding and sustainment in WA. In the same month, the government also announced its commitment to boosting WA’s long-term fuel security by expanding the state’s diesel storage capacity through 10 projects, including investment in the Coogee Chemicals strategic storage project at Kwinana, where construction on new diesel storage tanks is already underway.

SPACE SURVEILLANCE TELESCOPE A few months later, at the end of September, Defence, in collaboration with the United States Space Force, declared Initial Operational Capability of the Exmouth Space Surveillance Telescope (SST). With testing now complete, the SST allows greater space domain awareness by providing ground-based, broad-area search, detection and tracking of faint objects in deep space.

Commander Defence Space Command, AVM Cath Roberts, explained the importance of this milestone for the alliance and the future of Australia’s space capability. “In an increasingly contested and congested space environment, the Space Surveillance Telescope provides enhanced awareness of the space domain and contributes to greater alliance cooperation,” AVM Roberts, added: “Additionally, the bespoke SST facilities and its supporting infrastructure are as

WEST COAST DEFENCE

much of a milestone as the telescope itself and represent a significant achievement

by Defence and Australian industry.”

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY Over the last 12 months, I have been fascinated by a privileged level of access and exposure to a range of defencerelated science and technology research projects being undertaken in WA. Similarly, I have also been astonished by a number of advanced capabilities either under development, in early-production or already being fielded by WA industry.

While a number of these capabilities have been advanced by some of WA’s largest energy and mining companies, other parallel niche capabilities are also being developed by a range of SMEs or even smaller WA commercial innovators.

Importantly, many of those capabilities relate to the fields of space, cyber, quantum computing and processing, artificial intelligence, command and control, communications, remote and autonomous, acoustics, sensing and advanced manufacturing technologies.

Noting that, opportunities clearly exist for some of those technologies to be exploited for application within the defence and security domain, perhaps even within an AUKUS context.

In addition to those impressive and exciting cutting-edge sunrise capabilities, WA industry is also likely to be increasingly well positioned to compete for and meet Defence’s future regional engineering, maintenance, sustainment and supply-chain logistic requirements.

US Navy submarine tender USS Frank Cable arrives at Fleet Base West on 13 April 2022 for crew rest and recuperation after conducting patrols throughout the Indo-Pacific. © Department of Defence. Photographer: LSIS Richard Cordell.

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Reviewing officer, the former Governor of Western Australia Hon Kim Beazley AC, inspects the HMAS Stalwart’s Commissioning Guard during a ceremony to commission the ship into service at Fleet Base West, Rockingham. The Royal Australian Navy’s newest ship HMAS Stalwart was commissioned at a ceremony at Fleet Base West on 13 November 2021, being the second of two Supply-class Auxiliary Oiler Replenishment ships built for navy and homeported at Fleet Base West. © Department of Defence. Photographer: LSIS Ernesto Sanchez.

EMINENT INDIVIDUALS Finally, I wish to acknowledge and thank several individuals and entities for the support and contribution they made to supporting and advancing WA defence matters and interests during 2022. First, to Hon Kim Beazley AC, who, in his role as Governor of WA, was a great supporter of Defence and the ADF, and from whom I benefitted greatly, given his generous access and exposure to the networks he facilitated, the thinking he promoted and the many important discussions he shared. Second, to the outstanding role performed by both the UWA Defence and Security Institute and the Perth USAsia Centre.

Again, the work by Professors Stephen Smith, Peter Dean and Gordon Flake to promote and advance the discussion on WA and Indo-Pacific regional defence and security has been absolutely first class. Finally, I wish to acknowledge the now former Executive Director of Defence West, Toff Idrus, and his team

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for an excellent level of inclusion, collaboration and cooperation.

I hope that the short range of examples cited here appropriately and adequately illustrates the scope and breadth of some of the most significant matters and happenings that occurred and progressed in 2022 – a big Defence year for WA! As one of our most senior ADF leaders remarked to me only recently: “Given the current trajectory of the ADF – and with all the work that is expected to be required post Review, 2023 promises to be an epic year of challenge and opportunity for Defence.”

In the same way, 2023 is already shaping up to be a similarly epic year for everyone involved in defence and security in WA. Given that, I look forward to working with our many partners and stakeholders in the WA government and across industry, research, academia and those attached to the diplomatic and consular corps, over the year ahead.

“

In March, the government announced its intention to support the future development of WA’s first Large Vessel Dry Berth (LVDB) at the Henderson shipyard. The delivery of the LVDB capability is expected to create a world-class precinct enabling the construction and sustainment of large vessels, as well as supporting even greater commercial shipbuilding and sustainment in WA.

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COMMENTARY

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WESTERN AUSTRALIA: TRANSFORMING THE LANDSCAPE OF THE DEFENCE INDUSTRY

By Rebecca Brown PSM,

Director-General, Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation, Government of Western Australia

“

Western Australia is Australia’s largest state by area and is responsible for 44% of Australia’s total exports. In 2022, WA exported $260.8bn worth of goods, out of which the resources and minerals sector accounted for approximately $186.8bn.

The WA government intends to expand our already significant naval shipbuilding industry via the advanced additive manufacturing capability required for large vessel sustainment and construction, which also has significant flow- on effects for other areas of the economy.

LEADING PRODUCER

WA is the world’s number one iron ore producer and ranks within the top three for gold and LNG. Importantly, by being the world’s number one producer of battery metal lithium and ranking within the top five producers of nickel, rare earths and cobalt, the state is well positioned as an ethical supplier of critical minerals, contributing to national security and bolstering our defence capabilities.

By any economic indicator, WA is a dynamic and productive state. The WA story has, however, always been much more than the sum total of its resources.

The WA government has identified eight priority sectors in its endeavours to diversify and strengthen the economy. Under a broader defence industry framework, naval vessel construction, sustainment and maintenance represent one of those priority sectors.

With its longstanding history in shipbuilding and sustainment capability, WA has developed a deep and significant understanding of the requirements of the naval shipbuilding industry and, consequently, those of the Royal Australian Navy. The WA government intends to expand our already significant naval shipbuilding industry via the advanced additive manufacturing capability required for large vessel sustainment and construction, which also has significant flow- on effects for other areas of the economy.

It is no surprise that the recent AUKUS announcements will continue to cement WA as the home to our current and future submarine fleet. As the optimal pathway to Australia acquiring its own future fleet of nuclear-powered submarines from the early 2030s is now clear, WA, in the national defence endeavour, is now preparing for visiting US and UK

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nuclear-powered submarines to be rotated through HMAS Stirling. Our future nuclear-powered submarine fleet will be based here in WA, securing the economic future of the submarine maintenance workforce and supporting local industries for decades to come.

DEFENCE WEST In 2018, the WA government established Defence West within the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation with the priority objective of championing the WA defence industry and promoting related business development, jobs, trade and investment opportunities within the sector.

Defence West has engaged in strategic partnerships with the Australian Industry and Defence Network Western Australia (AIDN WA), the Henderson Alliance and the Commonwealth Government’s Office for Defence Industry Support (ODIS) to both boost the WA defence industry’s capability and its visibility to global defence supply chains. Since its creation, Defence West has delivered WA business delegations to all three major defence conferences in Australia, along with the creation of its own WA-centric event, the highly successful Indian Ocean Defence Security Conference (IODSC). Following delays related to the COVID-19 pandemic, Defence West has delivered delegations to all of those within the last 12 months.

The August 2022 iteration of the IODSC saw more than 500 delegates attend the WA defence industry-focused event, providing visibility of our WA companies to an international audience of defence primes and senior Defence officials. In May 2022, Defence West delivered delegations to IndoPacific in Sydney, Australia’s largest international maritime exposition, and to Land Forces in Brisbane in October, Australia’s largest international land defence exposition. Most recently, 23 WA-based SMEs visited Avalon to showcase their unique strengths and capabilities in front of the largest aeronautical and space industry audience in Australia.

Defence West is now planning to lead its largest business delegation to Indo-Pacific in Sydney in this November to continue showcasing the tremendous growth of the industry in the West.

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First held in 2018, the Indian Ocean Defence & Security Conference is the WA government’s premier annual defence event. Seen here, Minister Paul Papalia CSC MLA greets delegates and opens proceedings for the last conference held in August 2022, which attracted nearly 700 delegates. © Defence West. Supplied.

WORLD-LEADING INDUSTRIES WA is a global leader in the development of autonomous vehicles, as a result of our iron ore and offshore oil and gas industries in the North-West.

Those industries have pioneered autonomous driving trains, autonomous trucks, drills, autonomous surface vessels and submersibles.

It is the last of those capabilities, autonomous undersea vehicles, that has significant potential for translation into Defence applications, particularly considering the recent Australian Government announcements through the Defence Strategic Review 2023 and the future of the underwater battlespace.

WA has taken a leading role in autonomous undersea vehicles, robotics and AI, all of which are emerging asymmetrical defence capabilities. Undersea vehicles are used in the state in many different ways: to identify problems at depth on oil and gas rigs, to track and detect whales, or to help map our subsea coastline.

WA is also the home to the Australian Space

“

We are also a global leader in space situational awareness, a highly relevant defence capability that allows for the monitoring of the space domain in real time. Alongside robotics capabilities, WA has an advanced and robust cyber capability, with Edith Cowan University’s Joondalup campus hosting a worldleading security operations centre that is also the largest of its kind in the southern hemisphere.

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One of the priorities identified in the Review was the need for greater integration and investment at the Australian Marine Complex (AMC) at the Henderson shipyard. This aligns with the WA government’s vision for the Western Trade Coast to transform the coastline between Fremantle and Kwinana into a Global Advanced Industries Hub.

The WA government stand at Land Forces 2022 held in Brisbane again accommodated over a dozen WA-businesses, which provided the opportunity to further enhance and consolidate WA industry’s profile and networks with the wider Australian Army and the industry sector that supports it. © Defence West. Supplied.

Automation AI and Robotics Control Complex (SpAARC), a world-class facility that tests and controls remote and autonomous operations in space and other harsh environments.

We are also a global leader in space situational awareness, a highly relevant defence capability that allows for the monitoring of the space domain in real time.

Alongside robotics capabilities, WA has an advanced and robust cyber capability, with Edith Cowan University’s Joondalup campus hosting a worldleading security operations centre that is also the largest of its kind in the southern hemisphere.

These cyber capability developments provide significant export opportunities for WA, as building a stronger and more capable cyber defence network is becoming crucial not only for governments, but for the private sector as well.

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SUPPORTING VETERANS The WA government is committed to making the state the best place in Australia to live and work for our veterans by advancing a variety of programs designed to improve their lives and wellbeing and to increase their participation in the workforce.

The increased funding for the Anzac Day Trust grants program provides a great example. From 2021, an extra $1mn per year was added to the fund allowing the state to sponsor programs such as the Transition Employment Portal. It represents a first-of-its-kind program that connects transitioning service members and veterans to job opportunities. The Transition Employment Portal is one of 12 veterans’ programs funded through the Anzac Day Trust by the WA government.

PRIORITIES AFOOT One of the priorities identified in the Review was the need for greater integration and investment at the Australian Marine Complex (AMC) at the Henderson shipyard. This aligns with the WA government’s vision for the Western Trade Coast to transform the coastline between Fremantle and Kwinana into a Global Advanced Industries Hub. An expanded AMC will allow for an increase in advanced precision manufacturing work to be conducted along the coast,

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with a spill-over effect for other industries establishing a presence in the hub.

The geography of WA provides an excellent opportunity to strengthen our military presence. This is why exercises such as Talisman Sabre, the largest joint-military exercise conducted yearly across northern Australia with the US, are so important. This year’s exercise will be hosted in part from WA. These exercises build trust, joint-capability and interoperability with our allies, along with activating the network of northern bases and infrastructure that are vital to the defence context in WA. These are just a few highlights from the remarkable year we have had for the defence industry in WA. With the AUKUS announcement and the Review considerably transforming the landscape of the defence industry, there has never been a more exciting time to be thinking about defence.

The Defence West stand at Avalon 2023 hosted over a dozen WA-businesses and attracted hundreds of enquiries and visitors comprising mostly senior decision-makers who represented a wide-array of national and international organisations. (L-R) WA Defence Advocate RADM Philip Spedding; Deputy Director General - Industry, Science and Innovation, Linda Dawson; Director – Defence Science Centre, Michele Clement; and the Parliamentary Secretary to the WA Minister for Police; Corrective Services; Defence Industry; Veterans Issues, Hon Terry Healy MLA. © Defence West. Supplied.

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Working in the defence industry, I love that I’m still around Defence. Being on and off all Navy vessels – it’s a very cool job. My knowledge has grown exponentially because you’re the expert at end of the line. Each day as a Field Engineer is exciting because I don’t know what challenges I’m walking into but I also know I get to go home every night.

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COMMENTARY

TRAINING & SIMULATION

RAISING OUR DEFENCE INDUSTRY WORKFORCE TO THE NEXT LEVEL

By Hon Simone McGurk MLA,

Minister for Training; Water; Youth Government of Western Australia.

When the McGowan government came into office in 2017, we identified defence as a sector we could grow significantly to diversify the economy, create more jobs for West Australians and better support our sovereign capability.

‘The Other Force – Start Something’ campaign encourages West Australians to enter into a career with WA’s defence industry. © Department of Training and Workforce Development.

PRIORITY SECTOR Released in October 2018, the Western Australian Defence and Defence Industries Strategic Plan outlined a vision to double the contribution of defence industry to WA’s economy by 2030. Now five years into making defence a priority sector, our planning and investment in defence training and workforce initiatives is providing new opportunities for West Australians to take up jobs in this crucial and exciting industry.

We have already invested $35mn to directly support the development of a strong and sustainable defence industry workforce.

In 2022, we released the Western Australian Defence Industry Workforce Development Plan 2022–27 which will ensure the future workforce and skilling needs for the WA defence sector are anticipated and met. The plan provides a blueprint for the next chapter of skilling WA’s defence industry workforce. It is part of a united approach between government agencies, Team WA

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universities, TAFE, and unions working with the state’s defence industry and peak representative bodies. The plan will guide work to further strengthen the state’s defence industry and give WA a competitive advantage, growing its ‘smart’ industry 4.0 skill capabilities.

The collaboration will further support the Cook government in raising our defence industry workforce to the next level. The key is advancing education, training and skilling opportunities to support the future needs of defence’s highly sophisticated platforms and capabilities, which will demand new skills, knowledge and qualifications. As WA continues to prepare for future defence work, the crucial importance of occupations such as engineers, project managers, logistics personnel, technicians, commercial management professionals, and cyber and ICT professionals has become apparent.

Building on our previous $18mn investment to boost WA’s defence industry capabilities and trades

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TRAINING & SIMULATION

Mushfiq Shah is a systems and mechatronics engineer working in WA’s defence industry at Orbital UAV. © Orbital UAV.

“

In 2022, we released the Western Australian Defence Industry Workforce Development Plan 2022–27 which will ensure the future workforce and skilling needs for the WA defence sector are anticipated and met. The plan provides a blueprint for the next chapter of skilling WA’s defence industry workforce. It is part of a united approach between Government agencies, Team WA universities, TAFE, and unions working with the state’s defence industry and peak representative bodies.

workforce, the 2022–23 State Budget included a further $11mn package to secure the required skilled professional and para-professional workforce. The package funds six new initiatives to position WA at the forefront of future defence work.

EXPANDING INVESTMENT We are investing more than $3.6mn to strengthen the Rockingham Jobs and Skills Centre to continue to support veterans and grow job and training pathways to key professional and paraprofessional roles.

In addition, the following defence workforce initiatives are also being implemented: •

$4mn internship and graduate scholarship program to facilitate the placement of 190 students and 50 graduates in defence industry firms over three years.

•

A program to drive the reskilling and upskilling of new and existing defence industry workers, including grants for employers to work with WA universities and training providers to develop new education and training products.

•

$1.08mn for an Existing Worker Traineeship program over

four years, to support career progression of existing workers into critical para-professional and professional roles.

•

$700,000 for a university and VET articulation program over four years.

•

$180,000 for a veterans skills mapping project to complement the existing Defence Industry Veterans Employment Scheme.

We are also expanding ‘The Other Force’ campaign to promote defence industry careers across all defence domains. ‘The Other Force – Start Something’ campaign encourages school leavers, youth, veterans, women, career changers, mature age workers and skilled workers looking to change industries to enter a career in WA’s defence industry.

The campaign was developed in consultation with defence industry employers and features real West Australians, including veterans, working in the industry. With support for the defence trades workforce now expanded to develop the professional and paraprofessional workforce, the opportunities for a rewarding long-term career with local businesses working at the forefront of industry are endless.

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CORPORATE PROFILE

By Terry Durant, Managing Director, South Metropolitan TAFE.

SOUTH METROPOLITAN TAFE: AUSTRALIA’S LEADING DEFENCE INDUSTRY TRAINER Receiving top accolades as Academic Institution of the Year at the 2022 Defence Connect Australian Defence Industry Awards and being recognised as Western Australia Training Provider of the Year, South Metropolitan TAFE (SM TAFE) has further cemented its position as the nation’s leading vocational education and training provider.

This achievement builds on more than two decades of strengthening Australia’s defence shipbuilding and sustainment industry, and a proven track record of producing award-winning and job-ready workers meeting the defence industry’s emerging and future needs.

In linking specialised training through its nationally accredited courses, with access to world-class, state-ofthe-art facilities and innovative technologies, SM TAFE works strategically with its defence industry partners to deliver a multitude of ground-breaking defence training programs to develop skilled and talented workers.

The SM TAFE Defence Industry Pathways Program (DIPP) – a collaboration with the Department of Defence – provides graduates with a broad understanding of the maritime defence industry and its career pathways, with 25 maritime defence employers hosting trainees. Since July 2021, some 125 trainees have joined the 12-month program, with many already securing employment within the industry. The current and future benefits for industry are substantial and the program has promoted the defence industry as an exciting, booming career prospect, particularly for groups which have traditionally been under-represented in the workforce.

To encourage diversity and support a greater uptake of women in this growing industry, SM TAFE launched the Women in Defence Industry Scholarship in 2021.

Already, the program has become a great success story, providing 19 trainees with free electronics and technical engineering training and a clear pathway to employment, further strengthening the capability of the defence industry workforce.

With an increasing demand for defence shipbuilding workers in WA, SM TAFE has a specialised defence industry trades campus located in the Australian Marine Complex, adjacent to Fleet Base West. Delivering heavy and marine fabrication, welding and composite apprenticeship training, the campus services apprentices from key defence stakeholders nationally. SM TAFE also delivers a range of specialised trade and post-trade training programs for the Royal Australian Navy in collaboration with industry leader KBR, a valued partner for over 20 years.

Defence presents a unique opportunity to trial innovative technologies, and SM TAFE recently launched its Centre for Excellence for Industry 4.0 and

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Defence Industry Pathways Program trainee, Brittany-Leigh Wragg – 2022 Australian Trainee of the Year winner. © Department of Training and Workforce Development. Supplied.

Automation Training at its Munster campus. Students can now complete their training using advanced facilities, including the new ArmPi Intelligent Visual Robotic Arms.

“At SM TAFE, we continue to be future focused and work closely with industry to ensure we provide specialised training in technologies and facilities which foster innovation and support the critical workforce needs in Western Australia, including defence”, says Terry Durant, Managing Director, South Metropolitan TAFE. “We recently introduced drone training to equip students with skills to design and build drones and other autonomous robotic technology and now, in response to the significant industry shortage of computer numeric control operations equipment (CNC) programmers and operators (making up 70% of skilled workforce needs in the defence industry), we have installed four new CNC machines at our Rockingham campus. Students are able to train on this unique equipment, used in key defence maritime trades, and learn the mechanics of programming, setting and operating these machines in preparation for the workforce.”

To further enhance its training offerings, SM TAFE has also recently installed a maritime simulator suite at the maritime training centre in Fremantle, which again will enable students to train in a realistic environment.

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CORPORATE PROFILE

By Mick Lee,

Director & Operations Manager, Paratus Training.

PARATUS TRAINING: JOB READINESS, NOT JUST CERTIFICATE READINESS TRAINING Paratus Training is a Registered Training Organisation that is veteran owned and boasts an impressive 25 years of experience in the field of learning and development, spanning a wide range of industries. What sets us apart from other RTOs is our distinctive approach, which centres on collaborating with businesses to offer training that prioritises job readiness over the mere attainment of certificates. With that, we aim to equip individuals with the skills and knowledge they need to excel in their chosen careers, while also producing a more skilled workforce with accredited qualifications for their organisations.

Paratus Training’s Enterprise Approach involves consultation and collaboration with clients to identify the organisation’s specific learning needs, which are then mapped against the competencies of the qualifications.

That way, Paratus Training can deliver training that is tailored to the needs of the client, ensuring that learning outcomes align with business processes.

Paratus Training is committed to delivering training that is aligned with the rhythm of the organisation to create as little disruption as possible. While online training is a common approach, Paratus Training offers a range of delivery styles to suit all needs. This experiential delivery style across blended learning provides an increased return on quality results.

One example of how Paratus Training collaborates with clients is their rollout of the Diploma of Project Management training for the Maintenance and Engineering Centre of Excellence at BHP. Paratus Training conducted workshops to understand the shutdown scheduling processes, enabling it to contextualise the training to align with the client’s business processes while maintaining the integrity of the content and qualification requirements. The approach is resulting in superior outcomes for BHP, providing it with project managers who can quickly and efficiently put their training into practice.

provide the practical skills, followed by two to three months of embedding the learning, during which they are supported with theoretical content, usable tools, and mentoring sessions with Paratus Training staff and their fellow trainees. The program embeds leadership mindsets and gives time to use new skills, a scaled approach that lessens the “culture shock” that typically occurs after generic training. It is more than just training; it is leadership capacity building.

Paratus Training offers a highly collaborative and tailored approach to training and development. The commitment to partnering with clients and delivering training that is aimed at job readiness, rather than certificate readiness, enables individuals to gain the skills they need to excel in their careers, while also producing a more skilled and productive workforce with accredited qualifications. With a strong focus on delivering training that is engaging, practical and aligned with the client’s business processes, Paratus Training is an ideal solution for any organisation looking to upskill its workforce and close off any training and development gaps.

paratus.edu.au

Another example of Paratus Training’s Enterprise Approach is its recently released Leadership Development Program. Consisting of modules aligned to the Diploma and Certificate IV in Leadership and Management, the program provides a collegial approach to an organisation’s training needs.

Rather than undergoing generic leadership training, it provides organisation-specific training to middle and senior managers.

Managers undergoing the training work in small cohorts in two- to three-day workshops that

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Paratus Training Director leading a workplace gap analysis session. © Paratus Training. Supplied.

ANALYSIS

By Thomas Hage, Defence Writer,

WA DEFENCE REVIEW

&

Serge DeSilvaRanasinghe,

Founder & Managing Editor,

WA DEFENCE REVIEW

WEST COAST DEFENCE

STATE OF THE DEFENCE SECTOR IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA: 2022-23 The defence sector in WA is on the rise, with a boost received by this year’s AUKUS and Defence Strategic Review 2023 announcements.

Among the key developments the Commonwealth Government has committed to, are strengthening Defence activities, capabilities and infrastructure across Australia’s NorthWest region; developing air force infrastructure and army capabilities; and redeveloping and expanding infrastructure at HMAS Stirling and Henderson to accommodate the navy’s future fleet. Significantly improving ties with Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) partner countries, particularly India and Japan, may also open up a new era of bilateral growth for Australian industry.

DEFENCE OF THE WEST COAST Responding to escalating regional tensions, Defence’s focus in recent years towards strengthening security across Australia’s northern borders and approaches is gaining traction through increased ADF activity and Defence infrastructure investment.

It is not hard to see why. Recognising the perennial importance of the key strategic chokepoints that are crucial to Australian security and located primarily in the Indonesian archipelago, former defence minister, Hon Kim Beazley AC, told WA DEFENCE REVIEW back in July 2018: “Those chokepoints are the critical geographical features of the defence of Australia. You have to be prepared for those chokepoints to be breached, and if they are, where you will be operating is the Indian Ocean; bar one of them – that’s the one over New Guinea. So, you actually need an Indian Ocean operational capability.”

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Luerssen Australia is the prime contractor in charge of building the Royal Australian Navy’s fleet of Arafura-class Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs). Seen here, the third OPV, to be known as NUSHIP Pilbara, is currently under construction at the Henderson shipyard. © WA DEFENCE REVIEW. Photographer: Peter Dancewicz.

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The 4th Strategy, Defence & Industry Dialogue hosted up to 40 senior decision-makers from across government, Defence, industry and academia, who participated in the invite-only event. © WA DEFENCE REVIEW. Photographer: David Nicolson.

He further elaborated: “We have to recognise that there is an angle of attack on the resources industry in the north of Western Australia, that is an obvious pressure point for a would-be enemy. A better pressure point than going over to the east. For starters, on the east, they have to go a much longer distance. They also would confront a very substantial accumulation of Australian military capability going around and doing that.”

Amplifying the Commonwealth Government’s growing concerns, the Defence Strategic Review 2023 announced plans to strengthen Australia’s northern bases, committing $3.8bn over the next four years, prioritising: •

$2bn for critical air bases stretching from RAAF Base Learmonth through Cocos (Keeling) Islands, as well as air bases in the Northern Territory and northern Queensland;

In summary, he concluded: “If you want to pressure Australia, you go after the West, the Australian minerals and energy province, that’s what you do. You don’t go to the other side.”

•

$1bn for upgrades to land and joint estate capabilities;

•

$600mn in naval and maritime estate investments, including HMA Ships Coonawarra and Cairns and the Harold E. Holt Naval Communications Station; and

“

Those chokepoints are the critical geographical features of the defence of Australia. You have to be prepared for those chokepoints to be breached, and if they are, where you will be operating is the Indian Ocean; bar one of them – that’s the one over New Guinea. So, you actually need an Indian Ocean operational capability.

– Hon Kim Beazley AC, former Australian Minister for Defence (1984-90).

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• $200mn towards the acceleration of additional projects.

In defending the North-West region, the Australian Army on the west coast is playing an increasingly critical role.

Post-Afghanistan, the Special Air Services Regiment and the Army Reserves 13th Brigade have undergone a program of reorganisation and modernisation, with the profile of the 13th Brigade in particular having notably increased.

The 13th Brigade has invested its limited resources into improving its combat power, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, engineering and force projection capabilities. In 2021-22 respectively, some of the key developments worth citing include the re-establishment of 10th Light Horse as a regiment, and the raising of the new 13th Engineer Regiment.

Further, as of 2023, the 16th Battalion, Royal West Australian Regiment, is in developing a riverine and littoral manoeuvre capability with support from 2nd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment.

A key recommendation of the Defence Strategic Review 2023 is a comprehensive re-evaluation of the ADF Reserve system, including consideration for the reintroduction of the Ready Reserve Scheme by 2025. It flags augmented roles for the Army Reserve in safeguarding critical infrastructure across northern Australia. Furthermore, and in an historically significant development, 13th Brigade participated in Exercise Austrahind 2022. Held in Rajasthan, India, from late-November to mid-December, the exercise with the Indian Army’s South-Western Command highlighted a new and likely expanding role for 13th Brigade in regional military diplomacy and interoperability. It is, indeed, a welcome development and shrewd use of resources by army for geo-political leverage.

In WA, the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) is also undergoing change. The

ANALYSIS

WEST COAST DEFENCE

On 23 March 2023, WA DEFENCE REVIEW held its 4th Strategy, Defence & Industry Dialogue in partnership with the Australian Naval Institute, at the City of Cockburn Administration Building. The dialogue was themed: ‘Future of Australia and the Indian Ocean Region: Shared Economic and Security Interests’. © WA DEFENCE REVIEW. Photographer: David Nicolson.

primary role of the air force in WA remains as a logistics hub and one of two air force pilot-training centres in the country.

Based in the City of Swan, RAAF Pearce is also one of Australia’s busiest air force bases in terms of aircraft movements. The base hosts WA’s only fixed-wing air force assets: the Pilatus PC-21 turboprop trainer and the BAE Systems Hawk lead-in fighter trainer, operated by No 2 Flying Training School and No 79 Squadron, respectively.

In recent years, the modernisation and upgrade of air force capabilities and infrastructure has been gathering pace, with implications for it in WA. For instance, in February 2022, the Commonwealth Government announced a $1.5bn upgrade program to the air force’s Hawk fleet, upgraded and sustained through in-service support providing maintenance, engineering, and supply chain services at RAAF bases Pearce and Williamstown through to 2031.

Most significantly, the Defence Strategic Review 2023 highlights that RAAF Curtin (in the Kimberley region) and RAAF Learmonth (in Exmouth) as critical enablers in Australia’s new strategy. The Review has recommended that the two bases be hardened and upgraded, focusing on civil and road infrastructure, electrical system works, water infrastructure, building revitalisation, communications and airfields, workshops, aircraft hangars, storage areas and security infrastructure.

Some of the work is imminent, with RAAF Curtin slated for a $244mn upgrade starting next year.

This is a timely decision as the frequency in use of RAAF Curtin and RAAF Learmonth for exercises. For instance, Exercise Koolendong, held in July 2022, for the first time, included a bomber task force, consisting of US B-2 Spirit Stealth bombers and RAAF F-35A Lightning 5th Generation fighters. The aircraft jointly flew around RAAF Curtin as

part of the Enhanced Air Cooperation US Force Posture Initiative.

Underpinned by Australia’s new strategic posture, intensified engagement with regional partners and efforts to strengthen the security of Australia’s northern approaches, Defence’s focus on increasing ADF activity using RAAF Learmonth and RAAF Curtin, indicates that the air force in WA will become even more relevant.

AUKUS TRILATERAL PARTNERSHIP Outside of the aforementioned developments with the army and air force, it is readily apparent that WA’s naval and maritime sector is the major beneficiary of Commonwealth Government spending.

First announced in September 2021, the advent of the trilateral security pact – AUKUS – involving Australia, the UK, and the US, is a response to escalating great power rivalry in the Indo-Pacific.

Source: The AUKUS Nuclear-Power Submarine Pathway: A Partnership For The Future.

Source: The AUKUS Nuclear-Power Submarine Pathway: A Partnership For The Future.87 EDITION 5 • 2022-23

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In April 2022, as part of Defence’s Pacific Maritime Security Program, the Federated States of Micronesia was gifted the first of two Guardian-class patrol boats (FSS Tosiwo Nakayaka) at the Austal shipyard in Henderson. The second patrol boat is scheduled for delivery in August this year. © WA DEFENCE REVIEW. Photographer: Eddy Lidya.

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In its Pillar I and Pillar II configurations, Australia will acquire nuclear-powered submarines. It will also intensify cooperation in advanced cyber mechanisms, artificial intelligence and autonomy, quantum technologies, undersea capabilities, hypersonic and counter-hypersonic capabilities, electronic warfare, innovation and information sharing.

The AUKUS announcement indicated that Australia’s nuclear-powered submarine program over the next three decades is projected to cost up to $368bn. Marked by increasingly closer cooperation, the trilateral partnership aims to ultimately develop an Australian nuclearpowered submarine capability, based on the UK’s nextgeneration design: SSN-AUKUS.

WEST COAST DEFENCE

The new class of submarine will incorporate technology from all three nations, including cuttingedge US undersea technologies. Australia and the UK announced plans to commence building SSN-AUKUS in domestic shipyards before the end of this decade.

In the late 2030s, the UK shipyards will deliver the first SSN-AUKUS-class submarine to the Royal Navy.

The South Australian yard, in Osborne, is expected to deliver the first Australian-built SSN-AUKUS to the Royal Australian Navy in the early 2040s.

Prior to the delivery of SSN-AUKUS, the US has pledged to sell to Australia up to three Virginia-class conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines, with the potential to buy an additional two platforms.

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Delivery of the first Virginia-class boats is expected in the early 2030s and forestalls the emergence of a submarine capability gap with the retirement of Australia’s ageing Collins-class diesel-electric submarine fleet.

Over the next four years, the phased approach will see $6bn invested in Australia’s industrial capability and workforce, creating around 20,000 direct jobs over the next 30 years. The AUKUS announcement outlined that, over the next four years, $2bn for infrastructure development projects shall be allocated to South Australia, with WA to receive a further $1.5bn.

In preparation for the delivery of the Virginia-class, and, ultimately, the SSN-AUKUS boats, HMAS Stirling shall remain the centre of gravity for the Royal Australian Navy’s submarine operations.

The base will be at the forefront of the initial pathway for Australia’s deployment of a conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarine capability.

Consequently, the base is earmarked for rapid upgrades to its existing facilities and the construction of new infrastructure, including specific works to accommodate nuclear-powered submarine support functions.

The Australian Government will allocate up to $8bn over the next decade to expand HMAS Stirling, which is expected to create around 3000 direct jobs, to accommodate the presence of Australian submarines, and an increased frequency of visits by allied nuclear-powered submarines. The expansion program emphasises wharf upgrades, operational maintenance, logistics and training facilities, and opportunities for supporting infrastructure outside HMAS Stirling. In addition, WA education institutions will play a key role in the development and delivery of relevant skills programs to support workforce growth, especially in engineering, trades and logistics.

As early as 2027, the UK and US plan to commence forward rotations of nuclear-powered submarines to Australia to accelerate the development of the Australian naval personnel, supporting workforce, infrastructure and regulatory systems necessary to establish a sovereign Australian nuclear-powered submarine capability. The frequency of visits by AUKUS partner-navy submarines to HMAS Stirling is planned to increase and will evolve into longer rotations for the submarines, and include Australian navy

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personnel being embedded within their crews. In addition, these partner navy submarine rotations are anticipated to include longer periods of maintenance in WA. As a result, greater participation of Australian navy and defence industry professionals in many aspects of operating and maintaining the nuclear-powered submarines is anticipated.

Building corporate knowledge for the Royal Australian Navy to operate and support nuclear-powered submarines is a significant ongoing challenge, especially given that the organisation presently lacks experience in this area. To ameliorate the deficiency in expertise, Australian military and civilian personnel have been authorised to embed with the UK and US navies and their respective submarine industrial bases.

Seen in this light, the US Navy plans to increase nuclear-powered submarine port visits to Australia beginning this year, with Australian sailors joining US crews for training and development; while the Royal Navy will increase its nuclearpowered submarine visits to Australia beginning in 2026. Building on increased port visits, the UK and US plan to establish a rotational- nuclear-powered submarine presence at HMAS Stirling from as early as 2027, consisting of one UK Astute-class submarine and up to four US Virginia-class boats, referred to as Submarine Rotational Force-West (SRF-West). To provide for

SRF-West’s maintenance and sustainment over the period 2027-32, it is forecast that an additional 500 direct jobs will be created.

It is also noteworthy that, since inception, HMAS Stirling has retained a hallowed status as a favoured port of call for visiting allied warships. According to Defence, since 1960, Australia has hosted over 285 visits by UK and US nuclearpowered vessels, with over 1840 total days in port, of which the sizeable majority are known to have visited HMAS Stirling.

SUPPORTING INFRASTRUCTURE Vital to realising the Commonwealth Government’s objectives in WA is the Australian Marine Complex (AMC) at Henderson. The AMC will be required to undergo significant infrastructure upgrades to accommodate sustainment of new and larger surface fleet vessels, potentially allied and eventually, Australian nuclear-powered submarines.

Principally located in Henderson, Regional Maintenance Centre-West (RMC-West) is the second of four nationally planned sustainment centres and is expected to be fully operational later this year. Royal Australian Navy surface vessels will be maintained and upgraded as part of Defence’s goal of improving its continuous sustainment capability, starting with support for the Arafura-class Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs), and the

In March this year, WA Defence Advocate, RADM Philip Spedding and Ash Boddy, Director – Business Operations, Defence West, were given a guided site visit of PROFLUID’s premises at Wangara by PROFLOUD’s Workshop Supervisor Amr El Sisi. © PROFLUID. Supplied.

ANALYSIS

WEST COAST DEFENCE

The Office of Defence Industry Support (ODIS) is active in promoting defence industry engagement by hosting regular seminars and workshops throughout WA. Seen here, Daniel Moss, one of the ODIS WA team’s defence industry advisors, addresses an industry audience at the ODIS Forum 2023. © Multiplex. Supplied.

Anzac-class frigates. The soon-to-be-launched Navy Capability Centre in Henderson is under construction, and, once finished later this year, shall enable crew and logistics support to navy vessels undergoing extended maintenance and upgrades at the AMC, and will be integral to supporting RMC-West.

The Review also outlined the vital importance of building a dry dock capability in WA as a critical enabler for the navy. The proposed graving dock is earmarked to play a major role in the construction, maintenance and sustainment of large Royal Australian Navy vessels, and likely of allied navies, too. All decisions for infrastructure upgrades, and the future of continuous shipbuilding at the AMC, will hinge on the Commonwealth Government’s release of an independent review of the navy’s surface combatant fleet capability later this year.

A possible issue under evaluation will be the future operational relevance of the OPVs currently under construction at the AMC in meeting Defence’s contemporary requirements. Should the review determine that the OPVs are no longer suited for the navy, the program may be reduced markedly, or even wound-up.

The shipyards in Henderson may need to be reconfigured to accommodate a new class of vessels and, while the Commonwealth has committed to a continuous shipbuilding program for WA, it has also flagged the future consolidation of industry and infrastructure. Hence, the significance of the upcoming surface fleet review cannot be understated in shaping the future of WA’s defence shipbuilding industry.

GEOPOLITICS & TRADE The ongoing deterioration of the global security environment has now reached a point where the prospect of high-intensity conflict is very real. As such, the greater importance of the Quad is increasingly salient to Australian interests, as relations with India and Japan rapidly and comprehensively expand, coupled with the US. Australia-India relations have recently made significant strides, with growth in bilateral trade and strategic cooperation. One standout development is the Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA), launched in December 2022.

This agreement represents a considerable economic commitment from both countries, with over 85% of Australian goods exports by value to India now being tariff-free.

Reflecting a growing strategic partnership, both countries have also witnessed significant developments in bilateral military cooperation. One notable initiative began in 2022: the General Rawat Young Officer Exchange Program, under which Australian officers are hosted by their Indian counterparts, allowing for visits to various defence establishments across four Indian cities. Subject to confirmation, in August 2023, Australia is considering hosting the Malabar multilateral naval exercise for the first time, possibly off Perth in the waters of the Western Australia Exercise Area (WAXA).

In the realm of joint defence industry collaboration, there have been notable developments as well. The reinvigorated India-Australia Joint Working Group (JWG) on Defence Industry, Research and Materiel is EDITION 5 • 2022-23

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“

The state government, industry, and the university and vocational education sectors are already working with the Commonwealth Government to ensure that WA is ready to support the selected pathway to a conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarine capability.

– RADM Philip Spedding DSC AM, WA Defence Advocate.

set to play an integral role in spurring cooperation, with an upcoming meeting in Australia marking an important milestone in the strengthening partnership.

Complementing the work of the JWG, the upcoming establishment of a Joint Centre of Excellence for Critical and Emerging Technology reflects the commitment of both countries to nurture innovation and collaboration. Despite India’s commitment to pivoting away as the world’s largest importer of defence equipment, Australian firms are now better placed to harness opportunities for joint ventures, catering to India’s defence equipment needs, particularly in electronic systems, avionics, precision machining and composite materials. Also significant is the Australia-India Cyber and Critical Technology Partnership, which has emerged as another vital platform auguring collaboration on the development of ethical standards around such critical technologies as AI, 5G/6G, IoT and blockchain.

The frequency of ministerial visits in 2022 highlights the growing significance and mutual importance of the Indo-Australian relationship. The visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Australia, along with the visits by India’s Minister for External Affairs, Dr S. Jaishankar, and Minister for Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, underscore the growing value India places on its relationship with Australia. Likewise, visits to India by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his deputy, Richard Marles, signify Australia’s commitment to strengthening ties with India. Looking forward, Australia-India relations are poised for substantial growth, with shared ambitions to increase two-way trade to $100bn over the next five years.

Another Quad partner of significance to Australia is Japan, which has become an important partner in the Indo-Pacific region. Bilateral relations have moved from strength to strength, with 2022-23 proving foundational. In December 2022, Japan released its National Defense Strategy, outlining its intent to make Australia a close relationship, second only to the US. In realising that objective, 2022 was replete with key milestones:

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•

In January, Australia and Japan signed a Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) enabling closer military cooperation between the ADF and the Japan SelfDefense Force.

•

In June, the two countries endorsed a memorandum of understanding aimed at fostering collaborative research on defence equipment.

•

In October, both countries agreed to update the 2007 Japan-Australia Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation. The Statement also aims to strengthen bilateral cooperation in nonmilitary spheres, to enhance cooperation in supply chain resilience, critical minerals and boosting mutual critical infrastructure protection.

The collaboration extends to technological advancement, particularly in quantum computing, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity fields, with the Japan-Australia Cyber Policy Dialogue set to take centre stage.

•

According to a Joint-Statement at the 10th Japan-Australia 2+2 Ministerial Consultations in December, Canberra and Tokyo plan to dramatically enhance military-to-military interoperability.

With such a comprehensive series of bilateral agreements in place, to provide further impetus, later this year, a major Australian defence industry trade delegation is poised to visit Japan to buttress defence industry cooperation.

It is evident that the rise in priority of the two Quad partner countries of India and Japan opens a whole new range of possibilities that, until recently, were relatively limited in scope and potential. The strengthening of strategic ties with the two Asian regional powers demonstrates the nature of the changing global order and how Australia is proactively engaging the IndoPacific region.

It is also noteworthy that expanding ties with India, in particular, will increasingly shape Australian awareness and perceptions of geo-strategic and economic considerations for the Indian Ocean region. Australia stands to derive additional strategic and economic benefits looking west. The growing relationship with India is likely to serve as a catalyst for the further growth, given that according to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australia already sustains a lucrative $181.65bn two-way trading relationship with Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) member states, comprising $98.66bn worth of exports and $82.99bn worth of imports.

PRISM INTO WA’S DEFENCE FUTURE As the implementation of Defence investment materialises, and export markets with India and Japan open up further for Australian industry, these developments serve as a prism into WA’s defence future, suggesting that the years ahead are likely replete with potential for further growth and expansion.

Previously, the WA government set its sights on doubling the value of Defence’s annual contribution to the state from $3bn to $6bn by 2030. Recent Commonwealth Government proclamations, and likely future announcements over the longer term, suggest, however, that WA will be privy to an increase in Defence spending that may surpass previous projections.

Seen in this light, and looking ahead, RADM Philip Spedding DSC AM RAN (Rtd), who commenced his

ANALYSIS

WEST COAST DEFENCE

In May 2023, WA Defence Advocate, RADM Phil Spedding and Justin Fromm, Director - Defence Industry Engagement, Defence West, were provided a guided tour by Motium’s CEO Jacqueline Shervington, and Business Development Account Manager, Dieter von Mollendorf, of their company’s facility at Technology Park. © Motium. Supplied.

role as WA’s new defence advocate in January this year, expressed to WA DEFENCE REVIEW his views on the likely challenges and opportunities ahead: “The next 12 months will be extremely important for the future of WA’s defence industry. Defence has an ambitious and challenging agenda to implement the AUKUS optimal pathway and the recommendations from the Defence Strategic Review 2023.

“The world-class facilities and workforce at the AMC are already critical to the sustainment of navy’s ships and submarines and Defence’s continuous shipbuilding agenda. Reviews by the Commonwealth into navy’s surface combatant fleet capability, as well as industry and infrastructure consolidation, will shape both the future demand at Henderson and the way in which the state and industry will meet that future demand.”

“In summation, there are exciting future opportunities. But the ability of industry to meet the needs of the Commonwealth Government will depend largely upon effective engagement as Defence progresses through its key reviews and implements recently announced initiatives.”

“The Quad, which links Australia with the US, India and Japan, is principally a diplomatic response to emerging security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region.

The Australian Government notes that the Quad will assist in responding to challenges in health security, climate change, infrastructure, critical and emerging technology, cyber security, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, space, maritime security, countering disinformation, and counter-terrorism.”

“The state government, industry, and the university and vocational education sectors are already working with the Commonwealth Government to ensure that WA is ready to support the selected pathway to a conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarine capability.”

“And in developing closer ties between four democracies and market economies, other potential benefits may be realised for the member nations. For WA defence industry, any increased access to markets in the US, Japan and India would be welcomed. Dealing with the US can be challenging, but the challenges are largely understood.”

“However, the defence industry in WA supports more than just the maritime sector. The broader benefits under AUKUS Pillar II offer exciting future opportunities, and industry looks forward to greater insight into Defence’s priorities. And industry is excited by the prospect of a more dynamic and responsive defence innovation system, centred around the Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator.”

In conclusion, RADM Spedding affirmed: “On the other hand, the Japanese defence market has traditionally been closed and difficult to access, and India presents as an enormous potential opportunity, but one that is little understood. For WA companies to grow and export into these markets, they will need the support and assistance of both the Commonwealth and state governments.”

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INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS & DIPLOMACY

NATO: THE DAWN OF A NEW ERA IN COLLECTIVE DEFENCE AND SHARED SECURITY

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS & DIPLOMACY

The international rules-based order is under increasing pressure, most notably from hostile authoritarian states. Europe is confronted by its largest conflict since World War II, and developments in the Indian Ocean and Indo-Pacific regions are having potentially serious implications for Europe and vice-versa. In an exclusive and comprehensive interview conducted on 6 February 2023, the 33rd Chair of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Military Committee, ADM Rob Bauer, shared NATO’s perspectives and plans with WA DEFENCE REVIEW. As the Chair of the Military Committee, a role which has been filled in the past by such renowned military professionals as GEN Omar Bradley of the United States (1949-50) and Admiral of the Fleet Earl Mountbatten of Burma (1960-61), ADM Bauer is NATO’s senior military officer and spokesperson on all military matters, and the principal military adviser to the Secretary-General. He offers an open assessment of key strategic challenges, both regionally and globally, including on cyber security and climate change, as well as the growing cooperation between NATO and Australia.

A powerful symbol of strength and assurance. Seen here, in November 2022, the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group sailing in formation heads for European waters, flanked by warships from Canada, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands and Spain. © NATO. EDITION 5 • 2022-23

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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

An Admiral of the Royal Netherlands Navy, Rob Bauer has, since June 2021, served as the 33rd Chair of the NATO Military Committee. © NATO.

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS & DIPLOMACY

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

“

NATO’s relationship with Russia has fundamentally changed for the long-term.

Unfortunately, Russia has chosen to pursue a path of military aggression. We remain, however, committed to keeping channels for de-confliction open to avoid any unintended escalation, misunderstanding or miscalculation.

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS & DIPLOMACY

The world order is in an increasingly precarious state.

How significant, and what is the nature of the threat posed by the so-called ‘Axis of Autocracy’ countries to European security specifically, and global security more generally?

The NATO 2022 Strategic Concept makes clear that the deepening strategic partnership between China and Russia, and their mutually reinforcing attempts to undercut the rules-based international order, run counter to our values and interests. So far, Beijing has been unwilling to condemn Russia’s war on Ukraine and has joined Moscow in calling on NATO to stop admitting new members.

Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has gravely altered the global security environment. Its brutal and unlawful invasion has caused unspeakable suffering and destruction. Russia continually seeks direct control through coercion, subversion, aggression and annexation. It aims to destabilise countries to our east and south. That is why our

Strategic Concept lists Russia as the most significant and direct threat to allied security and to peace and stability in the Euro-Atlantic area. The other main threat facing the alliance is posed by international terror groups. Terrorism is a threat to the security of our citizens and to international peace and stability.

NATO’s relationship with Russia has fundamentally changed for the long term. Unfortunately, Russia has chosen to pursue a path of military aggression. We remain, however, committed to keeping channels for de-confliction open to avoid any unintended escalation, misunderstanding or miscalculation. NATO is a defensive alliance, and we do not threaten Russia or any other country, but we will defend our one billion citizens and allied territory from any threat, from any direction.

NATO does not see China as an adversary. We see opportunities to engage on issues such as arms control and climate change, but China is using a broad range of political, economic and military tools to project power, while remaining opaque about its intentions and its military build-up. This includes expanding its nuclear arsenal without any constraints, and with a complete lack of transparency. It also includes malicious hybrid and cyber operations, confrontational rhetoric, and disinformation targeting Allies.

Therefore, our new Strategic Concept makes it clear that the allies consider China’s stated ambitions and coercive policies a challenge to our interests, security and values. It is crucial that free, democratic countries around the world work together to promote and uphold the international rules-based order.

NATO is now experiencing an era of strategic reinvigoration among its member states. Yet, many key challenges remain. Can you please identify what those challenges are and how are they being addressed?

An ongoing feature of NATO preparedness in the Arctic region is exemplified by Exercise Cold Response 2022, under which the US Army’s 10th Special Forces Group conducted training manoeuvres in the Swedish Arctic. © NATO.

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NATO does not see China as an adversary. We see opportunities to engage on issues such as arms control and climate change, but China is using a broad range of political, economic and military tools to project power, while remaining opaque about its intentions and its military build-up”.

We are seeing the dawn of a new era of collective defence. For several decades, the alliance was primarily involved in crisis management operations and missions. Time was on our side. We could plan for crisis management operations and missions, balance our stockpiles and have the time to develop our capabilities. In collective defence, the timing is very much decided by our adversaries. That means we always have to be ready to expect the unexpected.

Today’s security environment is increasingly interconnected. This not only pertains to the threats we face, but also to the solutions we must find to increase our readiness.

To name one example: stocks. Allies are looking to increase their defence industries’ production capacity to strengthen supply chains and manufacture more weapons and ammunition.

For a long time, the global economy has been operating on the principle of ‘just enough, just in time’. But the war in Ukraine shows us once again the importance of having large stocks. It is up to political, military and industrial leaders around the world to find joint solutions for this. To make efficient and effective use of the expertise and specialisation that exists around the world. Our economic wealth is

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built on the stability of our security environment. We should all choose values over value.

As I mentioned earlier, the two main threats facing the alliance are Russia and terror groups. But we face other security challenges as well.

For instance, energy security. Russia has weaponised energy exports, which led to a crisis across global energy markets. In response, NATO and its democratic partners around the globe are investing in stable and reliable energy supply. Ultimately, this will strengthen overall resilience against future external political and economic pressure. The European Union also has agreed to phase out its reliance on energy imports by 2027. As 21 NATO allies are also European Union members, that also benefits the alliance.

Another challenge is climate change. It is a threat multiplier. Therefore, the alliance is incorporating climate change considerations into a range of work strands from resilience, civil preparedness, defence planning and standards, to innovation, training, exercises and disaster response. We are also addressing the need to adapt our capabilities to the changing climate more prominently in our procurement practices and our partnership with industry. We are also assessing how climate change affects our deterrence and defence posture, including readiness, enablement, reinforcement and military mobility.

Furthermore, the alliance experiences malicious cyber threats every day, from low-level attempts to technologically sophisticated incidents. Their aim is to degrade our critical infrastructure, interfere with government services, extract intelligence, steal intellectual property and impede our military activities.

NATO Exercise Neptune Shield is a major multinational training initiative. In 2022, a carrier strike group, amphibious ready group and a Marine Expeditionary Unit were involved. In this image, UK and Czech strike aircraft conduct aerial manoeuvres in support of seaborne forces. © NATO. EDITION 5 • 2022-23

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We are responding by strengthening our ability to detect, prevent and respond to malicious cyber activities. We are also working with our partner countries and international organisations to enhance our shared security.

To assist us in deterring and defending against cyber-attacks, we included cyber as an operational domain in our alliedwide planning, policies and strategies.

Across the alliance, we share information about cyber threats and vulnerabilities, which helps us to respond more quickly, and identify those responsible. We have rapid reaction teams on standby that can help allies under cyber-attack and we have a Cyberspace Operations Centre in Mons, Belgium.

Allies are also enhancing their national cyber defences and increasing exchanges of information. Furthermore, they are leading the development of a virtual rapid response cyber capability on a voluntary basis and using national assets. This initiative was launched following the Madrid Summit.

Needless to say, we live in a more dangerous and competitive world. Our security is not regional, but global. The alliance is keen to work with democratic partners around the world to promote peace and protect our shared security.

How is the Russian invasion of Ukraine redefining the European security order and what is the likely array of endgame scenarios that NATO is considering?

For more than 70 years, NATO ensured the freedom and security of its allies. After two World Wars and the Cold War, we had a stable European security order. However, war has returned to the European continent. On 24 February 2022, President Putin willingly chose to attack a sovereign and democratic country: Ukraine. This

NATO Military Committee Chair, ADM Rob Bauer, was invited as a special guest to attend the 24th Annual Indo-Pacific Chiefs of Defence Conference held in Sydney in July 2022. © NATO.

war is not just a European crisis. It is a challenge to global security and stability.

Russia aims to destabilise allies and partner nations through its use of conventional, cyber and hybrid means. It conducts constant information warfare, which can now be also witnessed in Africa and Asia. It seeks out areas of the world where anti-Western sentiment exists to spread disinformation and create chaos.

NATO allies are providing Ukraine with what it needs on the battlefield so it can arrive at the negotiating table in the best possible position. We will support Ukraine for as long as it takes.

The war in Ukraine is the largest conflict that Europe has experienced since World War II. What lessons does this conflict hold for the future of warfare?

Our initial observations show us that hard power is a reality. This can be seen on the ground in Ukraine. Kinetic effects are what produce results on the battlefield; cyber warfare and sanctions are not enough on their own. We see

a 1914-18 trench warfare battle with the addition of drone warfare. Modern warfare is just as much about bits and bots, as it is about mud and blood.

We also see that precision can beat mass, but it takes time for it to work.

Logistical support and stockpiles are of crucial importance. The scale of this war is immense. The Russians are averaging 20,000 artillery rounds a day. Normally, the US produces 18,000 rounds a month, so increasing production capacity across all of our defence industries is vital. An active and able industrial base is just as important as ready forces.

In this war, we have also seen the positive effect of introducing the concept of ‘mission command’ in Ukraine’s senior political and military leadership. The top leadership determines the ‘why’ and the ‘what’, and the lower-level leadership determines the ‘how’. This allows for speedy and flexible decision-making and higher effectiveness on the battlefield.

But the most important lesson identified is the importance of resilience in all parts of society. This goes wider

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Across the alliance, we share information about cyber threats and vulnerabilities, which helps us to respond more quickly, and identify those responsible. We have rapid reaction teams on standby that can help allies under cyber-attack and we have a Cyberspace Operations Centre in Mons, Belgium.

and deeper than the military alone. The war in Ukraine shows that defending your nation is a responsibility that lies not just on the shoulders of those in uniform.

Deterrence and defence require participation from all parts of our societies; a truly ‘collective’ defence.

The IndoPacific region is now widely considered the epicentre of global great power competition. The escalating stand-off between China and the US is making the prospect of conflict increasingly real.

In light of recent NATO activities and announcements, can you define NATO’s interests in and objectives for the region?

NATO’s mission and purpose remains unchanged: defending the Euro-Atlantic area and protecting the rules-based order that has kept our people safe and free for over 70 years. However, the threats to our security come from multiple directions, and they are increasingly global, with the rules-based order under pressure like never before. Therefore, NATO is increasing its cooperation with like-minded nations such as Australia, Japan, the Republic of Korea and New Zealand.

To continue to fulfil our mission and purpose, we need to take a more global approach to security, but this does not mean that NATO will be a global

organisation. NATO is and will remain a regional organisation for Europe and North America.

It is important to note that several allies have reconfigured their foreign policy with a greater focus on the Indo-Pacific region. These are mostly countries that are present and engaged in the region, such as the United States of America, France and the United Kingdom. They are stepping up their engagement in the region. Germany and the Netherlands have also released strategies concerning the Indo-Pacific. This demonstrates the strategic importance that is being given to the region – now and in the future.

The Indian Ocean region is also an increasingly crucial strategic theatre. What are the implications of this fractious zone for European security, and how does it feature in NATO planning and operations?

The region is important for NATO, given that developments in that region can directly affect EuroAtlantic security. Some nations in the region have been vocal about condemning Russia’s brutal war in Ukraine and others have maintained more ambivalent positions.

Russia’s global standing has been significantly altered since the war in Ukraine but not equally across the world. Where it has lost support in the West, it is seeking to revive or garner new support elsewhere.

That is not new; Russia has been engaging more in the Indian Ocean region for the past 10 years, since its illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014.

Consequentially, we have enhanced our mutual situational awareness on security developments in the Indian Ocean region with our partners contributing unique perspectives to NATO policy discussions on common security challenges, such as cyber defence and climate change.

Held in Lithuania, Exercise Iron Wolf 2022 brought together 3500 troops to engage in readiness exercises. Seen above, troops from the Belgian Armed Forces were one of 14 NATO and partner countries that took part. © NATO.

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Modern warfare is just as much about bits and bots, as it is about mud and blood.

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NATO and Australia share an increasingly close partnership.

How would NATO characterise the relationship today and the nature of the cooperation? From NATO’s perspective, where do you see potential for this relationship to be enhanced in the future?

While NATO and Australia are far apart geographically, we have been partners since 2005.

That intensified in 2012 with the joint NATO-Australia declaration, again in 2014 when Australia became an Enhanced Opportunities Partner and, most recently, in 2019 when NATO and Australia signed a renewed partnership agreement. Australia is a highly-valued partner for the alliance.

Australia has made significant contributions to NATO operations and missions for many years. Over

Multinational Exercise Iron Wolf actively rehearsed combined arms drills, as depicted above, with the deployment of German-made Leopard 2 tanks. © NATO.

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Needless to say, we live in a more dangerous and competitive world. Our security is not regional, but global. The Alliance is keen to work with democratic partners around the world to promote peace and protect our shared security.

almost a decade, Australia was one of the largest non-NATO troop contributors to the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan, which completed its mission in 2014. Australia continued its support as part of our Resolute Support Mission and NATO-led defence capacity-building efforts through the Afghan National Army Trust Fund.

Today, Australia is contributing to our non-combative and capacity building NATO Mission in Iraq. This mission is

designed to help strengthen Iraqi security institutions and forces so that they themselves can prevent the return of ISIS, fight terrorism and stabilise their country.

We also work together to strengthen maritime security. Since 2022, Australia has been an operational partner for NATO’s non-Article Five, namely Operation Sea Guardian in the Mediterranean. Its mission is to bolster maritime situational awareness, security, counter-terrorism, and regional interoperability. In the past, the Royal Australian Navy also cooperated with us to fight piracy off the coast of Somalia as part of Operation Ocean Shield, which ended in 2016.

Our cooperation with Australia makes sense not only because we share similar values, but also because security challenges are becoming more global. We face the same challenges and threats, and we need to face them and deal with them together.

As to how we can enhance our cooperation, I think we can build on our existing partnership by sharing information, exchanging best practices, and learning from each other to support each other in upholding the rules-based international order, to work together on

Rotational forces of Portuguese marines participate in maritime and riverine training operations in Lithuania, as part of assurance measures to reinforce NATO’s sensitive eastern flank. © NATO.

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maritime security, climate change, cyber defence, and hybrid threats. We can also help each other understand and deal with the consequences of the geo-political competition that is currently ongoing in the Indo- Pacific region, especially regarding China.

Looking to the future, what are NATO’s immediate and long-term plans, and how does NATO see its role evolving in an era likely to be characterised by greater strategic unpredictability and competition?

The NATO Military Authorities have been preparing for this new era of collective defence for some time. In 2019, the Allied Chiefs of Defence, the Military Committee, established a new threatbased NATO Military Strategy.

That was followed by the Concept for the Deterrence and Defence of the EuroAtlantic Area, or DDA. It is a strategy for the short to medium term – the today – which falls under the purview of our Supreme Allied Commander Europe, General Christopher Cavoli. DDA has a zero to five-year outlook.

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The war in Ukraine shows that defending your nation is a responsibility that lies not just on the shoulders of those in uniform. Deterrence and defence require participation from all parts of our societies; a truly ‘collective’ defence.

We also have the NATO Warfighting Capstone Concept, NWCC. This is a strategy for the long term, our tomorrow. This falls under the purview of our Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, General Philippe Lavigne. The NWCC has a 20-year horizon outlook.

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We deliberately developed these two strategies almost in parallel because if you are not careful, ‘the urgent’ will always be chosen over ‘the important’. As I said earlier, we have seen from the war in Ukraine that modern warfare will be as much about bits and bots as it will be about mud and blood.

The first step we have taken is to update the family of plans for collective defence.

The plans that we are now working on, after the functional plans, are our Regional Plans. These are geographically specific plans that describe how we will defend key and relevant places in the Alliance against both Russia and terror groups.

These plans are going to drive a tremendous amount of change in the alliance – our operations, activities and our investments. National and NATO military plans will be more closely interlinked than ever before.

We will also require a new force structure. That is, the number and types

of equipment and organisations that we require to deter and defend against the two threats, and we have a New Force Model. This will generate a greater mass of forces held at higher readiness and available for our Supreme Allied Commander Europe. This is a change to the rotational schedule-based model we had the luxury of using during the past 20 years during our crisis management era.

We also have to adapt our command and control arrangement.

This family of plans is a group of living documents, which can, and will be, updated as the situation requires.

Flexibility is a key factor in this era of collective defence.

Looking to the future, our NATO Warfighting Capstone Concept, and its accompanying Warfare Development Agenda, are planning which capacities and capabilities we will need in the next 20 years. These strategies help us maintain a decisive military advantage.

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NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg converses with NATO Military Committee Chair, ADM Rob Bauer, at the NATO 2022 Summit in Madrid. © NATO.

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Our cooperation with Australia makes sense not only because we share similar values, but also because security challenges are becoming more global.

We face the same challenges and threats, and we need to face them and deal with them together.

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We know that future military operations will be multi-domain, with flexible schemes of manoeuvre, allowing for a range of effects to be delivered.

We need to have MultiDomain Operations in harmony with Digital Transformation. Today, the NATO Command Structure increasingly relies on technology to deliver its key objectives. Staying on the edge of innovation and creating what we call ‘a digital backbone’ will enable decisions at the speed of relevance. It will allow the integration of emerging

disruptive technologies into our Military Instrument of Power and, crucially, allow allied forces what they need to maintain their superiority on the field.

To be fully effective, we must be able to collect, prioritise, process and share data, and then fuse it into a continuously updated display of information for joint forces. Out of all the available data, whomever can gather the most accurate and relevant information and relay it quickly and securely to their commanders at sea, in the air or on the ground, wins the war.

We are on the right path with the development of our concepts but we need to keep moving forward, and increase our speed of decision-making. We have a duty to ensure that the alliance has, and will have, the necessary capabilities to counter any threat, at any time, from any direction. Our core tasks are to protect and keep safe the one billion people living on allied soil, to uphold the values that we hold dear, and to protect the international rules-based order.

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NATO COMMAND STRUCTURE Allied Command Transformation

Allied Command Operations

Supreme Allied Command Transformation Headquarters (Norfolk, USA)

Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (Mons, Belgium)

Joint Analysis Lessons Learned Centre (Portugal)

Joint Forces Training Centre (Poland)

Joint Warfare Centre (Norway)

Headquarters Joint Support and Enabling Command (Germany)

Headquarters Joint Force Command Brunssum (Netherlands)

Headquarters Joint Force Command (USA)

Headquarters Joint Force Command Naples (Italy)

Air Command (Germany)

Land Command (Turkey)

Combined Air Operations Centre Torrejon (Spain)

Combined Air Operations Centre Uedem (Germany)

Deployable Air Command Control Element (Italy)

Maritime Command (United Kingdom)

Signals Battalion (Poland)

NATO Communication and Information Systems Group (Belgium)

Signals Battalion (Germany)

Airborne Early Warning (Germany)

Alliance Ground Surveillance (Italy)

Signals Battalion (Italy)

NATO’s Standing Maritime Group 2 (SNMG2) is a high-readiness rapid reaction force. Seen here, a Romanian Navy IAR-330 Puma helicopter operates in the Black Sea on stabilisation and deterrence operations. © NATO. EDITION 5 • 2022-23

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As a critically important forum, the NATO Chiefs of Defence Session gathered in January 2023 to discuss the strengthening of the alliance’s strategic and defence posture in view of the ongoing crisis in Ukraine. © NATO.

Chairs of the NATO Military Committee Tenure

Commander

Nationality

NATO Military Committee in Chiefs-of-Staff Session (1949-63) 1949-50

GEN Omar N Bradley

United States

1951-52

LTGEN Etienne Baele

Belgium

1952-53

LTGEN Charles Foulkes

Canada

1953-54

ADM EJC Quistgaard

Denmark

1954-55

GEN Augustin Guillaume

France

1955-56

LTGEN Stylianos Pallis

Greece

1956-57

GEN Giuseppe Mancinelli

Italy

1957-58

GEN BRPF Hasselman

Netherlands

1958-59

LTGEN Bjarne Øen

Norway

1959-60

GEN JA Beleza Ferras

Portugal

1960

GEN Rustu Erdelhun

Turkey

1960-61

AF Earl Mountbatten of Burma

United Kingdom

1961-62

GEN Lyman L Lemitzer

United States

1962-63

LTGEN CP de Cumont

Belgium

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NATO Military Committee in Permanent Session (1958-63) 1958-61

GEN BRPF Hasselman

Netherlands

1961-63

GEN Adolf Heusinger

Germany

NATO Military Committee (1963-present) 1963-64

GEN Adolf Heusinger

Germany

1964-68

LTGEN CP de Cumont

Belgium

1968-71

ADM Sir Nigel Henderson

United Kingdom

1971-74

GEN Johannes Steinhoff

Germany

1974-77

AF Sir Peter Hill-Norton

United Kingdom

1977-80

GEN Herman F Zeiner Gunderson

Norway

1980-83

ADM Robert H Falls

Canada

1983-86

GEN Cornelis De Jager

Netherlands

1986-89

Gen Wolfgang Altenburg

Germany

1989-93

GEN Vigleik Eide

Norway

1993-96

FM Richard Vincent

United Kingdom

1996-99

GEN Klaus Naumann

Germany

1999-02

ADM Guido Venturoni

Italy

2002-05

GEN Harald Kujat

Germany

2005-08

GEN Ray Henault

Canada

2008-11

ADM Giampaolo Di Paola

Italy

2012-15

GEN Knud Bartels

Denmark

2015-18

GEN Petr Pavel

Czech Republic

2018-21

ACM Sir Stuart Peach

United Kingdom

2021-present

ADM Rob Bauer

Netherlands

Source: NATO

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ENDEAVOUR IN THE INDOPACIFIC: VOYAGE OF THE FGS BAYERN

By CMDR Tilo Kalski,

Commanding Officer, FGS Bayern (2018-22) German Navy.

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When FGS Bayern left its homeport of Wilhelmshaven on a sunny August morning in 2021, the crew had already spent more than four months at sea that year, conducting trials, training and evaluations. All the hard work over the last two years that had enabled the ship to undertake this unique journey was forgotten with the passing of the pier heads.

MAKING HISTORY Also on board for the first two miles was the then acting Minister for Defence, Annegret KrampKarrenbauer. Shortly before, she had given a speech to the 136 women and men of the core crew and their families and friends, waving goodbye from the jetty.

With roughly 50 augmentees, including a boarding team, the flight crew for the two Sea Lynx helicopters, an advanced medical team and a handful of volunteers from other units, we embarked on the seven-month deployment that had been planned and scheduled by the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Defence. In accordance with the Policy Guidelines on the Indo-Pacific Region, released in 2020, the deployment was declared a training and diplomatic

mission, thereby avoiding the need to involve the Bundestag, the German parliament.

TRAVAILS AFOOT At the peak of a worldwide pandemic and shortly before the election of a government (whose foreseeable new ruling parties had not been in favour of the deployment), the time could not have been worse for this unique journey in the history of the contemporary German Navy. Although Bayern had visited the Indo-Pacific region on her maiden voyage in 1997, back then she was accompanied by one frigate and two support ships.

Never before had a single operational ship been sent on such a long trip without being implemented

German warship FGS Bayern arrived in Fremantle on 28 September 28 2021 for a week-long goodwill visit as part of the crew’s historic seven-month Indo-Pacific deployment. © WA DEFENCE REVIEW. Photographer: Eddy Lidya.

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Route of FGS Bayern’s Indo-Pacific voyage. © Bundeswehr: Supplied.

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in either a task group or the operational/ logistical organisation of an ongoing military mission (ie UNIFIL). For the crew, as well as the German Navy, that, in combination with the ongoing pandemic, posed the biggest challenge during the seven months away from home waters. Where and when would we get fuel, replenishment, supplies? Would we be allowed to enter the respective harbours and go ashore? Would it be possible to accomplish the diplomatic program and hence fulfil a major part of our mission?

emergency? Those questions dictated not only the daily business but also occupied the minds of most men and women on board. The success of this endeavour was based on an incredible trust in our partner nations and navies along the way, and not once were we left high and dry.

Could we get technicians on board, if needed?

Could a crew member fly home in case of

The crew had to face many other obstacles and challenges along the way: a constant spotlight in conservative and new media, primarily adverse weather conditions, unknown navigational hazards, unknown military hazards in the East and South China Seas, poor lines of communication to family and friends at home, inconvenient political developments (the fall of Afghanistan, AUKUS, the election of a new government, dismissal of the Chief of Navy, dawn of the Ukraine war), and the first ever participation of a German warship in the United Nations regime against North Korea, to name a few.

A positive takeaway for the Bayern crew: the realisation of not just having been part of something extraordinary and unique, but of actually enabling it. Each of us will have something about it sealed in our hearts and minds for the rest of our lives. We may all be individuals with different perceptions and preferences, but I take any bet that the visit to Australia will form a massive part of everyone’s memory pack.

There were some occasions among the 19 port calls when the crew was not allowed ashore and the visiting program had to be cut significantly. At first glance, Christmas in Singapore may sound exciting, but it is still not the same as with family and friends.

EXCELLENT AMBASSADORS But, like all the years before, in the face of adversity, my brilliant crew unveiled their

As a key element of the visit to Perth, CMDR Tilo Kalski had the pleasure of being hosted as a special guest at Government House by then WA Governor, His Excellency Hon Kim Beazley AC. © Supplied via author.

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In a special ceremony, CMDR Tilo Kalski and then German Ambassador to Australia, Dr Fitschen accompanied by VIP guests and Royal Australian Navy officials, attended a commemorative service at the state’s war memorial at King’s Park where a wreath was laid. © Department of Defence. Photographer: LSIS Ronnie Baltoft.

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Shortly before sunset, we reached the exact spot where the wreck of HMAS Sydney had been found a few years before and gathered at the forecastle to memorialise the crewmembers with moving speeches and moments of silence. The second that both wreaths hit the surface of the ocean, the sun disappeared behind the clouds and formed dozens of single rays that illuminated the water in front of us. Words cannot describe the staggering effect of this spectacle of nature on the women and men standing at the ship’s rail, burning this image into our minds for eternity.

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strength, stamina, humour and improvisation skills to overcome and master all challenges, and to support me and each other during the historic deployment.

With the Russian invasion of Ukraine, just days after Bayern had returned to its homeport, the German political, strategic and military focus shifted significantly and it is hard, if not impossible, for me to judge the political impact and effects of our journey from a German point of view.

But there is no doubt in my mind that my crew have been excellent ambassadors for their country and the German Navy. Our contribution to different military operations along the way, as well as exercises like ANNUALEX and the frequent PASSEXs, has been highly praised by all partner navies concerned. We received similar reactions for hosting dozens of receptions, dinner parties and ship tours with many

VIPs from the political, diplomatic, economic and military sectors. The reception from the foreign press was as overwhelmingly positive as that from local populations, thereby giving massive mental support to my crew.

AUSTRALIA SOJOURN Given the above-mentioned challenges, there is hopefully, below the line, a positive takeaway for the Bayern crew: the realisation of not just having been part of something extraordinary and unique, but of actually enabling it. Each of us will have something about it sealed in our hearts and minds for the rest of our lives. We may all be individuals with different perceptions and preferences, but I take any bet that the visit to Australia will form a massive part of everyone’s memory pack.

Nothing could match the uncompromising warmth and openness that we enjoyed throughout our stay. In October 2021, Western Australia represented a surreal place for the sailors, who for 18 months, had lived in a world of masks, daily tests, compulsory vaccinations, restrictions, lockdowns and quarantine, while being denied shore leave. For us, the visit to Australia seemed like a ray of hope for a normal life in the near future and provided an enormous motivational boost for the following months.

The frame for the visit was set by the extraordinarily well-planned and organised program, namely by the very eager military attaché and his staff, the brilliant Honorary Consul, Dr Maluga, and the extremely helpful, big-hearted Commander of HMAS Stirling, CAPT Gary Lawton, to name a few.

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© Department of Defence. Photographer: LSIS Ronnie Baltoft.

© Department of Defence. Photographer: LSIS Ronnie Baltoft.

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A highpoint of FGS Bayern’s visit to WA was the VIP soiree held on board the ship while berthed at Fremantle harbour. Seen here, (L-R) then Assistant Minister for Defence, the Hon Andrew Hastie MP; the Honorary Consul of the Federal Republic of Germany in Western Australia, Dr Gabriele Maluga; then Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon Melissa Price MP, CMDR Tilo Kalski, Ben Morton MP and his son Harrison converse with each other. © Department of Defence.

Photographer: CPOIS Damian Pawlenko.

The Lord Mayor of Perth, Basil Zempilas, and City of Fremantle Cr Andrew Sullivan, were among the first to come on board and we were honoured with a welcoming ceremony by Noongar Elder Richard Walley, which none of us had ever heard or witnessed before. I was delighted that we were allowed to open the harbour gates to the public and hence enable the people of Fremantle and Perth to step aboard. During those few days, thousands took the opportunity to visit the ship and, most importantly, talk to my sailors.

Weapon Technician Officer LT Sven Wrager poses for a photo on board the FGS Bayern. © WA DEFENCE REVIEW. Photographer: Serge DeSilva-Ranasinghe.

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On German Unity Day, we had the honour of hosting a shipboard reception with many distinguished guests and representatives from politics, military, industry and the media, among whom was the then Governor of Western Australia, Hon Kim Beazley AC, the then Minister for Defence Industry, Hon

Melissa Price MP, and the then German Ambassador to Australia, His Excellency Dr Fitschen.

More than 40 sailors from Bayern accepted an invitation from the Royal Australian Navy to visit HMAS Stirling, where we had the chance to visit the new auxiliary ship HMAS Stalwart, view submarines and compete in a friendly match of beach volleyball, topped off with a delicious Aussie barbecue.

INTO OUR MINDS FOR ETERNITY I was honoured to accept an invitation to Government House, where I had the privilege of exchanging thoughts with Hon Kim Beazley and learning from his insights into Australian and global politics, and his extraordinary knowledge and experience in so many fields. We also had the chance to talk about the tragic events that led to the loss of HMAS

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© WA DEFENCE REVIEW. Photographer: Serge DeSilva-Ranasinghe.

Sydney (II) during the Second World War and the deaths of so many brave sailors.

After having experienced the fabulous exhibition ‘Deep Light’ at the Western Australian Museum detailing the search and discovery of the wrecks of Sydney II and Kormoran, I had the privilege of laying a wreath in honour of those who had lost their lives at sea, in a ceremony at the State War Memorial in Kings Park.

tested our interoperability, FGS Bayern had to leave Australian waters and continue its deployment.

would allow me to finish this mission. I am sure that many of my crew members felt exactly the same.

LASTING RELATIONSHIPS

We met so many interesting and welcoming people and were granted the privilege of listening to their stories and telling our own. We made new friends and promised to see each other again.

I hope that we will do so very soon.

At that time, I already knew that the port call in Fremantle had been a very special one, but little did I know how much I would draw on all those positive experiences to build a resilience that

A few days later we conducted another ceremony on board the ship, together with two Australian sailors who had joined us for our trip from Fremantle to Darwin.

Shortly before sunset, we reached the exact spot where the wreck of HMAS Sydney had been found a few years before and gathered at the forecastle to memorialise the crewmembers with moving speeches and moments of silence. The second that both wreaths hit the surface of the ocean, the sun disappeared behind the clouds and formed dozens of single rays that illuminated the water in front of us. Words cannot describe the staggering effect of this spectacle of nature on the women and men standing at the ship’s rail, burning this image into our minds for eternity.

Due to the restrictions that applied at the time when travelling from one state or territory to another, we could only stay in Darwin for a few hours to refuel.

After a very intensive exercise with HMAS Glenelg, in which we trained and

© WA DEFENCE REVIEW. Photographer: Serge DeSilva-Ranasinghe.

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COMMENTARY

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS & DIPLOMACY

On 5 October 2021, the FGS Bayern left Fremantle harbour after completing their historic stopover to WA that also included granting over 1000 members of the Australian public unique access and tours of the warship. © WA DEFENCE REVIEW. Photographer: Serge DeSilva-Ranasinghe.

COMMENTARY

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS & DIPLOMACY

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INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS & DIPLOMACY

COMMENTARY

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS & DIPLOMACY

On 11 October 2021, the crew of HMAS Glenelg waved farewell to FGS Bayern after the completion of a combined exercise in the Timor Sea. Prior to this, on the 7 October, en-route to Darwin the crew of FGS Bayern and two accompanying Royal Australian Navy officials participated in an historic commemorative wreath-laying ceremony at the location of the infamous sinking of HMAS Sydney and the German auxiliary cruiser Kormoran. © Department of Defence. Photographer: LSIS Shane Cameron.

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ANALYSIS

INDIAN OCEAN SECURITY

WHY THE BAY OF BENGAL MATTERS TO AUSTRALIA

By Dr Rajat Ganguly,

Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Asian Security and International Affairs.

The Bay of Bengal has been in the news lately. With Sri Lanka’s economic meltdown and the docking of a Chinese spy ship in Colombo, tensions flared between Delhi, Colombo and Beijing. To signal to China that it is no pushover, India then tested the nuclear capable Agni-V ballistic missile which can potentially hit targets deep inside China from its test range off the coast of Odissa, in the Bay of Bengal. Military planners in India also talked up the importance of the Andaman and Nicobar base in the Bay of Bengal to counter the People’s Liberation Army Navy’s (PLA Navy) growing incursions in the Indian Ocean region. On the economic front, with the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) having become a lame duck organisation due to the India-Pakistan rivalry, policymakers started to talk optimistically about the potential of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) to turbocharge the region’s economic integration and development.

ECONOMIC & COMMERCIAL HUB But what is the Bay of Bengal and why should Australia’s leaders care about developments there? The Bay of Bengal is a maritime area that is bordered in the west by Sri Lanka and India’s eastern coastline, in the north by the estuaries of the Hooghly and Ganges Rivers and the mighty Sundarbans, in the east by the coastlines of Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia, and, in the south, by the wider Indian Ocean. The Bay of Bengal also connects to Singapore and the South China Sea and the wider Pacific Ocean through the Strait of Malacca. Through the Indian Ocean, the Bay of Bengal further connects to the northern and western coastlines of Australia.

The Bay of Bengal has historically been the economic and commercial lifeline of its littoral states.

In medieval times, commercial and trading contacts between India and Southeast Asia were mainly through the Bay of Bengal. During British rule in India and parts of Asia, the ports of Calcutta, Madras, Colombo, Chittagong, Rangoon and Singapore were the lifeblood of international trade and commerce. In more recent times, India’s ‘Look East’ and ‘Act East’ policies have reinforced the economic importance of the Bay of Bengal.

In 1997, Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka and Thailand established BIMSTEC to further boost regional economic cooperation and integration. The four original members of BIMSTEC were later joined by three additional members: Nepal, Bhutan and Myanmar. The BIMSTEC area today is home to almost 1.75bn people and, according to the World Bank as of 2021, has a combined GDP of around US$6tn, or 6% of

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the world’s total. If Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore join BIMSTEC in the future, it will further strengthen the economic potential and value of the Bay of Bengal region.

The Bay of Bengal’s strategic importance has risen, particularly for India since the end of the Cold War, as China has steadily increased its naval footprint in the Indian Ocean region. Beijing has worked hard to cultivate economic and strategic ties with several Bay of Bengal littoral states. As part of President Xi Jinping’s One Belt, One Road initiative, China has invested heavily in infrastructural projects and the construction and maintenance of ports in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Thailand, which critics of China have labelled as part of a so-called ‘string of pearls’ strategy.

Consequently, the PLA Navy’s presence in the area has increased. Particularly upsetting for India in that context was the docking of a Chinese submarine and a reconnaissance ship in Sri Lanka in 2022.

INDIA’S NAVAL PRIMACY During the Cold War, Indian political elites did not consider naval power as central to India’s national security and were content to leave the security of the world’s major oceans in the hands of the superpowers.

Consequently, the lion’s share of India’s Defence budget was allocated to the army and the air force, with the navy as the distant third cousin among the services. But things began to change rapidly in the new millennium as India started investing billions of dollars in modernising and expanding its naval forces. The Indian Navy’s annual expenditure has increased from a paltry US$181mn in 1988 to US$7bn in 2022. In the 2022-23

ANALYSIS

INDIAN OCEAN SECURITY

HMAS Arunta’s embarked MH-60R helicopter conducts maritime reconnaissance off the coast of Japan as HMAS Arunta and USS Milius engage in replenishment at sea with JS Oumi during Exercise Malabar 2022. Often held in the Bay of Bengal, the Malabar exercises have in recent times seen regular Australian naval participation. © Department of Defence. Photographer: LSIS Susan Mossop.

Delhi Kathmandu

Jaipur PACI F I C OCEAN

Karachi

NEPAL

Kanpur

Pingxiang

Thimphu

BHUTAN

Guiyang

Patna

Guilin

Varanasi

Hyderabad

Asansol Bhopal

I N D I A Ahmedabad N OCEAN

SOUTHERN

Mumbai

Dhaka

Jamshedpur

Nagpur

Surat

CHINA

BANGLADESH Kolkata

Guangzhou Nanning

Chittagong

Bhubaneshwar

OCEAN

Pune

Naypyidaw

INDIA

Hong Kong

VIETNAM

MYANMAR

Bhilai

Hanoi

LAOS Vientiane

Hyderabad

Vishakhapatnam

N

Yangon

THAILAND B AY

Chennai

Bangalore

OF

Bangkok

BEN G A L

CAMBODIA Phnom Penh

Kozhikode

Coimbatore

A N D A M A N SEA

Madurai

G ULF O F TH A IL A N D

Trincomalee

L AC CADIVE SEA

Male

MALDIVES

Colombo

Ho Chi Minh City

S O U T H C HI NA S E A

SRI LANKA

BAY OF BENGAL 0

500 kilometres

I N D I A N

OCE A N

BRUNEI Medan

MALAYSIA Kuala Lumpur

1,000 SINGAPORE

I N D O N E S I A © WA DEFENCE REVIEW. EDITION 5 • 2022-23

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INDIAN OCEAN SECURITY

The Bay of Bengal’s strategic importance has risen, particularly for India since the end of the Cold War, as China has steadily increased its naval footprint in the Indian Ocean region. Beijing has worked hard to cultivate economic and strategic ties with several Bay of Bengal littoral states.

Defence budget, the capital expenditure allocation of the Indian Navy was increased by a whopping 44.53%.

The bulk of that capital expenditure has gone on building and upgrading the navy’s submarine and surface fleets and weapons systems.

INS Arihant, an indigenously built nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, has been inducted into service and provides India with a seabased nuclear deterrent.

The Arihant’s sister boat, the nuclear-powered INS Arighat, is undergoing sea trials. Several Scorpène-class diesel-electric submarines, developed jointly with France, have also entered service.

The Indian Navy now operates two aircraft carriers, the newly commissioned INS Vikrant and the older INS Vikramaditya. The Indian Navy today is thus bluewater capable with the acquisition and development of aircraft carriers, diesel-electric and nuclear submarines, and a plethora of other naval assets. The navy has also focused attention on the development of new naval bases and the modernisation of existing ones, particularly in the Bay of Bengal.

A new submarine base near Rambilli on the Bay of Bengal coast close to Visakhapatnam, the headquarters of the Eastern Naval Command, has been built. The state-of-the-art naval base has underground pens to protect nuclear submarines from spy satellites and enemy air attacks. India has also upgraded facilities in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, which is India’s only theatre command, such as the runway extension at the INS Baaz to handle larger aircraft. These enhanced capabilities would allow the Indian Navy to project power in crisis situations, particularly in the Bay of Bengal around the Strait of Malacca and the wider Indian Ocean.

The annual Malabar naval manoeuvres, conducted jointly by the Indian, US, Australian and Japanese navies, provide further security to the Indian Ocean region and its vital sea lanes. In 2023, and for the first time, the Malabar naval exercises are scheduled to be conducted in Australian waters.

India, Australia, Japan and the United States are also members of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad), a grouping of like-minded states that wish to act cooperatively in a wide range of issues including security. The Quad members are also mindful of the massive economic and commercial payoffs not only of the BIMSTEC region, but also in the wider Indian Ocean. For that reason, maintaining peace in the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean is vital. But, as China’s naval footprint in the Bay of Bengal and Indian Ocean is likely to increase in the future, confrontations, frictions and even crises cannot be entirely ruled out.

Sailors from HMAS Arunta marching at the International City Parade in the Bay of Bengal city Visakhapatnam, India, during Exercise Milan 2022. The exercise is an important biennial training activity, bringing together ships and personnel from 16 navies from across the Indo-Pacific region. © Department of Defence. Photographer: LSIS Sittichai Sakonpoonpol.

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INDIAN OCEAN SECURITY

HMAS Adelaide enters Colombo port, Sri Lanka, a key Bay of Bengal island-state, for Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2022 (IPE22). IPE22 is Australia’s flagship regional engagement activity, supporting the Australian Government’s commitment to strengthen military partnerships. IPE22 focused activities across Southeast Asia and the Northeast Indian Ocean. Five ships, 11 helicopters and nearly 1800 personnel conducted activities with 14 countries from 26 September to 26 November 2022, returning to Australia by mid-December. © Department of Defence. Photographer: LSIS Sittichai Sakonpoonpol.

AUSTRALIAN SECURITY IMPLICATIONS

“

The Bay of Bengal has not figured significantly in Australia’s calculus, but it should for two good reasons.

First, the economic potential of BIMSTEC is enormous, which will only increase if Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore join as members in the future. As a trading nation, in a post-pandemic world with the Chinese economy slowing down, Australia would benefit from closer trade and commercial relations with South and Southeast Asian states, particularly India and the other BIMSTEC members.

Second, in this century, the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean are likely to be areas where a militarily assertive China must be contained and kept in check.

The Bay of Bengal has always been vital for Australian security. It hosts vital sea lanes and, though we may seemingly have forgotten, it is part of the area assigned to us in the Redford-Collins Agreement that obliges us to supervise and ensure the safety of shipping in warlike conditions.” – Hon Kim Beazley AC, former Australian Minister for Defence (1984-90).

Recognising the bay’s growing strategic importance the former Australian Defence

Minister, Hon Kim Beazley AC, told WA DEFENCE REVIEW in February 2023, “The Bay of Bengal has always been vital for Australian security. It hosts vital sea lanes and, though we may seemingly have forgotten, it is part of the area assigned to us in the Redford-Collins Agreement that obliges us to supervise and ensure the safety of shipping in warlike conditions.”

He further added, “More importantly, the Cocos Keeling Islands are witnessing a major military upgrade as our northern and western bare bases are now seen as a frontline in our western defences. While the Cocos Keeling Islands may not have previously been thought of as part of that network, they now are, and we are beginning to anchor a defence line very close to the Bay of Bengal.” In conclusion, Beazley affirmed, “At the same time, we are intensifying collaboration with India, whose hegemony in the bay is existentially vital to it.

As we focus on long-distance deterrence, the ability to operate in the Bay of Bengal zone becomes critical to Australia’s defence calculation.”

It is therefore apparent that the sea lanes in the Bay of Bengal and the wider Indian Ocean are the lifeblood of global trade and economic prosperity, and Australia would be particularly vulnerable if commercial shipping were disrupted by an aggressive PLA Navy. Canberra must therefore work with its Quad partners to ensure peace and stability in the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean region.

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The Australian Shipbuilder helping secure the Indo-Pacific.

Australian designed and built Guardian-class Patrol Boat (front) and Evolved Cape-class Patrol Boat (rear)

Established in Western Australia in 1988, Austal is the proven shipbuilder and defence capability partner to Australia and the United States – designing, building and sustaining ships that are helping to secure the Indo Pacific.

From the Cape-class Patrol Boats operating with the Royal Australian Navy and Australian Border Force across Northern Australia; to the Guardian-class Patrol Boats sailing throughout the South Pacific in support of our Pacific Island neighbours.

Our revolutionary designs, including the US Navy’s Independencevariant Littoral Combat Ships and Spearhead-class Expeditionary Fast Transport ships – developed here in Australia – are now based in South East Asia.

And just like these impressive ships, the Austal team is ever present and ever ready; at service centres located across Australia, in Singapore, The Philippines and Vietnam.

Learn more at austal.com

Austal has delivered 12 Guardian-class Patrol Boats to Pacific Island nations since 2018.

US Navy’s Spearhead-class Expeditionary Fast Transport (front) and Independence-variant Littoral Combat Ship (rear)

COMMENTARY

NORTHERN AUSTRALIAN SECURITY

WHITHER AUSTRALIA’S INDIAN OCEAN TERRITORIES?

By Dr Peter Layton,

Senior Correspondent,

WA DEFENCE REVIEW

Location, location, location is the key to understanding Australia’s Indian Ocean Territories. Christmas Island is some 1500km from Australia, with Cocos (Keeling) Islands some 2000km; both are much closer to the Indonesian archipelago. The federal government administers the IOTs through the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts, with most services delivered by the WA government, contracted private companies and other federal government agencies. The IOT’s remoteness affects both islands in similar ways although, in terms of geography and history, both are very different.

HMAS Launceston sails off the coast of Christmas Island while conducting border protection operations. Operation Resolute is the ADF’s contribution to the whole-of-government effort to protect Australia’s borders and offshore maritime interests. © Department of Defence.

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COMMENTARY

ISLAND LIFE Christmas Island is the larger of the two islands and is the top of an ancient underwater volcano eroded to form a plateau ringed by a cliff-faced shoreline. The island has a land area of about 135km2, with its highest point 360m above sea level. People first landed on the island in 1688, arriving in the sailing ship Cygnet, whose crew included William Dampier. In the late 1890s, the Christmas Island Phosphate Company owned by George Clunies Ross and John Murray began phosphate mining and exporting it for fertiliser.

The Japanese invaded and occupied the island from March 1942 until the British returned in October 1945.

The Japanese sent much of the island’s population to prison camps on Java. After the war, the Australian

NORTHERN AUSTRALIAN SECURITY

and New Zealand governments’ purchased the Christmas Island Phosphate company and contracted the British Phosphate Commission to conduct its operations Christmas Island became part of Australia in 1958 and, at the 2021 census, had a population of some 1700 people. Phosphate Resources Limited employs directly and indirectly 400 people, approximately 50% of the island’s workforce. The phosphate mine’s current lease ends in 2034, although there are sufficient commercial resources to sustain mining until 2039. Eco-tourism is hoped to gradually take over, especially that coming from nearby Southeast Asia. The present immigration detention industry is unlikely to be sustainable long-term.

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Cocos’s geography is quite different in being made up of 27 coral islands, of which only West Island and Home Island are inhabited. The atoll’s highest point is 4m with a total land area of about 26km2.

The atoll was first mapped in 1609 with settlement and significant commercial copra production for export beginning in the late 1820s; that ceased in 1987. In World War I, the German cruiser SMS Emden attacked the British cable and wireless station, and in the ensuing battle with the HMAS Sydney, was run aground with 134 lives lost. In World War II, Cocos was regularly attacked by Japanese bombers, used as the key refuelling stop for Qantas flights between Perth and Colombo (Sri Lanka) and became a major British air force base, with some 8300 personnel stationed there.

The changing geo-strategic situation is potentially making the Indian Ocean Territories of increased importance, given their proximity to Asia and location deep in the Indian Ocean.

Sovereignty was transferred to Australia in 1955 with the inhabitants overwhelmingly voting to become Australians in 1988. In the 2021 census, the islands had a population with some 500 Cocos Malays, who mostly practise Sunni Islam, living on Home Island and another 100 people living on West Island,

mainly of Caucasian heritage. Most employment is in the public sector, involving the provision of administrative, educational, health and local government services under contract to the federal government through the Cocos Islands Cooperative Society. There is an embryonic eco-tourism sector involving some small businesses, with hopes of expansion to possibly include Muslim-friendly tourism from Southeast Asia.

STRATEGIC UTILITY Strategically, the islands’ ports and airfields are key assets; the former for receiving supplies and especially fuel, and the latter for their military usefulness.

Christmas Island’s deep-water port is exposed, and subject to seasonal ocean swells and very weather dependent, particularly between October and March.

Ships are moored to specialised deep sea mooring buoys which allow vessels of up to 8m draught and 190m length to offload their cargo using onshore cranes. In the Cocos atoll, ships anchor in a deep part of the inner lagoon with cargo offloaded by the ship’s crane onto a ‘dumb’ barge which is towed to and offloaded at Home Island, and then reloaded onto a landing barge and sent across to West Island.

Cocos Island is wholly reliant on Zentner Shipping’s M/V Borkum, while Christmas Island also has the Phosphate Resources Limited’s vessel the Red Titan,

AB Ebrahim Dollie, a Muslim-Australian sailor serving aboard HMAS Glenelg, participates in prayers with the local Imam and community leaders at a mosque on the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, while deployed on Operation Resolute. © Department of Defence. Photographer: LCPL Flanagan.

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COMMENTARY

NORTHERN AUSTRALIAN SECURITY SULU SEA

Colombo

BRUNEI

MALAYSIA

Medan

PACIFIC OCEAN

Davao

CELEBES SEA

Kuala Lumpur

Tarakan

SINGAPORE INDIAN OCEAN

MOLUCCA SEA

Padang

I

Palembang SOUTHERN

N

D

O

N

E

OCEAN

Bandung Horsburgh Is. Cocos(Keeling) Island (Australian Territory)

Bantam Village

I

A

Ujungpandang

JAVA SEA Jakarta

INDIAN

S

Bandjarmasin

Semarang Surabaya

OCEAN

BANDA SEA

FLORES SEA

Dili

SAVU SEA

Home Is.

TIMOR-LESTE TIMOR SEA

Darwin

West Is. 0

N

5 10 kilometres

South Is. The Settlement

AUSTRALIA’S INDIAN OCEAN TERRITORIES 0

500 kilometres

Christmas Island (Australian Territory)

0

5 10 kilometres

Broome

Derby

Dampier Exmouth

Karratha

AUSTRALIA Carnarvon

1,000

© WA DEFENCE REVIEW.

“

The islands’ supply chains are barely adequate for existing civilian needs.

A major constraint is the poor port facilities at both locations.

which runs to Port Klang in Malaysia. The M/V Borkum makes regular supply runs from Perth to the IOT.

The islands’ airfields are similar: Christmas Island’s is 2100m long, with Cocos (on West Island) 2400m. Both have scheduled jet services, restricted parking spaces and limited aviation fuel stockholdings. Most military movements are into Cocos, which is being upgraded to enhance P-8 maritime surveillance operations, with work beginning in 2023 for completion in 2026. In addition, the latest federal budget allocated $7mn for work to handle the new MC-55 Peregrine electronic surveillance aircraft, aiming to complete in 2024.

PROXIMITY TO ASIA The changing geo-strategic situation is potentially making the IOT of increased importance, given their proximity to Asia and location deep in the Indian Ocean. That has implications, however.

First, the two airfields are vulnerable to attack and capture, as World War II revealed. In many situations that would be an acceptable risk, as most possible adversaries would be very distant and well beyond the Indonesian archipelago. Even so, thought might be

given to defending the islands from being captured, the worst-case scenario. To meet that, options might include being able to quickly deploy equipment such as the proposed naval strike missile-equipped Thales StrikeMaster and the short-range ground-based air defence system being acquired under project LAND 19 Phase 7B. Second, the islands’ supply chains are barely adequate for existing civilian needs. A major constraint is the limited port facilities at both locations. Those need to be significantly upgraded, a step that, in addition to its military utility, would help both islands’ economies, particularly in allowing tourism growth.

Third, storage facilities on both islands could be improved. Both airfields would be more useful as forward operating locations with increased jet fuel storage while suitable warehousing would allow aircraft support equipment, maintenance items and spare parts to be placed on the islands when necessary.

In addition, consideration might also be given to building small aircraft weapons storage bunkers to allow combat aircraft to be rearmed during a conflict.

The IOT have seemingly slipped from the gaze of Australian defence strategists, but given the fast pace of geo-strategic change, there should be a serious shift in thinking. With some focused enhancements, the islands could potentially become key strategically. It’s all about location, location, location.

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CORPORATE PROFILE

PRL GROUP: BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE FOR THE INDIAN OCEAN TERRITORIES

By Lai Ah Hong,

Managing Director, PRL Group.

The extraordinary natural treasures found on Christmas Island and Cocos (Keeling) Islands are a spectacular part of Australia. Collectively known as the Indian Ocean Territories (IOT), the islands also tell human stories of indentured labour, shipwrecks and wartime occupation.

Both communities are culturally diverse, unique and resilient, with a strong sense of community spirit and belonging. They are wonderful examples of respectful, tolerant communities of mainly Chinese, Malays and Europeans, who are all proudly Australian.

There are challenges, however. Remoteness and isolation contribute to a high cost of living because food, goods and services all come from the mainland. The islands are also vulnerable PRL Group mining and environmental teams at work in the field, on Christmas Island. © PRL Group. Supplied. to extreme weather events which can severely affect shipping, air travel and freight. There are accommodation shortages, deteriorating essential PRL’s diversification and investment strategy infrastructure and limited public services. For businesses, promises a new phase of development, including there are difficulties in acquiring land for economic ecoand adventure tourism, renewable energy and development and attracting investment finance. innovative agricultural projects. PRL’s strategy is The islands’ economies, particularly Christmas informed by Commonwealth Government policies, Island, have been subject to cycles of boom and bust. particularly those arising from various inquiries and Those include the demise of the once successful Casinoreports conducted by the Joint Standing Committee on Resort in the mid-90s and the failed Asia Pacific Space the National Capital and External Territories. Those Centre a few years later. They were followed by the reports reaffirmed the strategic importance of the construction of the Immigration Detention Centre, IOTs to the nation and the need to maintain viable which opened in 2008 and now mostly holds detainees economies, capable of sustaining our communities. from the mainland and supports the ongoing operations PRL and local businesses cannot do those things of the Australian Border Force in the region. alone and need a strong and mutually beneficial The Phosphate Resources Group (PRL) was formed partnership with the Commonwealth Government. in 1990, when the community and the Union of Together, we can help transition the IOT economies Christmas Island Workers joined together to reopen the from their 120-year reliance on mining and government mine to create jobs and sustain the families who had services to one that is more diverse and sustainable, and lived there for multiple generations. which capitalises on their strategic location, proximity PRL is now a core subsidiary of CI Resources Ltd, a to South-East Asia and their unique environments, diversified industrial ASX-listed company, with business cultures and communities. interests in Christmas and Cocos (Keeling) Islands, There are positive signs. The IOTs are now Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand and Europe. The recognised by the Office of Northern Australia. The company has remained the reliable employer and major Christmas Island Strategic Assessment is underway, and economic driver of the Christmas Island economy. It there are plans to extend the Cocos Island runway. PRL delivers half of the island’s Gross Regional Product of looks forward to working with all levels of government, $90mn per annum and provides (directly and indirectly) local businesses and our community to identify half of the island’s jobs. new business opportunities which can help build a PRL has grown to become an integrated and sustainable economic future for the IOTs that preserves diversified business, with interests in mining, fertilisers, not only the national interest, but also the lives of the logistics, agri-business, energy, property and facilities people who live here. management. PRL is also heavily invested in the economic and social future of the IOTs. prlgroup.com.au

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A unified voice for the defence and security interests of Australia’s North West

The north-west of the Australian continent contains the world’s greatest mineral province with enormous reserves of nearly all the minerals vital for today’s technological society.

EAST Kimberley

Hundreds of billions of dollars are invested in mines, ports, offshore facilities and gas plants, which together provide over one half of Australia’s exports.

The north-west is a prime location for guided weapons and unmanned systems. The communities, local governments and industry welcome the ADF, its allies and partners to our region and look forward to supporting an increased presence for exercises, training and operations in 2023 and beyond.

WEST Kimberley HALLS CREEK Broome EAST Pilbara

Karratha

Exmouth

Ashburton

Port Hedland

northwestdefencealliance.com.au

COMMENTARY

NORTHERN AUSTRALIAN SECURITY

WRAPPING UP A BIG YEAR FOR DEFENCE IN THE NORTH-WEST

By Stephen Bunce,

Associate Editor & Defence Writer,

WA DEFENCE REVIEW

&

Dr Gregor Ferguson,

Contributing Defence Analyst.

If 2022 was a busy year for the ADF in Australia’s North-West, 2023 shows signs of being even busier thanks to the Defence Strategic Review 2023. The region encompasses the distant Gascoyne, Pilbara and Kimberley areas, but is increasingly linked to the rest of WA and the nation.

MILITARY OPERATIONS & EXERCISES The reopening of WA’s borders in March last year allowed for the resumption of normal Defence activities, easier integration with ADF units interstate and some high-level visits, such as the Commander of the US Space Force, who visited Exmouth’s upgraded Harold E. Holt Communications Station.

Several major international training exercises involved the North-West, including Exercise Koolendong in July, and Exercise Pitch Black in August, which signalled the eagerly awaited return of major Defence exercises after a four-year hiatus.

Meanwhile, operational activity continued with the Pilbara Regiment and NORFORCE continuing to support the ongoing conduct of Operation Resolute, aimed at protecting Australia’s northern coastlines, while Defence observed and tracked a Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLA-N) intelligence collecting vessel operating not far off the northwestern coast.

In July 2022, the Kimberley’s Yampi Sound

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Training Area and RAAF Base Curtin, in addition to the Northern Territory’s Mount Bundy Training Area, supported Exercise Koolendong which involved the US Marine Corps’ Marine Rotational ForceDarwin troops in concert with the Australian Army’s 1st and 13th Brigades and the Royal Australian Air Force’s 26, 37 and 75 Squadrons. Significantly, it was the first time WA had been so heavily involved in simulating a response to a regional security crisis.

The eagerly awaited return of Exercise Pitch Black during August and September after a four-year hiatus was also supported by RAAF Base Curtin, which hosted fast jet operations by up to 18 US and Australian aircraft, including the F-35A Lightning II. In October, the seventh rotation of Regional Force Surveillance Units (RSFUs) conducted surveillance and reconnaissance in and around remote islands off the north-west coast on the lookout for foreign fishing vessels and evidence of illegal activities. During that time, they deployed a new type of Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV)

COMMENTARY

NORTHERN AUSTRALIAN SECURITY

Two US Air Force B-2 Spirit Stealth Bombers, assigned to the 509th Bomb Wing, fly a Bomber Task Force mission alongside a Royal Australian Air Force F-35A Lightning II aircraft over RAAF Base Curtin, during Exercise Koolendong 2022. © Department of Defence.

Photographer: Tech. Sgt. Dylan Nuckolls.

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COMMENTARY

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called the ‘Bluebottle’, developed by Ocius Technology in Sydney and which can provide 24/7 on-water surveillance capability.

broad-area search, detection and tracking of faint objects in deep space to help predict and avoid potential collisions, as well as detect and monitor asteroids.”

In October, HMAS Gascoyne visited its ceremonial homeport of Exmouth after three months circumnavigating the country conducting vital route surveys of Australia’s most important and strategic waterways, including in the North-West.

While in town, the crew participated in a number of local community events.

Earlier in the year, Chief of the USSF GEN John W. “Jay” Raymond made a high-profile visit in March to the Harold E. Holt Naval Communication Station to see the development of SST at first hand along with the facility’s C-Band Radar, which is operated by Raytheon Australia.

GEN Raymond also visited the nearby Learmonth Solar Observatory, which is a facility jointly operated by the Bureau of Meteorology and the US Air Force.

It was a very busy start to the new year for the air force. Broome Airport and RAAF Base Curtin supported a fleet of air force and army Hercules, Chinook, Spartan and Taipan aircraft during January as part of Operation Flood Assist, when a small number of remote Kimberley communities were cut off by road due to heavy flooding in the aftermath of Tropical Cyclone Ellie.

Last year in April, the air force’s 25 (City of Perth) Squadron also provided ground support to the WA Parks and Wildlife Services at RAAF Base Learmonth, attempting to contain several bushfires near Exmouth.

SPACE & THE NORTH-WEST It was also a busy year in the domain of space with Australia’s north-west continuing to cement its reputation as one of the world’s premier space communication and surveillance regions, providing significant operational capability to the Australian and US militaries.

Exmouth’s joint Australia-US operated Harold E. Holt Naval Communications Station near Exmouth continues to be the hub of this activity, with Defence and United States Space Force (USSF) declaring initial operating capability of the Space Surveillance Telescope (SST) in September 2022. The SST was relocated from the Sands Missile Range in New Mexico to Australia in 2017 and, according, to the USSF is a “military telescope that provides ground-based, Credit: Adobe Stock.

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In June 2022, the Service Attaché and Advisor Group which consists of foreign defence attaches in Canberra from selected militaries (which on this visit included Italy, Germany, Singapore and Canada) also visited the Harold E. Holt facility and nearby RAAF Base Learmonth.

NORTH-WEST & THE DEFENCE STRATEGIC REVIEW 2023 The year 2023 started with the air force responding to a flooding crisis in the Kimberley and went on to embrace the Defence Strategic Review 2023 and subsequent announcement of a significant investment in upgrading Defence’s infrastructure of bases, ports and communications stations across the region.

However, the need to expand Australia’s defence activity and infrastructure in the north-west became an explicit part of the longawaited Review, which was released in April 2023. The Review confirmed the importance to Defence of its operations in the West. To the undoubted relief of many in both Defence and the civil sector, the ministerial response to the Review made a priority of improving the ability of the ADF to operate from across Australia’s northern bases.

Similarly, the Review stated, “Investing in Indo-Pacific regional defence

partnerships is critical and must be focused on Australia’s primary area of military interest. Australia is a significant Indian Ocean state with the longest Indian Ocean coastline and the region’s largest search and rescue area. Australia must continue to expand its relationships and practical cooperation with key powers, including Japan and India.”

“It is clear that given our strategic circumstances, the Australian Army must be optimised for littoral operations in northern land and maritime spaces, and provide a long-range strike capability,” said the Minister for Defence, Richard Marles, and Minister for Defence Industry, Pat Conroy, in a joint statement.

“Air Force must also be equipped to support operations in the north through surveillance, air defence, strike and air transport.”

The Review noted that previous strategic assessments and Defence White Papers dating back to 2012 had recommended significant upgrades to Defence’s bases and ports in the region but that little, if anything, had been done subsequently: “It is now imperative that our network of northern bases is urgently and comprehensively remediated,” the report says. “The priority for this network is the series of critical air bases. This series of northern airbases must now be viewed as a holistic capability system and managed as such by the Chief of Air Force.”

The report recommended that the upgrades and development should begin immediately – and just three days after the Review was announced by Ministers Marles and Conroy, it was announced

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2022 was also a busy year in the domain of space with Australia’s North-West continuing to cement its reputation as one of the world’s premier space communication and surveillance regions, providing significant operational capability to the Australian and US militaries.

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that Defence would be investing $3.8bn in its northern bases over four years.

This investment includes $2bn for air base upgrades, a further $1bn for upgrades to land and joint estate capabilities and some $600mn for upgrades to HMAS Coonawarra in Darwin, HMAS Cairns in Queensland and the Harold E. Holt Naval Communications Station at Exmouth. A further $200mn will accelerate other unspecified projects.

Under this program every air force base from Learmonth through Cocos (Keeling) Islands and across to the Northern Territory and northern Queensland will undergo upgrades.

This will emphasise:

(a) Accommodation and life support; (b) Aviation fuel supply and storage; (c) Connectivity required to enable essential mission planning activities; (d) Fuel storage and supply; (e) Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance (GWEO) storage; (f) Hardening and dispersal; (g) Runway and apron capacity; and (h) Security.

The Review and the subsequent ministerial announcement didn’t specify exactly what would be done and in what order, but the Review addressed the fuel situation as a discrete topic: “Fuel distribution in the north and north-west must be more effective and less vulnerable by introducing a more productive and predictable supply approach,”

Sunrise over RAAF Base Learmonth silhouettes an 11 Squadron P-8A Poseidon as it gets prepped for another mission as part of Operation RESOLUTE. © Department of Defence. Photographer: CPL Craig Barrett.

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US Marines with 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, Ground Combat Element, Marine Rotational Force-Darwin 22, establish defensive positions as MV-22 Ospreys approach for landing during an airfield seizure at RAAF Curtin as part of Exercise Koolendong 2022. © Department of Defence. Photographer: CPL Cedar Barnes.

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The Review and the subsequent ministerial announcement didn’t specify exactly what would be done and in what order but the Review addressed the fuel situation as a discrete topic: “Fuel distribution in the north and North-West must be more effective and less vulnerable by introducing a more productive and predictable supply approach,” the report affirmed. “Deep Defence engagement with the fuel industry is vital in our strategic circumstances.”

the report affirmed. “Deep Defence engagement with the fuel industry is vital in our strategic circumstances.”

It recommended that a whole-of-government Fuel Council be established as soon as possible with representatives from relevant departments and industry to deliver resilient national fuel supply, distribution and storage. Importantly, the Review acknowledged that Defence must understand the fuel industry and its capabilities and what it can deliver under different circumstances. Conversely, the fuel industry must understand Defence requirements in a range of contingencies. Both parties need to understand the costs, dangers and benefits of things like importing fuel; domestic storage and distribution; and Defence’s own ability to address its vulnerabilities.

It is those vulnerabilities, such as single points of failure or a simple lack of capacity in the distribution

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network, that worry Defence, which believes it needs a variety of alternative supply and storage back-up options in order to be more robust and resilient.

The Review maintains Defence’s commitment to things like the planned $244mn redevelopment of RAAF Base Curtin, which was slated to begin in 2024.

But until more detail is available it will not be clear how the rest of the $2bn for the northern air bases will be spent.

It would certainly support a Cocos Islands runway upgrade, enabling the operation of P-8A Poseidon patrol aircraft which could then penetrate further into the northern and western expanses of Indian Ocean in support of Operation Resolute.

It is also not yet clear as to whether or not the Review will support and fund the Gascoyne Gateway Project. If it does, Defence would support the construction of a new single jetty deepwater port and renewables hub, located 10km south of Exmouth township, which would also enable the navy to dock vessels in Exmouth, with the project expected to commence in 2024.

But the announcement of the $3.8bn investment in northern bases could be just the start of something bigger, reflecting Defence’s clearer understanding of the importance of Australia’s northwest. The inaugural National Defence Strategy, to be published in 2024, will further progress the Australian Government’s investment in this important priority.

CORPORATE PROFILE

GASCOYNE GATEWAY: A VITAL SOVEREIGN ASSET IN THE INDIAN OCEAN REGION

By Michael Edwards,

Co-founder & Managing Director, Gascoyne Gateway.

North-West Cape and Exmouth have filled an operational and strategic role for Australia and its allies since World War II. More vital than ever, with rising geo-political tensions in the Indo-Pacific, the Gascoyne Gateway marine facility, planned for operation in late 2025, will provide a timely response to critical and urgent capability shortfalls for Australia and its allies.

Exmouth sits approximately 1300km north of Perth, on the closest point of mainland Australia to the Christmas and Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Diego Garcia and the Sunda Strait. The Naval Communications Station Harold E. Holt (HEH) sits at North-West Cape, 15km north of Exmouth, and provides Very Low Frequency (VLF) radio transmissions for communication with Australian and allied submarines.

The RAAF Learmonth ‘bare base’ is positioned 35km south of Exmouth and provides facilities for the domestic airport.

Remarkably, every litre of aviation fuel consumed at RAAF Learmonth is trucked 1300km by road from Kwinana. There are simply insufficient road tankers to support contingency operations based out of RAAF Learmonth. Additionally, the 10-13mn litres of diesel fuel consumed annually at HEH is imported via a single-purpose tanker berth at Point Murat, located adjacent to HEH and, unfortunately, within the World Heritage-listed Ningaloo Marine Park.

Gascoyne Gateway Limited is a veteran and 100% Australian-owned, privately funded multi-user jetty and terminal facility being planned for construction at the industrial area 10km south of Exmouth. While the facility is commercially viable, the multiple berth jetty planned for draughts of up to 13.5m and up to 1000m of quay line will also allow the operation of every vessel class of the Royal Australian Navy and most allied vessels in service.

With very few viable options for refuelling warships between HMAS Stirling and Darwin, the Gascoyne Gateway facility provides unconstrained access to the Indian Ocean for warships and submarines with no navigation channels and quick access to diving depths. Moreover, refuelling Collins-class submarines in Exmouth could extend operational patrol ranges by up to two weeks, providing more rapid deployment and higher availability to strategic chokepoints to the north.

The recent focus on national strategic fuel holdings throws a spotlight on Gascoyne Gateway. With a planned 30mn litres of both diesel and jet A-1 fuels and a capacity to increase storage to 500mn litres, the potential to diversify fuel storage while also providing

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national fuel resilience is clear. Geographically, Learmonth is an ideal forward operating base for future maritime patrol and ISR missions utilising crewed and uncrewed aircraft.

The AUSMIN Communique of 2022 provided a timely key focus for the potential for Gascoyne Gateway, which: “… affirmed that Australia and the United States would continue the rotational presence of US capabilities in Australia, across air, land and maritime domains. This would include US Bomber Task Force rotations, fighters, and future rotations of US Navy and US Army capabilities. The principals decided to identify priority locations in Australia to support enhanced US force posture with associated infrastructure, including runway improvements, parking aprons, fuel infrastructure, explosive ordnance storage infrastructure, and facilities to support the workforce.”

Moreover, the publicly released section of the Defence Strategic Review 2023 revealed a number of direct linkages to this sovereign-owned marine infrastructure, particularly in the critical area of fuel stocks for strategic disposition and operational tenacity.

The Australian Border Force would also benefit from an option offering 40% cost savings in operational fuel and running maintenance over those currently borne from Darwin-based operations.

Conceivably, the testing and evaluation, forward deployment or basing of autonomous underwater vehicles that would complement anti-submarine and mine warfare capabilities in the future, could all be conducted from the new facility.

The Gascoyne Gateway will be completed at the end of 2025 and offers significant operational benefits and unique strategic opportunities for ADF and allied use. Importantly, the company’s design concept considers Defence’s potential requirements from the outset, rather than risking expensive retrofitting in the future. The utility of this unique and timely sovereignowned initiative, requiring no government or Defence funding, sees this strategic infrastructure in the right place and at the right time.

gascoynegateway.com.au

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Royal Australian Navy Armidale-class patrol boats HMA Ships Armidale, Larrakia, Bathurst and Albany sail in formation through the waters of Beagle Bay, off Darwin, Northern Territory, during the 2022 Patrol Boat Concentration Period, an annual exercise in the Northern Australia Exercise Area. © Department of Defence.

Photographer: POIS Peter Thompson.

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NORTHERN TERRITORY: THE FORWARD OPERATING BASE FOR THE ADF AND OUR ALLIES

By Hon Natasha Fyles, Chief Minister, Northern Territory.

The geopolitical landscape of the Indo-Pacific region is evolving, and with that evolution we are seeing enhanced competition. A fortified north with the capabilities to defend Australia’s borders and support ADF and allied force projection, has become critical.

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The Marine Industry Park is strategically located on premium waterfront land at East Arm with connections to road, rail and sea transport and other supporting infrastructure.

Located 16km by road from Darwin CBD and directly adjoining East Arm Wharf, the park offers opportunities to enhance support for the marine and offshore industries complementing services already available within the region. © Northern Territory Government.

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AUSTRALIA’S FRONTLINE

The naval presence in Darwin will increase significantly in the coming years, and the Territory government’s Darwin Ship Lift and Marine Industry Park projects at East Arm will underpin navy’s Regional Maintenance Centre North. These capabilities will service the current and future vessels home ported at HMAS Coonawarra, visiting Royal Australian Navy ships, the Australian Army’s future amphibious capability, and support the operations and equipment of Australia’s allied partners from the north.

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The Northern Territory is wellestablished as a forward operating base for the ADF and our allies, offering large and regionally superior training areas and ranges, and significant basing and enabling infrastructure. It is home to substantial elements of Australia’s army, navy and air force. The Territory also annually hosts the US Marine Corps Marine Rotational Force – Darwin (MRF-D), and, in 2022, hosted for the first time a US Army rotational force.

While the Territory provides a strategic location for training, forward operating and force projection, we must also have the industry and infrastructure capability and capacity to sustain personnel, platforms and equipment.

The naval presence in Darwin will increase significantly in the coming years, and the Territory government’s Darwin Ship Lift and Marine Industry Park projects at East Arm will underpin navy’s Regional Maintenance Centre North. These capabilities will service the current and future vessels home

ported at HMAS Coonawarra, visiting Royal Australian Navy ships, the Australian Army’s future amphibious capability, and support the operations and equipment of Australia’s allied partners from the north.

NASCENT ADVANTAGES The Territory is harnessing nascent advantages as we look towards the immediate future. With a fast-developing digital sector, the Territory can play a key role in Australia’s sovereign digital and space capabilities. In June 2022, the Territory government-backed Australian company Equatorial Launch Australia conducted three low earth orbit launches for NASA from the Arnhem Space Centre on the Gove Peninsula.

Through a partnership with the Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre, the Territory Government has set up a $7.5mn Advanced Manufacturing Ecosystem Fund to fast-track the research, development and commercialisation of local advanced manufacturing capabilities. Additionally, the Territory government’s Local Jobs

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The Northern Territory shares borders with Western Australia to its west, South Australia to its south, and Queensland to its east. To the north, the territory looks out to the Timor Sea, the Arafura Sea and the Gulf of Carpentaria, including Western New Guinea and other islands of the Indonesian archipelago. As Australia’s nearest capital city to Asia, Darwin is an increasingly strategic location that is becoming integral to influencing Australian interests in Asia. © Northern Territory Government.

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An Australian Army M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tank takes a defence position during multilateral combined arms Exercise Predators Run 2022 at the Mount Bundey Training Area, Northern Territory, which involved the US Marine Corps (MRF-D), Malaysian Armed Forces, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines. © Department of Defence. Photographer: CPL Dustin Anderson.

Fund provides concessional loans to businesses looking to expand or establish a presence in our region, with defence industry a key focus.

Charles Darwin University’s well-established collaborative relationships with industry are also advancing local innovation. Consequently, Territorybased companies have been developing highly innovative products and services as they develop solutions to local conditions and challenging terrain. With support from the Territory and Commonwealth governments, Charles Darwin University has established Australia’s only defence and aerospace-focused Industry 4.0 TestLab facility. In partnership with the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, the initial

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Supporting Australia’s defence and allied partners in a changing Indo-Pacific region is a national effort. Jurisdictions in the north face very similar challenges.

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focus of the TestLab will be the development of dualuse Uncrewed Aerial Systems.

NORTHERN DEFENCE HUB These developments lay a strong foundation for the pre-positioning of new platforms and equipment, thereby furthering the Territory’s role as a forward operating base for Defence, as well as a key hub for the training operations of the ADF and allied partners. The recently concluded Defence Strategic Review 2023 takes a new approach to Australia’s defence philosophy with the ADF to project offensive power much further from its shores, through mobile forward-deployed missiles and more firepower across the navy and the air force.

Cumulatively, this points to an increased role for Northern Australia, which particularly is of great significance to the Northern Territory. Stronger regional and international strategic partnerships could also likely see an enhancement in the United States Force Posture Intiatives presence and regional military exercises.

Defence redundancy and resilience from the north are equally critical. In addition to new infrastructure for strategic fuel reserves, storage and logistics based

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in the Territory to support the Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordinance enterprise would significantly fortify Australia’s defence from the north.

Supporting Australia’s defence and allied partners in a changing Indo-Pacific region is a national effort.

Jurisdictions in the north face very similar challenges.

Collaborations to generate a mobile and flexible defence industry and skilled workforce enable the north to respond and step up whenever and wherever required. Close coordination and planning for Defence requirements would be essential.

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There are challenging times ahead, but with it will also come new opportunities to invest in strategic infrastructure, participate in the development of ground-breaking technologies, and establish collaborative relationships to support the defence of Australia from the north.

Throughout May and June 2023, the Australian Army’s 1st Brigade embarked on Exercise Predator’s Walk, a live-fire exercise aimed at preparing the brigade units for the forthcoming Exercise Predator’s Run. Australian Army gunners from the 8th/12th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery fire the M777 howitzer during Exercise Predator’s Walk at the Mount Bundey Training Area, NT. © Department of Defence. Photographer: CAPT Annie Richardson.

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Across the Top End the US military’s presence has increased in size markedly over the last decade. Seen here, a US Marine Corps AH-1W Super Cobra attack helicopter prepares to strafe a target in the Mount Bundy Training Area during Exercise Talisman Sabre 2017. © Department of Defence.

Photographer: CPL David Gibbs.

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The Northern Territory

SUPPORTING DEFENCE AND AUSTRALIA’S ALLIED PARTNERS IN THE NORTH

Images: © Department of Defence

The Northern Territory is well positioned and prepared to support Australia and our allied partners from the north.

In support of the Australian Defence Force and Australia’s allied partners, the Norhern Territory is consolidating and strengthening current capabilities as it looks to the future.

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Multi user infrastructure is future proofed for the needs of defence and allied partners. The Darwin Ship Lift and the Marine Industry Park enhance industry capabilities and will support the Royal Australian Navy’s Regional Maintenance Centre – North. With an expanding local maintenance and sustainment industry, and unparalleled opportunities for littoral environment training, the Territory also stands ready for the Australian Army’s future amphibious capability.

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Secure and cost efficient planning capabilities through virtual twin technology is a game changer for defence estate and infrastructure planning, and optimisation.

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Sovereign digital and space launch capabilities can usher in new defence capabilities from the north.

HMAS Coonawarra.

Darwin Ship Lift concept.

DefenceNT •

DefenceNT works to facilitate defence requirements in the North, shaping and influencing national policy discussions

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Working with Territory businesses to grow the NT’s defence industry

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Engaging with Defence and prime contractors to access new business opportunities

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Engaging with national and local stakeholders regarding Veterans issues

For more information please scan the QR code or visit the website.

defence.nt.gov.au

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QUEENSLAND: SECURING AUSTRALIA’S NORTH-EASTERN APPROACHES

By Dr Peter Layton,

Senior Correspondent,

WA DEFENCE REVIEW

Australia has no international land borders, but only just. Queensland’s Saibai Island is only 4km from Papua New Guinea and about 150km from Indonesia.

The Torres Strait makes Australia an island continent, but is, in effect, a 150km north-south line of reefs and islands through which there are only a few shallow, narrow, navigable east-west channels.

HMAS Adelaide’s LHD landing craft engage in exercises off the coast of Far North Queensland, a region deemed highly sensitive to Australia, given its close geographic proximity to Papua New Guinea and South Pacific islandstates. © Department of Defence. Photographer: ABIS Jarrod Mulvihill.

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GEOGRAPHIC SETTING West of Slade Point in the Torres Strait is the Indian Ocean, while to the east is the Pacific; uniquely among Australian states and unknown to most people, Queensland borders both oceans.

With PNG and Indonesia to the north, to the east are various smaller island nations with the nearest, at about 1800kms, being the Solomons, Vanuatu and New Caledonia. In this, PNG is larger than New Zealand in both land mass (70% larger) and population (5.1mn versus 9mn plus). The population of all the other Pacific Islands combined is 2.3mn.

This geographic setting is important when considering Queensland’s defence and security issues. Geography determines where threats may come through and shapes responses. The major contemporary threats concern transnational and organised crime, and biosecurity. Crime is dominated by drug trafficking across the Pacific’s porous maritime borders.

Biosecurity involves mainly animal and plant threats to Queensland’s agricultural sector coming by air or sea. In this, Australia has a complex border treaty with PNG that allows some 13 PNG villages in the Torres Strait traditional access rights. This deliberately permeable border is regularly monitored by on-ground personnel, radar, naval patrol boats, contracted helicopters and surveillance aircraft.

In the background is the possible return of interstate threats that might adversely affect Queensland’s export sea lanes and, accordingly, its economic circumstances. Queensland has 16 trading ports spread along its long Pacific coastline and into the Indian Ocean.

The crucial ports are Gladstone and Hay Point (Mackay), from which almost 75% of Queensland’s exports leave.

Gladstone’s exports are mainly thermal and coking coal, and LNG, to China, India, Japan and South Korea. Hay Point exports coking coal mainly to Japan, South Korea and India. Gladstone is also Queensland’s largest import port, taking in bauxite from Weipa for refining and ammonia from Newcastle for explosives manufacturing. The major sea lanes used for this trade lie along the Queensland coast through Torres Strait and then beyond into the Indian Ocean, and from Hay Point and Gladstone northwards, around the easternmost tip of Papua New Guinea.

DEFENCE POSTURE Queensland’s proximity to PNG, West Papua and the south-west Pacific Islands has long shaped its strategic importance. This primary driver is complemented by Queensland having both a well-developed transport infrastructure and being able to provide extensive domestic support for local defence bases and regional operational deployments.

The Australian Army has the 51st Battalion, Far North Queensland Regiment based in Cairns engaging in reconnaissance and surveillance in support of border protection, a combined arms brigade in both Townsville (3rd) and Brisbane (7th), with a reserve brigade (11th) split between the two cities.

Townsville also includes an amphibious light infantry battalion, an aviation regiment flying Chinooks (Taipans having been recently decommissioned), and elements of a sustainment brigade. Brisbane has the regular army’s divisional headquarters, with the army aviation training base inland, at Oakey.

The Royal Australian Air Force’s Amberley airbase is the largest in Australia with a squadron each of Super Hornets,

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© WANORFOLK DEFENCE REVIEW.

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Queensland’s proximity to PNG, West Papua and the south-west Pacific Islands has long shaped its strategic importance.… The greatest uncertainty is how China’s growing presence in the islands close to Queensland will play out.

Growlers, KC30A tankers, Spartans and Globemaster aircraft.

Further, the air force also has a small number of units at Townsville and controls a bare base near Weipa.

The Royal Australian Navy’s Queensland presence is comparatively meagre, being centred on HMAS Cairns, which has seven patrol boats and four hydrographic vessels homeported. HMAS Cairns also supports regional patrol boat training, maintenance and operations.

STRATEGIC UNCERTAINTY Looking forwards, the threat from transnational crime and biosecurity threats will remain, with organised crime expected to worsen. The navy’s new Evolved Cape-class patrol boats, built by Austal south of Perth, will replace the Armidale-class and bring useful operational improvements. It seems likely that contracted air surveillance will expand in terms of frequency of coverage. In that regard, in 2020, army operated its Shadow uncrewed aerial system

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ISLAND

in the Torres Strait, perhaps indicating a future technology alternative.

The threat from natural disasters will remain and evolve. The latest World Risk Index ranks Vanuatu as the country with the highest natural disaster risk globally, with Solomon Islands second and PNG ninth.

Moreover, the expectation is that compound disasters will become more common, with major disasters occurring simultaneously or in close succession in Australia and the nearer region. There will be a continuing need for Queensland-based army units, air force air transport squadrons and minor naval vessels to be involved in humanitarian and disaster response operations.

The greatest uncertainty is how China’s growing presence in the islands close to Queensland will play out. Today’s influx of Chinese businesspeople have some distinct differences to earlier arrivals: they speak Mandarin (not Cantonese), work for Chinese stateowned enterprises, generally employ an all-Chinese workforce, stay apart from local society and place Chinese state interests over commercial concerns.

The Solomons is of most concern, given talk of a possible Chinese military base there in the future.

There is already increasing Chinese naval activity in the region. Over the longer term, risks could develop to Queensland’s export sea lanes to Japan and South Korea that pass east of PNG. A Chinese company is also proposing a fisheries complex at Daru Island, in the eastern Torres Strait and about 100kms from

As a key element contributing to Australia’s border security, the 51st Far North Queensland Regiment plays a critical role in securing Australia’s sensitive north far borders. Seen here, an Australian Army soldier from Sarpeye (Charlie) Company, 51st Far North Queensland Regiment presents arms during the Torres Strait Island Light Infantry Battalion 80th anniversary ceremony held at Thursday Island, QLD. © Department of Defence. LSIS Leo Baumgartner.

Saibai Island. While improbable at this stage, it would give China’s maritime fishing fleet an operating location very close to Queensland.

Even so, while China seeks greater regional influence, Chinese grants and loans to the region have been steadily declining since 2016. The decline seems the result of China’s financial problems, tighter central government control over state-owned enterprises, and Chinese companies finding the region a consistently difficult place in which to operate.

Queensland’s defence and security concerns have always been shaped by its geography, particularly its proximity to PNG. That influence will continue, but

with a newer concern being possible future risks to export sea lanes as China’s regional presence evolves.

Such risks seem distant, however, making the current disposition of land and air forces in Queensland appropriate. The small naval presence, though, does seem an anomaly and perhaps suggests an area for future expansion. Concisely summing up matters, RADM Simon Cullen (Rtd), Strategic Defence Advisor to the Queensland Government, recently told WA DEFENCE REVIEW: “Queensland’s proximity to the region, key contribution to the national economy, and current and forecast defence basing, will ensure the state plays a key role in supporting national defence”.

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EASTERN AUSTRALIA: DEFENCE INDUSTRY ROUND-UP

By Dr Gregor Ferguson,

Contributing Defence Analyst.

The Defence Strategic Review 2023, which was released on 24 April this year, has implications for each of Australia’s states and territories. Not surprisingly, many of those focussed on eastern Australia, where the majority of Defence units, research establishments and industry are currently based.

AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY The Australian Capital Territory is home to a number of companies and research centres whose importance is magnified by the Review. Indeed, the emphasis of the Review on innovation and rapid translation into frontline service underlines the

importance of the Defence Trailblazer for Concept to Sovereign Capability, which is jointly headed by the University of New South Wales (UNSW) Canberra and the University of Adelaide. This entity, which has more than 50 industry and research partners, wields $250mn in cash and kind, an unprecedented

Senior Vice President Engineering, Anduril, Dr Shane Arnott and staff pose with the ‘Dive-LD’ autonomous underwater vehicle at Anduril Australia’s Sydney Harbour base. The stealthy extra-large autonomous undersea vehicle program being developed by Anduril Australia was named ‘Ghost Shark’ by Defence. © Department of Defence. Photographer: Dan Gosse Images.

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amount for a non-government research establishment. Established late last year, it is designed to help its research partners to achieve scale and impact, quickly, and its research streams are aligned with Defence Science and Technology Group’s (DSTG) STaR Shots – indeed, the StaR Shot leaders are part of the governance of the Defence Trailblazer.

UNSW Canberra Space has established a strong track record with the ADF in space engineering and operations.

Later this year, the Buccaneer Main Mission, developed by DSTG with UNSW Canberra Space, will go into orbit to help calibrate and refine the RAAF’s JORN over-the-horizon radars.

The ACT is also home to the Australian National University (ANU) which is one of only two Australian

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education centres to offer graduates a master’s degree in nuclear science. The Review explicitly validated Defence’s plans to acquire nuclear-powered submarines and noted that navy faces the most significant workforce challenges of the three services. The ANU’s expertise in nuclear engineering will make it, like UNSW in Sydney, an increasingly important education, research and test and evaluation hub.

QUEENSLAND The University of South Queensland (USQ) Toowoomba campus is the home to the Innovative Launch, Automation, Novel materials, Communications and Hypersonics (iLAuNCH) Trailblazer, a $190mn space R&D and commercialisation project that aims to deliver scale and impact at speed.

The iLAuNCH partners are the ANU in Canberra, the University of South Australia (UniSA) and more than 20 industry and research partners.

The University of Queensland’s (UQ) HyShot experimental air vehicle made the world’s first successful hypersonic flight at Woomera some 21 years ago, in 2002.

Now the University hosts the Australian Program Office for Advanced Hypersonics (APOAH), while DSTG has established its own Australian Hypersonics Research Facility at UQ’s ultra high-speed wind tunnel, or shock tunnel, facility at nearby Eagle Farm. This facility is home to the joint Australia-US SCIFiRE hypersonics research program, which teams DSTG with the US Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL).

The Queensland space and hypersonic ecosystem includes the USQ hypersonic shock tunnel at Toowoomba, which enables the testing of hypersonic engines and vehicles at up to Mach 7. It also includes a small start-up, Hypersonix, which in early 2023 won a contract from the US government’s Defense Innovation Unit to supply its DART AE 3D-printed hypersonic aircraft, complete with a 3D-printed hydrogen-fuelled Supersonic Combustion Ram Jet, or SCRAMJET; the SCRAMJET would be impossible without 3D printing to incorporate the complex network of cooling channels that such a motor needs.

Gold Coast-based Gilmour Space is set to launch its ERIS 1 launcher this calendar year from its coastal launch site at Bowen. The larger, more powerful ERIS 3 will follow in 2024, along with a new sovereign satellite bus the company is building for Defence.

Down in south-east Queensland, Logan-based Black Sky Aerospace is looking to launch both NASA’s and its own SIGHTER 300 sounding rockets into sub-orbital trajectories in 2023-24 from its own 1.2mn ha launch site.

Queensland’s more traditional defence industry sector has seen Rheinmetall start manufacture of the 8x8 Boxer Combat Reconnaissance Vehicle (CRV) for the Australian Army and the start of talks between the Australian and German governments about the company building 100 Boxers for the German Army.

NEW SOUTH WALES New South Wales is a world leader in several of the technologies emphasised in AUKUS Pillar II – Quantum, Cyber and Autonomy & AI, which will all see significant ongoing joint R&D and acquisition.

Defence’s plans to acquire nuclearpowered submarines means work for two sectors in particular: the Sydney-based UNSW is the only one in the country that offers a post-graduate degree in nuclear engineering that is also endorsed by the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, ANSTO, which is also based in Sydney.

Similarly, Bisalloy Steel in Unanderra, south of Sydney, is Australia’s only manufacturer of quenched and tempered steel plate for armour, ships and submarines. The company has been supplying Australia’s naval industry for 40 years and the new nuclear-powered submarine program will see a new chapter open for it.

A decision on the planned new naval base (originally just a submarine base) on the east coast has, however, been deferred until later this decade. The navy is believed to prefer Port Kembla as a site, partly because of its proximity to ANSTO and UNSW, and partly because it sits close to Australia’s population centres and so would make recruiting easier.

VICTORIA The Review recommended: “Options should be developed for collaboration and technology sharing with the United States in the development of MQ-28A Ghost Bat.” Defence agreed; the Ghost Bat is actually manufactured in Melbourne, which remains the heartland of Australian manufacturing. Ghost Bat is a semistealthy high-speed UAS manufactured mainly from composites. Its Vehicle

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Management System (VMS), which is developed and manufactured by BAE Systems Australia, is also manufactured in Melbourne.

BAE Systems Australia in Melbourne is also developing the VMS for the Navy’s Ghost Shark Extra Large Autonomous Undersea Vehicle (XL-AUV) which is being designed and built by Anduril Australia at a secret location in Sydney.

Further north, Thales Australia remains the only company with a significant manufacturing capability in energetics – rocket motors, propellants and warheads – thanks to its government-owned contractor-operated facilities at Benalla and Mulwala. The Review’s explicit recommendation that Lockheed Martin’s Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) should be integrated onto the F-35A and F/A-18F aircraft is good news for Thales Australia, which already has a collaboration agreement in place with Lockheed Martin to manufacture major components for this weapon.

Thales Australia and Norwegian company Kongsberg also manufacture the Strikemaster missile system, which could equip the Australian Army’s new Land Based Maritime Strike system under Project LAND 4100 Phase.2. The Strikemaster would see Kongsberg’s Naval Strike Missile integrated into a tworound launcher mounted on the flat-bed ute variant of Thales’s Bendigo-built Bushmaster 4x4.

The Review also recommended cuts for two existing army programs. The first is cancellation of

the planned second regiment of Huntsman selfpropelled howitzers under project LAND 8116 Phase 2. Prime contractor Hanwha Defence Australia has already delivered 30 guns and 15 ammunition resupply vehicles but there will be no follow-on purchase.

The second, which could affect either Hanwha or rival Rheinmetall Defence Australia in Queensland, concerns the paring back of army’s planned purchase of 450 Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFV) under Project LAND 400 Phase 3. This will now be cut back to just 129 vehicles. Both contenders must re-price their offerings and a final choice of IFV design will see either Hanwha’s Redback or Rheinmetall’s Lynx selected later this year.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA South Australia is famously home to Australia’s naval construction industry as well as the southern hemisphere’s largest electronics R&D centre, at DSTG in Edinburgh. The Review has impacted the state significantly.

Adelaide will see the construction of at least eight SSN-AUKUS submarines for navy; it will probably also build significant components for another seven or eight identical submarines to be acquired by the UK’s Royal Navy. And it will manufacture parts (as yet unspecified) for the US Navy’s own Virginia-class boats and the city will probably host at least part of the in-country Lockheed

Australian Army Boxer Combat Reconnaissance Vehicles (CRVs) manned by soldiers from the 2nd/14th Light Horse Regiment engage a target during Exercise Damascus at Wide Bay Training Area, Queensland. © Department of Defence. CPL Nicole Dorrett.

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Martin program to design and develop the submarines’ combat system.

no longer fit for purpose in today’s strategic environment.

It will do all this in a new submarine construction yard that has not yet been built; a similar yard is currently being built by BAE Systems Australia, based on its ‘factory of the future’ work with Flinders University, for the nine-ship Hunter-class frigate program. It is, however, no longer certain how many of those frigates will now be built following the planned surface combatant review announced in the Review – that will be completed in September and any subsequent government reviews could conclude that we need more, but smaller, craft, and more anti-air and strike missiles.

RAAF Base Edinburgh is the home of the Boeing P-8A Poseidon, as well as of the Northrop Grumman High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) MQ-4C Triton UAS. Six of those aircraft (and a possible seventh) will be flown by groundbased crews in Adelaide, but the ISR imagery generated by the Triton will be downloaded and analysed by operators located as far north as RAAF Base Tindal.

Up the road, DSTG Edinburgh is preparing for a new world where innovation (based on deep R&D) can happen quickly and the resulting IP can be commercialised and put into service rapidly – that is the intent of the $3.4bn Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator (ASCA) which was announced shortly after the Review and replaces the Defence Innovation Hub and Next Generation Technologies Fund (NGTF), both of which the Review said are

TASMANIA The Review has impacted Tasmania relatively lightly, although mostly for the better. The Australian Maritime College (AMC) in Launceston, part of the University of Tasmania, owns much of the test infrastructure that DSTG uses to help design and measure the stealth of both surface ships and submarines.

While the navy’s surface warship program remains uncertain at present, pending the delivery of another short and sharp review in September, its submarine program continues.

The navy’s submarine program is actually multi-dimensional: it includes

the Life of Type Extension (LOTE) of the existing Collins-class boats; contributing to the design of the SSN-AUKUS boats which will follow them from about 2042 onwards; and probably characterising (and maybe optimising) the Virginia-class boats which the navy will operate from about 2032.

The navy also plans to acquire Autonomous Underwater Vessels (AUV), the first of which, Ghost Shark, is already under development in Sydney; there will undoubtedly be others and their acoustic signature and general stealth will need to be measured and optimised.

Defence also has an Integrated Undersea Surveillance System project, SEA 5012, under way which will make extensive use of sonars: the ability to measure and identify acoustic signatures will be vital and helping the navy achieve that will be another important role for the AMC. The effect of the Review, if implemented fully, will be to transform Australia’s defence capabilities, and its effects will be felt in every state and territory in the country.

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Cockburn,

the future is blue.

The City of Cockburn is deeply connected to the ocean or Derbal Nara.

Our coast is already home to a cluster of marine infrastructure, stretching from the naval shipyards at the Australian Marine Complex, to the advanced industrial and commercial hubs at Henderson, Latitude 32, Jandakot, and Bibra Lake.

With an estimated $45 billion* worth of shipbuilding orders in Western Australia by 2040, Cockburn is ready to take its place as a leader in the defence and maritime industry in Western Australia.

Cockburn has five thriving commercial and industrial hubs that will play a critical role in developing the supply chains required for this thriving industry.

Perth City

Cockburn in numbers... $25.8 billion annual economic output Source: REMPLAN

20 minutes from Perth City

$15 billion cluster of marine infrastructure

9,297 businesses in Cockburn Source: REMPLAN

Our experienced business development team is here to help you whether it’s growing your business or locating your business to Cockburn. business@cockburn.wa.gov.au | 08 9411 3444 www.cockburn.wa.gov.au/business *Source: Department of Defence Capability, Acquisition and Sustainment Group.

City of Cockburn Bibra Lake Commercial Precinct

Jandakot City Cockburn Central

Australian Marine Complex Latitude 32

The effectiveness of Defence is supported by its supply chain. The parlous state of the global supply chain has made it imperative for Australian Defence Manufacturers to become more self-sufficient.

Therefore, it is critical for Defence and its suppliers to improve their ability to deal with supply chain issues due to geographical dislocation, replacement part shortages or backlog. The adoption of Industrial Additive Manufacturing as a production, procurement and spare parts tool can mitigate these risks.

CONTACT US

TO BOOK YOUR CONSULTATION

sales@coreadditive.au 1300 796 757

DON’T LET STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY BE YOUR WEAKEST DEFENCE

300 metres below is not the time to evaluate whether the structural inspectors were professionals.

Your office and home should be the safest place to be. Let us protect you so you can protect us.

admin@mdr.net.au | mdr.net.au | +61 8 9437 2007

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

NAVAL & MARITIME AFFAIRS

YEARS OF PROVIDENCE: AUSTAL

By Leighton Luke, Associate Editor & Senior Correspondent,

WA DEFENCE REVIEW

&

Serge DeSilvaRanasinghe, Founder & Managing Editor,

WA DEFENCE REVIEW

The global shipbuilding sector is experiencing heightened demand and activity with defence spending growing in concert with increasing strategic discord and the prospect of regional conflict. For Australia, the AUKUS and Defence Strategic Review 2023 announcements have given enhanced definition and impetus to naval shipbuilding, and is likely to benefit leading manufacturers such as Austal, one of Australia’s few defence primes. In a rare, exclusive and in-depth interview with WA DEFENCE REVIEW on 6 December 2022, Austal CEO, Paddy Gregg, spoke about the company’s status and operations, and how it is positioning itself to meet future challenges, achieve growth and strengthen its commercial position.

Thanks for the opportunity to talk today, Paddy. A lot has been happening so can we start by getting you to provide an update on where Austal stands today?

As an ASX-listed company, we must formally report our results twice a year. Austal is a $1.5bn company by revenue, and we are very much a global defence company these days. We are making profits of more than $100mn before interest and taxes. We have contracts more than $3bn on our order books and, in the case of the Offshore Patrol Cutter contract for the US Coast Guard, if they take up every option of all 11 ships, that would be in excess of $7bn in orders for Austal.* *Since the time of the interview, Austal has been awarded another major US naval shipbuilding contract to supply up to seven steel hulled T-AGOS surveillance ships for the US Navy, valued at up to US$3.2bn.

In Australia, we are looking at the Defence Strategic Review 2023 (and subsequent surface fleet review) as a great opportunity to put some more certainty into the future. That is not just important for Austal, but also for all of the businesses and contractors that we use because if there is no certainty at the top, there is no certainty further down the supply chain.

We are very keen to work with government, Royal Australian Navy and Defence, as having a long-term order book in place allows us to give certainty to our employees, which then allows us to put investment into our people and train them long term. That allows us to invest in facilities and to ensure that shipbuilding is as efficient as it can be and to give Defence the best possible price we can for the assets that we are making. That, in turn, brings a whole lot of certainty into the supply chain. We can partner

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with people, set up ventures and enter into long-term contracts because that longevity just puts so much financial security into the system.

At the macro level, there is good demand for global defence shipbuilding. There is the Review, of course, as well as the 2020 Force Structure Plan, and there is also the 30-year US naval shipbuilding plan, so it will be a case of taking those plans and turning them into contractual action.

Certainly, it is a very exciting time for shipbuilding in Australia. We have a long history of delivering for Australian Border Force and navy. We are very focused on continuing and maintaining that partnership and working with our customers. We are committed to the sovereign capability that we have here, with our skilled workforce, and the ability to invest in the business and continue that commitment, whether it is through shipbuilding or through the support business.

We have two shipyards in Perth, at Henderson, where the Evolved Cape-class vessels are made, and at Hope Valley Road (Naval Base), which is where we manufacture the steel Guardian-class patrol boats.

Our service centres in Cairns and Darwin deliver support for the Royal Australian Navy and border force ships, while our Brisbane yard predominately provides commercial support, but it has the capacity to bring in Defence vessels if required.

We have a highly skilled workforce in all the countries in which we operate (US, Philippines, Vietnam), and we employ around 1000 people in Australia. Austal is also a big believer in training.

Over the past 35 years, we have had around 3,000 apprentices come through the Australian business, and we have an apprentice intake of around 100 people every year. We also have a graduate program, which takes on around 10 graduates each year.

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“

We are very much a defence company these days, so 90% of our revenue comes from defence shipbuilding or support, with less than 10% through the commercial world.

Our dealings in the commercial sector are very specific and do not include luxury yachts and things like that, but I can say that shipbuilding generally is at an interesting inflection point, in which defence shipbuilding is booming.

We are big believers in promoting from within and that has helped us to maintain our corporate culture of a ‘can-do’ attitude, customer focus and delivering on time. Promoting from within really helps us to deliver that culture, from choosing the right and best people at the outset, to training them, looking after them and giving them opportunities so that they want to stay and grow with the business.

Our design team is Perth-based and has lots of experience, with some 350 vessels built for 122 operators in 59 countries around the world. That knowledge is critical for the commercial world, and we are using that and lowercost skilled labour in the Philippines and Vietnam so that we can still compete internationally.

A couple of years ago, we made the difficult decision to move our commercial work to our yards in the Philippines and Vietnam, which was really driven by the labour rates in Australia. When you are competing internationally, the Australian labour rate is incredibly expensive, as we have a nice lifestyle here and that makes our labour very costly. Moving to the Philippines and Vietnam allowed us to retain that construction capability, with the bulk of the design work remaining in Australia. We employ around 600 people in the Philippines, around 98% of whom are locals; in Vietnam, we have a smaller workforce of around 200 people,

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with close to 99% being Vietnamese.

We are very focused on working with local communities and employing and upskilling local workers.

In the US, which is our largest operation, we have a facility in Mobile, Alabama, which does shipbuilding and some repair work, and a service centre in San Diego. During COVID-19, we partnered with the US government, which match-funded a US$50mn investment, to make a combined US$100mn investment in steel capability for our Alabama yard. We established a San Diego base because that is where most of the ships that we have built in the US (LCS) are homeported, so who better to support Austal-built ships than Austal, in an Austal facility with our own people?

Though commercial shipbuilding is less of a focus at Austal, what market potential does this sector present?

We are very much a defence company these days, so 90% of our revenue comes from defence shipbuilding or support, with less than 10% through the commercial world. Our dealings in the commercial sector are very specific and do not include luxury yachts and things like that, but I can say that shipbuilding generally is at an interesting inflection point, in which defence shipbuilding is booming. In the defence context, we deal primarily with Australia and the US, and we see a lot of opportunity there and a whole lot of orders coming through, so we have a long-term vision of where the defence side of things is going.

The commercial world, on the other hand, is in a difficult place at the moment. That is driven by two things.

Initially, it was COVID-19, as operators weren’t committing to placing orders for commercial boats while they didn’t know when their revenue stream would come back online. Also, while we were all working from home and trying to work out what COVID was and how we were going to deal with it, the world decided that reduced emissions were not enough, and that we needed to get to zero.

The difficulty that we face in marine propulsion is that there is no answer for zero-emissions propulsion in bigger ships. It might be possible in 30m ships and using batteries, but if you are talking about 70m-plus long ships and the 100m-plus vessels that we build here at

Austal, the problem is that the battery is bigger than the boat. LNG doesn’t get you to zero emissions, and hydrogen isn’t there yet in terms of power density and the ability to propel the vessels that we build. So, I really need the world to realise that there are no zero-emission marine propulsion systems at the minute and to get on with placing orders. In defence, things are booming, but in the commercial world, it is tough right now.

Austal’s accomplishments are notable. What do you believe makes Austal standout from your competitors?

It depends on how you assess us, but there are very few shipbuilders in the world that can design defence and commercial vessels, build in both aluminium and steel, deliver monohulls, catamarans and trimarans, and provide service and support as well. I think that makes us unique in our overall offering and I think that is a tremendous advantage that we give to our customers.

The buildability of our vessels, the fact that we provide design, shipbuilding and support, and have the knowledge and skills to use the best equipment and components are all part of the end-to-end vision that really sets us apart from others and gives us a great advantage in terms of the ships that we are building. In the cases where we are supporting ships and finding problems, we can incorporate those lessons into the design of the next ship and improve it as we go through the process again. Others tend to just focus on design, or on building in either steel or aluminium, or just on maintenance and support, but we do everything as a true one-stop shop.

During COVID-19, we spent the best part of 12 months building some extra facilities, putting in extra steel panel lines to maximise efficiency. We are very confident that it will go well, and we get that confidence from the Guardianclass patrol boats that we build here in Australia. This yard had never built a steel vessel before, and the Guardian-class patrol boats rolled off the production line right on time and to the right quality. In the US, 60% of our production workforce came from a steel-building background and we trained them in aluminium so, for a lot of those people, it’s like going home. I’m highly confident that the steel panel line and steel production facility in the US will be as successful, as it has been here in Australia.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Achieving export success is intrinsic to Austal’s success.

Which overseas markets are attracting your interest?

We want to make sure that we are doing all we can to support our international partners, and, in the defence sector, we are very focused on Australia and the US, although we have also successfully exported Cape-class patrol

boats to Trinidad and Tobago. That relationship has been a great success and is getting stronger all the time. So much so, that we are opening a service centre there to support the Trinidadian Coast Guard.

With our operations in the Philippines and Vietnam, Asia-Pacific is our home market, so we are really looking at what can we do there in the future and how can we work with them.

NAVAL & MARITIME AFFAIRS

“

The difficulty that we face in marine propulsion is that there is no answer for zeroemissions propulsion in bigger ships. It might be possible in 30m ships and using batteries, but if you are talking about 70m-plus long ships and the 100m-plus vessels that we build here at Austal, the problem is that the battery is bigger than the boat.

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“

There are very few shipbuilders in the world that can design defence and commercial vessels, build in both aluminium and steel, deliver monohulls, catamarans and trimarans, and provide service and support as well. I think that makes us unique in our overall offering and I think that is a tremendous advantage that we give to our customers.

We are getting great support with that from our in-country ambassadors. I was recently in the Philippines and met with the Australian ambassador to Manila and she is passionate about helping Australian businesses to progress there. We have

the same support in Vietnam from the ambassador there, which is wonderful. I can’t thank them enough for what they do.

We tried, with great support from the Australian Government, to win an Offshore Patrol Vessel contract in the Philippines. Disappointingly, that went from an onshore build by us in the Philippines to a foreign country which chose to build all the ships in their country. We are still exploring the opportunities for defence markets, though, particularly in the Philippines and Vietnam, because we have our shipyards established there and we can partner with their navies.

We are keen for further discussions with the government and Austrade in terms of countries like India, Indonesia and Malaysia, and whether there may be opportunities for Austal to design or export ships to them.

The Indian Ocean region is interesting, too. There are island nations there with some similarities to those in the Pacific, and I think that the Guardian-class patrol boats are also very well-suited to their needs. We will be very happy to support a patrol vessel program

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for the Indian Ocean region, if that is what Australian foreign policy dictates.

We have a production line now with the Guardian-class vessels and adding boats on to the end of that would be very simple; we can deliver that capability in a short turnaround time.

One of the conversations relating to the Guardian-class that we are having with the government is where would be the best place to open a Pacific Oceanbased service centre. It would be good to have a service centre that is centrally located, that people can travel to easily as a regional hub, and which can be used for spare parts, with the added potential for roving service teams that can travel out to complete any minor works. In that instance, Fiji might be an option.

It’s the biggest Pacific Island country, it’s central to the smaller island states and is accessible in terms of moving people and shipping parts. It’s a model that I think could work equally well in the Indian Ocean if a program were developed for there.

Further, I think the suggestion of establishing a Perth-based Indian Ocean maritime academy is a great concept, too, and I think our support for it

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

“

I think, in a naval sense, autonomy is going to become more and more important in the future. The ability to take people out of harm’s way in the event of a conflict has got to be appealing to navies around the world and this is another example of Austal trying to get to the forefront of technology and using that to provide solutions to customers’ problems.

would best come from the shipbuilding, design and support perspectives.

You’ve previously referred to Austal as a one-stop-shop provider. Offered to your clients are Austal’s patented and inhouse-designed software systems.

Can you tell us more about these systems and their practical application?

MARINELINK is a system that we have had operating on our vessels for many years. MARINELINK takes input from sensors all over the ship and can be used to control settings and equipment, as well as to start, stop and adjust things.

It brings the control of everything back to a console on the bridge. Gone are the days of engineering personnel running all over the ship, searching for things and finding problems.

With MARINELINK, the chief engineer can monitor the ship and its status from the bridge and send people to deal with any issues as necessary. It really makes life a whole lot easier and pinpoints things that might want looking at, or to start, stop and control the functions of the ship. Many operators provide similar systems, but who wants 20 screens when one screen can do everything?

MARINELINK is from right here in WA. It’s sold all over the world and is on the Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF) vessels that we build in the United States. It is a very capable system and is one of the advantages of buying a boat from Austal.

We will put it on both commercial and defence vessels, and it is then up to the operators as to whether they want to just use it for monitoring and alarms or whether they want to add more to it. It’s a flexible system that has years of providence.

We are also developing a system called Lifecyle Upkeep Sustainment Intelligence (LUSI) which has some similarities to MARINELINK. In this case, we found that whenever we were doing maintenance on our boats, keeping track of any maintenance that was being done at sea, dovetailing that with what maintenance needed to be done when a boat came into a service centre and having a live picture of the status of the vessel’s systems at any given point in time was not as easy as we thought it could be.

A lot of that information was stored in databases and spreadsheets and if someone asked for the exact status of a vessel it took some time to get, and it was an approximate answer. The LUSI system provides a

NAVAL & MARITIME AFFAIRS

very good graphical user interface that will show the status of a system or boat or a class of boats, or indeed, a fleet, so that a manager or chief of navy could sit at their desk and, in theory at least, could, in three clicks, work out why that boat was not at sea.

LUSI will highlight any outstanding maintenance and identify any piece of equipment that may have failed. It allows for better operational planning in terms of deploying assets, by making it easy to see which one has the least maintenance debt or the longest available time at sea; that works in both commercial and defence situations. Commercial operators need their boats to be moving as much as possible, because when they are moving, they are generating revenue from passengers.

Similarly, in the navy, if a boat needs to be deployed, it must be the right boat at the right time.

To remain at the cutting-edge of the shipbuilding industry it is well understood that R&D is a critically important enabler.

At Austal, how significant a role does R&D play?

R&D is very important to us and is something that we have invested heavily in over the years. We try to look at what the customer wants and to develop technologies that are going to add value to the end user. Not just doing things because we can, or because its clever, but developing products that will provide a real advantage to customers, using our years of experience and really investing in new technology to deliver new boats for the future.

A lot of our boats will operate for 25 years, so we must think about technology and what the boats will be called upon to do in 25 years’ time, which means enabling as much as possible today to keep our boats relevant in 25 years’ time.

We are very focused on efficiency, so whether it is the hull form or the complexities of understanding monohulls, catamarans and trimarans, we deliver all three types of vessels whether they are built in steel or aluminium; Austal has always been about providing the most efficient product that we can. In the commercial world, weight translates to speed, which is important to our customers. It also translates to fuel efficiency and the advantages that that can bring, whether it is an aluminium or steel boat, as reducing emissions becomes more important in both the commercial and defence worlds.

One of the things that amazes me in terms of the design and technical capability that we have is that in the commercial context, we can start with a blank piece of paper and a set of requirements from a customer and deliver a 100m-plus boat in two years.

It’s a phenomenal capability and a great sovereign asset for Australia.

In the defence sector, we use that to take an existing design that gets 90% of the way there and then use our Australia-based staff to refine that design to give navy or border force exactly what they want in terms of capability. We can do that because our design team has literally thousands of years of experience.

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I asked our HR team how many years of combined shipbuilding experience we have based on just the team here at Henderson, and they said it would equate to over 3000 years of shipbuilding experience.

When people ask me “how you are delivering boats when others are struggling?”, it comes back to that core team, the people we’ve got and that tremendous shipbuilding experience, which is, of course, vital to the future security of this country.

The world has inexorably entered an era dominated increasingly by the use of automation and robotics. How is it affecting Austal?

To my mind, autonomy will be key to the future.

It’s something that we have already delivered in the US with EPF13 (USNS Apalachicola), a 103m autonomouscapable vessel, which is the largest vessel of its kind in operation, so we are absolutely at the forefront of this. In Australia, through our R&D team, we have taken one of the old Armidale-class patrol boats and (former HMAS Maitland) renamed it ‘Sentinel’ and put an autonomous system onboard. We will use it to do an autonomous demonstration in the second half of this year. In this successful partnership with the Royal Australian Navy and Trusted Autonomous Systems (Defence Cooperative Research Centre), we can really demonstrate that we have the capability to do this in Australia.

We have something very exciting there and, given the length of coastline that Australia has, even if the government could afford all the boats required to patrol it, we wouldn’t have the people to crew them, so I think, in a naval sense, autonomy is going to become

more and more important in the future. The ability to take people out of harm’s way in the event of a conflict has got to be appealing to navies around the world and this is another example of Austal trying to get to the forefront of technology and using that to provide solutions to customers’ problems.

COVID-19 demonstrated that global supply chains are highly vulnerable to significant disruption, and this has since led to increased interest and utilisation of 3D printing. Is the adoption of additive manufacturing integral to Austal’s future?

Additive manufacturing is interesting, and it gets more interesting every year as the quality and integrity of the material improves. Every generation of machinery and the evolution of technology improves.

I don’t think it is quite there yet and we have done two pieces of work, one here in Australia and the other in the US. In Australia, we have partnered with DNV, the classification society, to create a 3D-printed davit and establish how we could get the structural integrity for it, what were the surface materials, what were its properties, how it would perform in service and how we could get it approved. We were able to get the item approved, but whenever we did the cost-benefit analysis, it was not quite there yet. The cost of the raw material in the additive manufacturing process is still quite expensive, so whenever we compare it directly with traditional manufacturing techniques, the balance hasn’t quite tipped yet.

In the US, we are doing something similar. We have a company we are working with there, Electro

© WA DEFENCE REVIEW. Photographer: David Nicolson.

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Watch, and we are setting them up with a 3D-printing capability and working with the US Navy to understand how we can support them by identifying critical items from their catalogue of parts that they could order online, get sent straight to the 3D-printer and then be despatched.

Rather than holding huge inventories of stock, that orderto-delivery process will come through some system for additive manufacturing processes. It is in its infancy today, but it doesn’t take much stretch of the imagination to see how it will be © WA DEFENCE REVIEW. Photographer: David Nicolson. part of the future, and our R&D teams are absolutely on top of it Australian Independent Littoral Manoeuvre Vessel and making sure that we are in the mix to be able to (ILMV), along with our bid partners Raytheon and provide those parts quickly and efficiently for BMT, that meets 100% of the requirements and gives our customers. army exactly what has been asked for. The Review

How does Austal respond to the muchvaunted AUKUS and Defence Strategic Review 2023 announcements, and the future opportunities that they are likely to entail for your company?*

We are encouraged by the initiatives presented in the Review, which reaffirms the government’s commitment to the shipbuilding and support industries. We are ready to offer some new capabilities, including smaller lethal surface ships that may be recommended by the surface fleet review, due later this year.

We’re also looking forward to hearing more about the proposed expansion and expedition of the LAND8710 Phase 1A landing craft project, for which we have offered a class-leading solution in the

“

The Indian Ocean region is interesting, too. There are island nations there with some similarities to those in the Pacific, and I think that the Guardian-class patrol boats are also very well-suited to their needs. We will be very happy to support a patrol vessel program for the Indian Ocean region, if that is what Australian foreign policy dictates.

should really help to bring everything together so that, as a nation, we are delivering assets for the people who are defending our borders.

Austal has been a capability partner to the US and Australian governments for over 20 years now and, under AUKUS, we are looking at opportunities to play an even greater role in the design, construction and support of US Navy and Royal Australian Navy vessels. Austal USA, for example, is already assembling command modules for the US Navy’s Virginia-class submarines and we are well positioned to offer support to naval vessels based in, and operating out of, WA. Then there are other potential opportunities that AUKUS could bring, such as possible common programs and technology transfer, whether that may relate to design or equipment.

The Review will put certainty into the orderbooks of our businesses here in WA, which then puts extra certainty into the workforce, into the supplier chain and into delivery for our customers. In terms of what may come next, it would be easy to add ships onto the Cape- and Guardian-class production lines if more were required.

As a sovereign supplier, demonstrating consistent on-time delivery, I think Austal is very well-placed for the future. We have the flexibility, the will and the ability to do it all and create cutting-edge capabilities through our design, build and support processes, while learning lessons, feeding those back in, and continuously improving and working with end users to ensure that they get what they want and need. *As the 2022-23 edition was released after the AUKUS and Defence Strategic Review 2023 announcements were made, the final question was added to the interview via email correspondence with Austal to ensure continuity and currency.

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By Bryce Solomon,

Chief Security Officer, DUG Technology.

DUG TECHNOLOGY: TURBOCHARGING DATA PROCESSING WITH GREEN HIGH PERFORMANCE COMPUTING SOLUTIONS The global proliferation of data has led many to refer to it as the ‘oil’ of the 21st century. Utilising data in an increasingly complex and rapidly changing global economy is critical to ensuring sustainable growth for any organisation.

As data volumes grow, so too does the need to store and process it. Traditionally leveraged by researchers who require the data-crunching ability of supercomputers, high performance computing (HPC) is now playing an increasingly crucial role beyond its research origins.

HPC today drives efficient big-data processing among enterprises spanning applications from artificial intelligence and financial modelling to defence and space. The capability of HPC systems to perform compute- and data-intensive tasks helps organisations gain deeper insights and solve emerging problems faster and more cost-efficiently.

However, the world’s data centres, which underpin HPC systems, are enormous power guzzlers. Combined, they have a carbon footprint as large as the aviation industry. To address its increasing contribution to global emissions, the data-centre sector needs to reconcile its growth with environmental sustainability.

DUG Technology (DUG) is an ASX-listed tech company founded and headquartered in Perth, with offices in London, Houston and Kuala Lumpur. DUG provides big-data solutions, specialising in analytical software development, cloud-based HPC as a service (HPCaaS), and professional data-management services.

DUG designs, owns and operates a network of some of the largest and greenest supercomputers on Earth. The company’s HPC platform was designed and innovated in WA, with core components manufactured in Osborne Park, Malaga and Bassendean.

With the latest technology, DUG’s HPCaaS offering employs whole, physical compute machines (without sharing or virtualisation), specifically designed for analysing big data. DUG’s internal R&D investment ensures that infrastructure, software solutions and data analysis services are continually improved. The company’s global IT team provides 24/7 support and maintenance to ensure that customers always have access to the data processing they need, coupled with a dedicated team of HPC experts assisting in code onboarding, hardware-specific optimisation, algorithm and software development, and more general enablement services.

DUG’s patented immersion-cooling technology, DUG Cool, reduces power consumption by over 50%, enabling the provision of some of the world’s greenest and most cost-effective HPC. The green technology is utilised in DUG’s global data centres, including its largest facility in Houston.

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DUG’s tailored HPC support and bespoke, code-optimisation expertise is helping Austal maximise vessel efficiency for its defence and commercial customers. Photo supplied courtesy of Austal and DUG.

DUG Cool is an advanced, flexible and modular dielectric-fluid cooling solution. The system submerges computers in specially designed tanks filled with nontoxic and biodegradable fluid that does not conduct electricity. The fluid provides greater thermal stability than air, which keeps the temperature gradient across the fluid constant, eliminating hotspots and minimising the corrosion of electrical components.

As a result, DUG’s computers last longer and require less maintenance, leading to much better up-time for customers. Furthermore, tanks can be packed together, allowing a higher compute density compared to traditional data centres, saving space, building materials and real estate costs.

DUG has partnered with organisations to provide them with efficient and green HPC. For instance, ship design specialists at Austal perform resource-intensive computational analyses to improve the efficiency and performance of defence and commercial vessels. They required quick access to different hardware and an efficient, flexible HPC platform to meet increasing computational demands while reducing greenhousegas emissions. DUG provided tailored support and bespoke, code-optimisation expertise, ensuring that Austal’s software and workflows could leverage DUG’s HPC platform.

“With the support of HPC provider DUG Technology, we can reduce the timeframe for hull form optimisation in conjunction with computational fluid dynamics by an order of magnitude,” said Max Haase, Development Hydrodynamics Specialist at Austal.

By enabling cutting-edge ship performance optimisation, DUG is helping Austal to maximise vessel efficiency for its defence and commercial customers.

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Image of ADV Cape Otway supplied courtesy of Austal

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By Leighton G. Luke,

Associate Editor & Senior Correspondent,

WA DEFENCE REVIEW

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WA DEFENCE REVIEW

TAMMAR CONTRACTORS: LEVERAGING EXPERTISE AND RESOURCES TO LEAD ABORIGINAL ENGAGEMENT Recent years have seen a profusion of new Aboriginal-owned businesses seeking to enter the Defence supply chain. One such example is Tammar Contractors, which provides sustainable employment opportunities for Aboriginal people. Founded in 2021, the firm is majority Aboriginal-owned.

Appropriately named ‘Tammar’, which is the Noongar word for wallaby, the company’s Aboriginal business partner and director, Larry Kickett, is the driving force behind the firm. Larry was born in the Wheatbelt town of Tammin, a region of WA with which he continues to maintain strong family links. Being a proud Noongar Ballardong man with vast experience in recruitment, mentoring and working with Aboriginal people, Larry is passionate about supporting Aboriginal people in gaining employment and building successful careers.

WA-owned business BRE Engineering is well established in the defence industry and is a part-owner of Tammar Tammar’s wide-ranging industry networks offer Aboriginal people a unique opportunity to secure employment within the local defence industry.

Contractors. BRE has a long-standing © Tammar Contractors. Supplied. interest in engaging with Aboriginal people and has played an integral role in Tammar’s establishment. “I have always forward to expanding our services to other companies been committed to engaging with the Aboriginal looking to recruit and employ Aboriginal people”, said community and wanted to develop a pathway to Mr Kickett. employment for potential Aboriginal candidates”, Most recently, Tammar secured an important said Simon Brennan, Managing Director of BRE, who defence industry contract to provide rigging, crane provides technical and engineering support and is one and general yard services for a prime ship builder in of two Tammar directors.

Henderson. “This contract provides Tammar with Leveraging its combined expertise and resources, the opportunity to be positioned as a leader and is an Tammar’s services focus on recruitment and labour example of how Aboriginal organisations can succeed hire across a wide variety of skill sets, including within the defence industry. Aboriginal companies fabrication, equipment operators, riggers, dogmen, are only recently becoming involved in the defence general trades and mentoring. As Larry Kickett says, industry”, observed Mr Kickett.

“We also support and provide appropriate training With the vision of bringing inspiration and programs, as well as Aboriginal cultural training opportunity to Aboriginal people and their assistance, for your business.” communities, Tammar aims to grow and provide more Having been operational for over one year, Tammar specialist skills to the defence industry while leading has already successfully provided Aboriginal labour to the charge on Aboriginal engagement. It plans to a client operating at the Solomon Hub iron ore mine achieve that vision by providing products and services site in the Pilbara region. Tammar is pleased to note which are meaningful and valuable to its clients and is that the contract has already been extended and will be in the process of rolling out a product line that aims to ongoing for a further 12 months. “Tammar appreciates make Aboriginal engagement easy and seamless for its the support provided by our client, who has provided clients. the opportunity for us to demonstrate that we are able to meet their employment requirements. We look larry.kickett@tammarcontractors.com.au

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COMMENTARY

By Blake Pilgrim, Head of Operations, Henderson BAE Systems Australia.

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NAVAL & MARITIME AFFAIRS

BAE SYSTEMS AUSTRALIA: HENDERSON SHIPYARD PREPARES FOR TRANSFORMATIVE ERA For many years, our state has played an important role in Australia’s defence industry, but challenges remain. Notable among them is that the defence sector must compete with the resources sector for talent, supply chain, and infrastructure development. As such, we need to do things differently if we are to seize upon the full range of future opportunities and increase the scale of Defence work in WA.

COMMENTARY

NAVAL & MARITIME AFFAIRS

BAE Systems Australia Henderson shipyard includes over 140,000m2 of repair and refit capability to support the Anzac-class, Hobart-class, partner-nation vessels and commercial repairs. © WA DEFENCE REVIEW. Photographer: David Nicolson.

COMMENTARY

NAVAL & MARITIME AFFAIRS

Since inception, the BAE Systems Henderson shipyard has steadily expanded in scale and utility. Seen here, HMAS Warramunga undocks post-Anti-Ship Missile Defence in April 2015. © Department of Defence.

Photographer: LSIS Lee-Anne Mack.

“

Back at Henderson, BAE Systems Australia’s shipyard has grown over the years through multiple upgrade programs for the Anzacclass frigates. We are currently completing the Anzac Mid-Life Capability Assurance Program (AMCAP) and are planning to commence the Transitional Capability (TransCAP) program later this year. BAE Systems employs more than 600 people across these programs at Henderson and 750 nationally.

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NEW ERA BECKONS

PLAYING TO STRENGTHS

Defence is already an integral part of the state’s economy, providing many hundreds of jobs for the highly skilled WA workforce. The recent government announcements have highlighted that significant industry growth is required at a national level and includes reference to WA’s opportunity to contribute to this expansion. With Defence programs often extending over many decades together with the development of new technologies, and the digitisation of key requirements, the industry can provide long-term and sustainable growth for the WA economy.

While it is important that primes in the Henderson precinct continue to win work, we also need to play to our strengths, and take a more national view to better leverage the capabilities and flow of best practice into and out of our state. Indeed, WA has many strengths that it can offer the ADF, namely our geographical location and maritime heritage that provides a strong foundation for future capability, and the strength and diversity of our many local SMEs.

WA companies, large and small, have the chance to play a key role in delivering the nation’s Continuous Naval Shipbuilding program, including what is set out in Commonwealth Government’s strategies. To fully realise the future of Defence work in the west, we need to see transformative change.

WA is, and will remain, well positioned for the maintenance and upgrading of naval assets. Our location is ideal for accessing the waters of the Indo-Pacific and is strategically important, especially for provision of support to the US, UK, and allied fleets.

The jewel in our crown is the Australian Marine Complex (AMC), at Henderson. It is a unique footprint of highly-capable prime contractors, and the base of a strong supplier

COMMENTARY

NORTHERN TERRITORY DEFENCE UPDATE

BAE Systems Australia Henderson shipyard has a long history of supporting capability upgrades of the Anzac-class as part of the Warship Asset Management Agreement (WAMA), a strategic partnership between the Commonwealth Government, BAE Systems Australia, Saab Australia, and Babcock Australasia; as well as partnering with wider industry including IKAD Engineering, PENSKE and others.

Displayed here, HMAS Perth undergoes maintenance at the Henderson shipyard in 2020. © WA DEFENCE REVIEW. Photographer: David Nicolson.

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BAE Systems Australia’s Henderson shipyard continues to support the commercial ship industry with heavy maintenance for the mining and resources sector in WA. © WA DEFENCE REVIEW. Photographer: David Nicolson.

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network. The AMC provides WA with shipbuilding capability and critical infrastructure, but more collaboration and investment by private companies, together with local, state and federal governments will be required so that it can continue to win work, and support our nation.

INNOVATION ECOSYSTEM Complementary to current efforts, one of the next steps in building the sophistication of WA’s state’s Defence capability would be an innovation hub. In South Australia, BAE Systems has partnered with Flinders University at the Tonsley Innovation District, where BAE Systems

NAVAL & MARITIME AFFAIRS

is a founding partner of Line Zero: Factory of the Future. This hub provides a test bed for innovation and a focus point for industry and academia to work together to grow the nation’s industrial capabilities across a range of sectors.

There is significant potential for a similar model to bring companies in the west together to collaborate and innovate. To that end, BAE Systems Australia is strongly supportive of the City of Cockburn vying to host the blue economy and defence-focused innovation hub in Henderson, with a view that it could be a catalyst for the WA government’s Maritime Advanced Collaboration Innovation Hub (MATCH).

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The BAE Systems Henderson shipyard is integral to the history of the Australian Marine Complex, as the largest shipyard of its kind in Australia. Seen here, HMAS Warramunga in 2020 completes its move to the turntable where it will be aligned, moved to the ship lift and sent back to sea for the first time since it docked at the BAE Systems Henderson shipyard in 2014. © Department of Defence. Photographer: CPOIS David Connolly.

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COMMENTARY

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Back at Henderson, BAE Systems Australia’s shipyard has grown over the years through multiple upgrade programs for the Anzac-class frigates. We are currently completing the Anzac Mid-Life Capability Assurance Program (AMCAP) and are planning to commence the Transitional Capability (TransCAP) program later this year.

BAE Systems employs more than 600 people across these programs at Henderson and 750 nationally.

We have not done it on our own. As part of the Warship Asset Management Agreement (WAMA), we are working together with the Commonwealth Government, Saab Australia and Babcock Australasia. We also have an extensive supply chain of local businesses that have contributed to and benefited from these programs.

In recent years, over in South Australia, BAE Systems has begun building the Hunter-class frigates in our ‘digital shipyard’ at Osborne: the first of its kind in Australia. The digitisation of the shipbuilding process opens up a whole new world for sustainment and upgrade programs.

BAE Systems is identifying opportunities to pull the Hunter ‘digital thread’ into the Anzacclass, and the wider Defence capability in WA. The ‘two shipyard’ model will continue to provide opportunities to leverage across each location, combining the heritage and experience of Henderson, with the primarily digitised approach at Osborne.

TRUSTED PARTNERSHIPS Industry, and, increasingly, academia, must work together if we are to secure future defence work and the talented people to deliver it. Where companies might have previously focused on a ‘winner takes all’ approach, no single company or business is going to be able to deliver all that Defence wants or needs.

“

Our supply chain, where again the possibilities are increasingly going beyond our state border. Around 300 WA companies are registered to tender for work on the Hunterclass frigate program, and more than 60 WA companies are already contributing to the upgrade and sustainment of the Anzac-class frigates at Henderson.

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As part of the Warship Asset Management Agreement (WAMA) BAE Systems Australia works to ensure the delivery of materially seaworthy warships to the Royal Australian Navy. The Ship Side Support Tower provides a central location were all industry partners work together to deliver capability to the Royal Australian Navy. © WA DEFENCE REVIEW. Photographer: David Nicolson.

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“

superior quality, safety, cost and performance. BAE Systems’ strategic supplier partnering program aims to build those relationships for long-term mutual benefit and contribution across multiple programs.

BAE Systems is developing pathways programs from blue collar, into grey collar, and into white collar, to support that outcome. We are aligning the program across our shipyards at Henderson and Osborne with a view to increasing workforce skill and versatility, and creating highly-desired opportunities for our people to grow their careers.

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT Of course, to properly leverage our key strengths requires more talented people, and to have them come on board more quickly. The Henderson shipbuilding workforce needs to be skilled, flexible and adaptable.

The more flexible we are, the more value each of us can create and the faster we can deliver outcomes.

Industry needs to start training its employees to be multi-skilled, and build pathway programs that drive career progression. The key goal being to ensure that we retain knowledge and build thought leadership and innovation, and leverage those to deliver future programs, both in WA and beyond.

Our supply chain, where again the possibilities are increasingly going beyond our state border. Around 300 WA companies are registered to tender for work on the Hunter-class frigate program, and more than 60 WA companies are already contributing to the upgrade and sustainment of the Anzac-class frigates at Henderson.

Deeper, trusted, supply chain partnerships will need to feature heavily in future operations. True supplier partnerships could, to name just a few, include embedded teams, transparent schedules and linked procurement systems. They will require improved trust and transparency, but will result in

Bunbara Group is a WA-based SME. In 2022, Bunbara was contracted to supply a range of valves for the Hunter-class frigate program. With a ‘foot in the door’, Bunbara will continue to seek out opportunities to expand the range of products they supply to the Hunter-class program, and to other Defence programs that BAE Systems works on across Australia.

Nikky Barney-Irvine, Director of Bunbara Group, strongly encourages other SMEs to actively connect with defence primes.

Nikky says: “It is essential to get your name out there. It can be quite a push to be seen and considered for projects as a lot of contracts can go to the larger suppliers in the market, even when these ‘larger suppliers’ come to an SME to obtain the products. Being able to work directly with defence primes in Australia really does rely on your ability to be noticed.”

NAVAL & MARITIME AFFAIRS

BAE Systems is developing pathways programs from blue collar, into grey collar, and into white collar, to support that outcome. We are aligning the program across our shipyards at Henderson and Osborne with a view to increasing workforce skill and versatility, and creating highly-desired opportunities for our people to grow their careers.

We need to look beyond the normal commercial and state boundaries and leverage capabilities, innovation and supply chains across Australia. As we look for new opportunities, and build bigger and better capabilities, Defence offers a bright future for WA. To seize upon it, we must work together and build more effective and lasting partnerships.

Zoe Gillard always had an interest in all things maritime, as well as design and building. She completed school at Fremantle Maritime College (now South Metropolitan TAFE), and went on to study marine biology. Given her love of design, she transferred to a design course as a pathway to get into engineering.

When the WA Defence Industry Pathway Program (DIPP) was launched in 2021, Zoe saw it as a way to bring her interests and growing skills together. Zoe was able to undertake all her DIPP work experience rotations at BAE Systems Australia, in Henderson and, on completion, was offered a permanent role as a Trainee Draftsperson. Zoe advises people explore options through conversations. She says: “There are not just one or two avenues to finding a role that sings to you. Even if you don’t know exactly what you want to do, you can still talk to people. Defence industry is big, and quite complex, so there is never one answer or one right way to find your space there.

If you network, get onto LinkedIn, and talk to people, you will be amazed by the opportunities.” What does Zoe like most about working in the defence sector? She says: “Being part of something that’s working for our country and giving something back to the navy.” And she adds: “The other great thing about this office location, is having an ocean view!”

CORPORATE PROFILE

CITY OF COCKBURN AND THE RISE OF THE BLUE ECONOMY

By Terry Booth, Special Correspondent,

WA DEFENCE REVIEW.

Henderson is home to WA’s key shipbuilding and sustainment industrial precinct, the Australian Marine Complex. As WA prepares to capitalise on the historic $6bn AUKUS submarine announcement, Henderson, on the shores of Jervoise Bay in Cockburn Sound, will play a major role. © City of Cockburn. Supplied.

The City of Cockburn, in Perth’s south-west metropolitan growth corridor, is home to WA’s key shipbuilding and sustainment industrial precinct, the Australian Marine Complex in Henderson, and the City is working to help create jobs, develop skills and support business growth.

To that end, the City’s Business and Economic Development Team has been busily preparing for the significant economic opportunities created through the growth of the defence and marine industries: the blue economy.

City of Cockburn Mayor Logan Howlett said the City is looking to capitalise on the thousands of jobs and investments resulting from the historic $6bn AUKUS submarine announcement.

“Henderson is entering a dynamic phase. To ensure our community has a real stake in that, there is only one way to respond, and that’s by matching it with our own brand of dynamic planning, support, collaboration and promotion,” Mayor Howlett said.

The City is embracing its role as a leader in the defence and marine industries in Western Australia, and the City’s vision to be a leader in the blue economy.

“We know there is a concerning shortage of about 1000 workers in the Cockburn area and, if not corrected, that will blow out to over 5000 direct employees, and as many as 13,000 if the economic multiplier is applied.”

“Similarly, advanced manufacturing, technology and shipbuilding supply chains will need to be created within Cockburn’s thriving industrial precincts and the broader region to support the significant increase in shipbuilding and submarine maintenance and sustainment requirements.”

“Although these shortages are part of a national problem, the City is seeking ways to connect

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researchers, prime defence contractors, investors and small- to medium-sized enterprises in Cockburn to build the much-needed skills, supply chains and innovation needed to plug the gaps.”

“Even before the AUKUS announcement, by 2041, right here in Henderson, we are expecting $2.7bn additional investment in shipbuilding infrastructure.”

“We expect 70 defence vessels to be built or upgraded, along with $45b in shipbuilding orders in WA by 2040, creating 4500 additional ship construction jobs in WA by 2030.”

Cockburn’s Executive Corporate Affairs, Victoria Green, responsible for economic development for the City, makes the point that Cockburn is uniquely positioned among local governments in WA. “Our City is home to WA’s premier shipbuilding precinct and supports four other thriving commercial and industrial precincts, including Latitude 32, one of Australia’s largest industrial zones. Our City is cementing Cockburn’s role in WA, the nation, and the region by facilitating our businesses to establish relationships with our major marine and defence organisations to create wealth in our community.”

“It is the role of local government to help foster sustainable communities where people want to work, live and invest. It’s all happening in the City of Cockburn and we’re embracing it with some dynamism of our own.”

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Bend-tech is a bespoke design, engineering and fabrication firm that has been servicing the Defence industry for over 20 years. A family-owned operation which has now grown to over 70 people, Bend-tech specialises in providing innovative, engineered, and certified solutions for safety and efficiency problems to industry.

Our 10,000 sqm facility in Welshpool houses our team and local manufacturing. Our extensive capability and embedment in the resource sector has taught us that what we provide is unrivalled and is primed for the betterment and support of the Defence industry.

• In-house design, engineering team with over 15 internal • Our Australia-wide consultation team and processes team members with over 10 team members • 3D scanning, scoping, and processing capabilities • 10000 square metres of fabrication facilities

• Dedicated research and development department and 3D printing capabilities

• 80 tonne lifting capability, 20 metre underhook lift

sales@bendtechgroup.com.au I bendtechdefence.com.au

L I F E C Y C L E S U S TA I N M E N T S U P P O R T • Design, engineering, and fabrication

• Manual handling elimination

• On-site consulting and 3D scanning

• Equipment and material storage and handling solutions

• Access platforms and scaffold elimination

• Workbenches and tool storage

• Weight reduction, strengthening and space saving

• Container modification and fit out

PERTH: ADELAIDE: DARWIN:

08 9459 8600 08 8231 1513 08 8963 5621

KALGOORLIE: 08 9021 8300 NEWMAN: 08 9175 1164 MOUNT ISA: 07 4743 6458

CORPORATE PROFILE

By Alex Marr,

Director, Benalty Corporation Pty Ltd.

BENALTY HOVERCRAFT: CREATING AND BUILDING A WORLD-CLASS RANGE IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA Tucked away in the mammoth engineering facilities at Henderson, is a quiet West Australian company: Benalty Corporation. Back in 2011, Benalty’s directors had a vision of creating and building a world-class range of hovercraft with an accumulated experience of over 90 years in the shipbuilding industry, and their expertise shines.

In speaking with Ty Hosking and Alex Marr of Benalty Corporation, it is easy to see that they are aware of current global events and have a vision of better serving the services that support the nation.

A 17m hovercraft with the hull section complete and superstructure under Initially, it took Ben, Alex and Ty construction. © Benalty Corporation. Supplied.

18 months of design work before the aluminium was cut to start manufacturing There are various configurations of hovercraft, their 17m hovercraft. To truly design and build patrol craft, landing hoverbarges, troop carrier craft an Australian product that would meet Defence’s requirements, Benalty focused on having local sovereign and combinations thereof, and can be designed to meet clients’ requirements. Hovercraft have a lesser capability in the supply chain, all the way through to environmental impact on marine life and are also ideal final assembly. for minesweeping. They can not only travel over water, During that phase of construction and trials, Benalty marshy areas and land, but also over snow and ice. was engaged in building aluminium structures for Antarctica is suited to hovercraft travel because, where several larger shipyards in Henderson. Being a certified unseen crevices pose a danger to snowmobiles, the DNV facility assists in projects for the SEA1180 primes hovercraft has a large enough footprint to be able to and the Offshore Patrol Vessels being built there. travel over those without danger.

Among the many skilled staff employed by Benalty are Benalty creates only high-quality hovercraft for coded welders, fabricators, technicians and apprentices. clients in both the commercial and defence sectors, Hovercraft are an underutilised vessel type; they do with production bolstered by secure supply chains. not replace traditional forms of water transport but Seeking out the latest technologies and adopting nextcomplement them. Conventional vessels, along with generation equipment are firmly at the forefront of the landing barges, can only immediately access 10% of team’s ongoing development pathways. They are now the world’s coastlines and beaches, whereas hovercraft integrating Australian-made advanced e-machines, such can access 70% due to their ability to navigate shallow as electric motors and generators, with their intelligent waters, reefs, tides and limited-to-no infrastructure. motor control systems for high-energy-capable ancillary Search and rescue in flood situations is where hovercraft power, rapid vessel lift and regenerative high-speed can be used with helicopters to rescue people who have propulsion, making these exclusive craft – among other been stranded. features – more efficient, agile and quieter to operate.

Hovercraft can carry many more people than a As Ty Hosking notes, “Operational uptime is our helicopter. Hovercraft of 15m can carry loads of 2.5t client’s priority, and we provide ongoing support for the and be designed to fit into a C17-Globemaster and be life of every craft.” With Benalty’s passion for service, delivered to any flood situation in Australia, or to one they increasingly stock spare parts ready for prompt of our neighbouring countries. The 23m hovercraft dispatch, with their engineers providing a global support can be driven into the rear of landing helicopter dock service. amphibious assault ships where the landing barges are stored. Hovercraft of that length provide versatility for transporting personnel and equipment to beaches that benaltyhovercrafts.com may be inaccessible to a landing barge.

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Proud manufacturers of hovercraft for defence and commercial use

• Australian-owned company established in 2011.

• Specialists in hovercraft & ship design, construction, service, maintenance and tech support.

• Hovercraft & shipbuilding manufacturers; Hovercraft to 40m; Ships to 101m • Two Western Australian manufacturing facilities.

Benalty Corporation Pty Ltd 28 Roscoe Street, Henderson WA 6166 +61 418 952 115 info@benaltyhovercrafts.com benaltyhovercrafts.com

CORPORATE PROFILE

By Terry Booth, Special Correspondent,

WA DEFENCE REVIEW.

COMMERCIAL ROV AUSTRALIA: REMOTELY OPERATED VEHICLES FOR DUAL USER PURPOSES If you have seen documentaries on remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and submersible robots working at the Titanic, or other shipwreck sites, you may imagine that possessing such capability would come at an eyewatering price. But, as always with technology, things get smaller and cheaper, even as they become more sophisticated.

Today, there is no barrier to either a commercial enterprise or government agency, with a need for ‘fast eyes (or even a hand) in the water’, having access to a range of affordable, commercialgrade, off-the-shelf, battery-powered ROVs. With their exclusive pricing Sonar and navigation displays as pop-ups on the ROV hand controller to maintain options, Perth-based Commercial ROV spatial awareness. © Commercial ROV Australia. Supplied.

Australia can match your needs to the right model and have it delivered to your door, at no more cost than if you were to deal directly diverse as examining the pylons beneath a wharf or jetty, with the manufacturer, Canadian company, collecting ghost nets, cutting ropes from propellers or Deep Trekker. following a diver underwater as a mobile toolbox. The ROVs can also be programmed to follow a fixed route in Deep Trekker products are made to operate in harsh order to survey environmental changes over time. environments, and they come assembled, tested and ready for use. The units have commonality across the range to reduce the learning curve. Commercial ROV Australia, as authorised national distributor, backs up the products with operator training, warranty support and repairs, plus information and firmware updates.

The portable units are, of course, not designed for the vast depths of the Titanic site, but there are models capable of descending 200 to 300 metres, for general marine use, and others capable to 50 metres for such purposes as checking pipelines.

The fields in which these units may be used are legion, and include for example: aquaculture, defence, policing, search and recovery, shipping, infrastructure, environmental protection, local government and energy. Wherever someone needs to look at what lies beneath, these products provide a convenient, robust and affordable solution. Those dealing with emergencies would particularly appreciate that it takes mere minutes to deploy an ROV, from case to water.

The Perth head office of Commercial ROV Australia is owned and operated by Jo and Dan Hulands, who come from a background of providing robotic water tank inspection and cleaning services. They chose to represent Deep Trekker’s products, which they found to be reliable, robust and well supported.

Among their defence uses are ship’s hull inspections and light cleaning. Hull inspections and cleaning are an environmental must, as ships collect potentially harmful exotic growths from foreign waters. Two options are available for that purpose: a ‘swimmer’, which navigates around the hull; or a ‘crawler’, which attaches magnetically to the hull, providing an inspection option when there is poor visibility. Pressurised jets of water from the robots can assist in cleaning.

The use of robotic equipment also offers force protection by limiting the time that divers need to spend in the water, as well as monitoring their safety when they do need to be in the water. Other uses are as

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Having encountered most underwater issues, their advice is invaluable to new users. Their Perth workshop has spare parts, as well as ROVs that can be hired to try before you buy or to supplement an existing fleet. There is a practice (or testing) tank for operator learning and an ROV simulator is under development to enhance the training experience.

One cannot stand still in the technology business, and the development pathway includes fully automated ROVs that will complete a mission repeatedly and then write the report for you. With that kind of forward planning, Commercial ROV Australia looks set to grow its presence in Australia’s underwater technology market for years to come.

commercialrov.com.au

Under water Inspection Remotely Operated Vehicles for Force Protection

1� I Weatherproof handheld controller

Rapid deployment time

PIVOT ROV

@ Jo

l:.o

Sonar and positioning ready

Comprehensive sensor integrations

REVOLUTION ROV

COMMERCIAL ROV AUSTRALIA SALES I HIRE I SERVICE Authorised Factory Trained Australian Dealer

www.commercialrov.com .au

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CORPORATE PROFILE

By David McCormick,

Contributing Defence Writer.

“

FRANMARINE: A WORLDLEADING SOVEREIGN SUSTAINMENT CAPABILITY The growth of Franmarine has been remarkable.

The company’s unique technology-enabled underwater sustainment capability continues to evolve and is now transforming the way that underwater services are delivered, with the world taking notice. From humble beginnings, Franmarine, as an innovative Australian SME, is preparing to export services and technology directly into international defence markets.

Franmarine’s key capability – MarineStreamTM – is a blockchainbased digital biofouling and underwater asset management platform that is integrated with both inspection and enclosed underwater cleaning hardware. The configurable technology platform represents more than 250 years of Franmarine’s cumulative industry experience and provides users with access to an extensive amount of expertise, consisting of multi-party workflows developed in accordance with ISO, regulatory and classification society standards. MarineStream™ offers standardisation, transparency and traceability to fleet operators that depend upon a vast network of suppliers across multiple jurisdictions.

MarineStream™ offers standardisation, transparency and traceability to fleet operators that depend on a vast network of suppliers across multiple jurisdictions

Biofouling management is one of multiple capabilities within the company’s underwater sustainment scope and the platform enables client representatives and independent consultants to participate in inspection, cleaning and treatment works remotely, ensuring that all specifications and standards are met. The real-time information encrypted within the platform is then immediately available to regulators, with integrity assured to verify compliance with marine biosecurity requirements.

Franmarine was awarded the Australian Industry Defence Network (AIDN) WA Minister’s Award for Excellence in Defence Industry in 2022, a testament to delivering significant benefits and savings to the navy and its growing customer base across Australia.

As the only organisation in Australia using proprietary technology to clean nuclear-powered submarines underwater, Franmarine is uniquely positioned to contribute to the future sustainment of AUKUS Submarine Rotational Force – West platforms, leading Franmarine CEO Adam Falconer-West to establish strategic relationships in support of Australia’s nuclear-powered submarine capability. “Considering our AUKUS commitments alongside Australian marine

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Topside MarineStream™ hardware conducting in-water cleaning operations. © Franmarine. Supplied.

biosecurity requirements, I see a direct relationship with the UK and US for the supply of specialised underwater sustainment support in Australia as very necessary”, says Mr Falconer-West.

Globally, MarineStream™ has been instrumental in Franmarine becoming qualified, through a global competitive tender process, to provide in-water vessel cleaning and biofouling management services to the Royal Canadian Navy and Canadian Coast Guard.

The company’s strong relationship with the Canadian Government led to an invitation for Mr Falconer-West to speak at a NATO-hosted biofouling symposium in May 2023, giving Franmarine the opportunity to present to an audience of NATO countries, plus Australia, Japan and New Zealand. It was a prime opportunity to detail Franmarine’s biofouling management technology and initiatives, and the challenges on naval platforms overcome with MarineStream™.

A key partner in Franmarine’s global maritime sustainment ambitions has been Babcock Australasia.

Having worked together since 2018, the relationship is a strategic partnership and reflects their synergies and successes in supporting the navy, while also providing the opportunity to replicate their collaborative success internationally.

Gavin Stewart, Babcock Australasia’s General Manager – Warships Australia, has said, “We are proud to have supported Franmarine in the development of this technology and are excited at the benefits it can have for Babcock’s global customers. Our partnership since 2018 reflects the aligned values of Babcock and Franmarine to bring our expertise in delivering world-leading, environmentally compliant biofouling capabilities for the the Royal Australian and partner navies and partner navies.”

Franmarine is on the move and building on its remarkable story of innovation, technology, capability and growth. It is truly the next Australian company to look out for.

franmarine.com.au

Franmarine powered

by MarineStream™ Franmarine continues to innovate and deliver significant results to our customers through the introduction of our holistic approach to underwater sustainment.

MarineStream™ (biofouling and underwater asset management system) is a multifaceted configurable technology solution for the transparent delivery of biofouling and underwater asset management (UAM) capability.

The integrated solution consists of blockchain based software providing end to end procedural workflows for technical work scopes, combined with inspection, and regulatory compliant in-water vessel cleaning and filtration hardware.

Leveraging hardware agnostic integration, the system provides real-time, multi-user access to underwater inspection, cleaning and repair activities ensuring that work is completed to pre-approved standards.

Regardless of where the work is completed and by whom, compliance records with objective quality evidence are created and embedded with the platform to form an immutable record for the vessel.

MarineStream™ is designed to keep ships in service at sea longer, performing optimally, whilst demonstrating maintenance best practice, and marine biosecurity compliance to move through the world’s waters without restriction.

Franmarine is extending its reach globally whilst transforming the way services are delivered with MarineStream™.

By diligently managing a vessel underwater using MarineStream™, a diverse supply chain ecosystem works together as one by connecting, simplifying, and optimising muti-party workflows.

franmarine.com.au Phone: (08) 9437 3900 | Email: operations@franmarine.com.au

Quality steel and aluminium solutions Your single source product, processing and service solutions providers As one of Australia’s leading national steel and aluminium distributors, BlueScope Distribution has the product range, processing capability, and technical expertise to deliver your defence project on time and to specifications.

Image courtesy of BAE Systems

BlueScope Distribution provides customers with a national network of 16 strategically located branches to help support defence suppliers with national and localised capability.

Townsville Mt Isa Gladstone Brisbane Perth Esperance

For more information visit bluescopedistribution.com.au or call us on 13 72 82

Steel. Aluminium.

Knowhow.™ BlueScope Distribution® is a registered trademark of BlueScope Steel Limited. © BlueScope Steel Limited February 2023 ABN 16 000 011 058. All rights reserved.

Adelaide

Sydney

Newcastle

Albury Ballarat

Melbourne

Portland Hobart

Launceston

COMMENTARY

NAVAL & MARITIME AFFAIRS

PREPARING FOR FUTURE CAPABILITIES: HMAS STIRLING

By CAPT Gary Lawton,

Commanding Officer, HMAS Stirling (2020-23).

*CAPT Lawton completed his term as base commander on 26 May 2023, and has been succeeded

by CAPT Ken Burleigh, RAN.

A few months ago, as I drove onto Garden Island, on passing over the high-level bridge, I counted 16 mobile cranes and concrete pumps in operation. That compared with, as far as I could tell, three across the entire Adelaide CBD when viewed from a drone shot during the recent Test cricket match. That is but one indication of the extent of the ongoing work in redeveloping the base and preparing for future capabilities as they are delivered over the next decade.

HMAS Anzac returns to her homeport of Fleet Base West following a three-month regional deployment as part of Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2022. © Department of Defence.

Photographer: SMNMTE Richard Edwards.

COMMENTARY

NAVAL & MARITIME AFFAIRS

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NAVAL & MARITIME AFFAIRS

GROWING CAPACITY That work has continued without significant impact from COVID-19 over the last Stirling three years including, in that time, the renewal of supporting utilities, an extension to the ammunition wharf, a new warehousing facility and additional office space. That ammunition wharf extension has provided significant efficiency gains in the loading of ammunition onto ships and submarines, as well as providing a wharf that is capable of supporting every class of vessel operated by the Royal Australian Navy. The Oxley Wharf is also in the course of being similarly extended, by approximately 160m, to provide further berthing capacity and Parkes Wharf will follow in due course.

The working population of may expand to HMAS over 5000 personnel by the end of this decade, with over 1200 personnel residing on Garden Island.

Recognising a growing navy workforce, in addition to increased training and personnel services needs at the waterfront, the most visible construction elements

are the three six-storey accommodation blocks for officers, senior and junior sailors that now dominate the skyline as one drives onto the island. In addition to two smaller accommodation buildings and a multistorey carpark under construction, is a new training centre, which is rapidly approaching completion.

Located on what used to be a communications antenna farm opposite the communications centre, it is the first building in what will become a training precinct. It should not be a surprise that the working population of the island may expand to over 5000 personnel by the end of this decade, with over 1200 personnel residing on the island.

If you have visited the Henderson precinct over the last 12 months, you would have had to have gone out of your way to avoid seeing the Naval Capability Centre under construction. The complex will provide contemporary office space for staff supporting ship maintenance activities including the new Regional Maintenance Centre. Importantly, it will also provide crew and logistics support services to ships and submarines undergoing extended maintenance and upgrades in the precinct. These are the major projects that are changing the landscape of both Garden Island and the mainland.

The redevelopment at HMAS Stirling continues to deliver improved working conditions for navy personnel, with a number of key facility and infrastructure upgrades having taken place already on Garden Island, WA. Building upgrades to date include the Sir James Stirling Mess, Junior Sailors Mess, Gymnasium and Health Centre, all of which were modernised to provide a more pleasant and efficient workplace as part of the $367m redevelopment project. © Department of Defence. Photographer: POIS Richard Cordell.

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COMMENTARY

EXPANDING RELEVANCE Local companies and sub-contractors have undertaken approximately 85% of current works, making a substantial contribution to the WA economy. That is in addition to the presence and economic impact of over 3000 personnel and their families in adjacent communities on the mainland. In addition to these works which provide a modern and more efficient working environment for navy’s people and its supporting elements, there is the prospect of even further development following the work of the Nuclear-Powered Submarine Task Force.

The scale of modernisation of the base reflects the growing strategic relevance of both HMAS Stirling and Perth and the increasing importance of influencing events in the Indian Ocean and the north-western approaches to Australia, as we progress towards the mid-part of the 21st century.

NAVAL & MARITIME AFFAIRS

“

The scale of modernisation of the base reflects the growing strategic relevance of both HMAS Stirling and Perth and the increasing importance of influencing events in the Indian Ocean and the north-western approaches to Australia, as we progress towards the mid-part of the 21st century.

The crew of the USS Asheville assemble on the deck of the submarine during their visit to HMAS Stirling. On 14 March 2023, the Australian Government announced the first initiative under the AUKUS trilateral security partnership that will identify the optimal pathway for the acquisition of at least eight nuclear-powered submarines for the Royal Australian Navy. © Department of Defence. Photographer: LSIS Ernesto Sanchez.

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CORPORATE PROFILE

CEMENTING THE FUTURE FOR AUSTRALIA’S DEFENCE ASSETS

By Tristan Rees, Defence Lead, Duratec.

Established in 2010, Duratec is a self-performing head contractor, providing whole-of-life engineering, construction and remediation services across a growing number of industries nationwide. Our mission is to provide fit-for-purpose solutions to extend the life of your assets through intelligent engineering, best-practice methodologies and tailored remedial services.

Duratec also encourages early contractor involvement, which means you can take advantage of our design and construction expertise during the project’s conceptual stage, positively The Duratec project team in front of the historic Victoria Barracks in influencing Melbourne, during extensive heritage restoration works. © Duratec.

Supplied. outcomes and offering value for money throughout the delivery process.

Duratec has a specialised division that works exclusively on Defence projects. Accordingly, our systems and practices have been tailored to align with the Department of Defence’s strategic aims. Duratec’s specialist teams are located across Australia, offering onthe-ground support, not only in densely populated areas but also in rural, isolated regions.

Duratec understands the sensitivity surrounding the delivery of Defence projects, which is supported by our DISP accreditation, employment of security officers and investment in secure ICT infrastructure and solutions.

When you engage with us, you have access to industry professionals who are experienced in the execution of Defence projects that are of the highest quality, safe, efficient and cost-effective. Our reputation for the successful delivery of sensitive, remote, secure and technically challenging projects has positioned us as an industry leader with clients who frequently re-engage us.

We employ a dedicated Handover/Takeover (HOTO) team to ensure compliance with the Defence Estate Quality Management System requirements for preconstruction planning, delivery, commissioning, HOTO and post-project asset management.

Duratec supports the development and protection of Defence aviation infrastructure in Australia through the engineering, construction and remediation of: • Fuel infrastructure • Hangars and storage facilities • Buildings, such as living accommodation and sporting facilities • Runways, taxiways and parking We also provide a vast array of other services, including demolition and general building works,

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coatings application, hazardous materials removal, and the installation of electrical and security systems.

Since 2017, Duratec has delivered more than $250mn in Defence fuelling projects nationwide. As a fuel infrastructure specialist, we offer design, construction, refurbishment, decontamination, decommissioning and upgrade services not only for highly sensitive Defence projects, but also for government and private fuel assets, including new airports and mining infrastructure. Our experience in the field has provided us with a detailed understanding of the specific requirements and risks associated with fuel projects, including the handling of contaminated materials and the prioritisation of safety and quality.

Duratec understands the challenges faced by marine asset owners during construction and remediation programs, including the minimisation of disruptions to live docks and wharves, accommodating shipping movements, operating in sensitive environments, and factoring in tidal and climatic fluctuations. With a strong portfolio of Defence marine infrastructure projects, such as the HMAS Stirling Armament Wharf in WA and HMAS Coonawarra in the Northern Territory, Duratec has invaluable knowledge of, and experience in, the engineering, construction and remediation of Defence marine assets, including: • • • • • • • • •

Wharves Fenders and dolphins Cathodic protection systems Moorings Piles, beams and soffits Wharf furnishings Electrical systems Concrete infrastructure Structural steel infrastructure

Duratec’s fleet of marine equipment is suited to all types of maritime construction projects. Our jack-up barge, wharf falsework system, falsework lifting frames and aluminium access systems allow us to address all your marine infrastructure degradation issues. When it comes to accessing areas of disrepair, you can make the most of our remote inspection services, including drones and bespoke camera rigs, and other specialist access methods, such as custom-designed scaffold systems, barges and boats.

We are proud to support Australia’s defence capabilities and look forward to building further partnerships.

duratec.com.au

SUPPORTING AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE CAPABILITY

20

NATIONAL BRANCHES

200+

DEFENCE PROJECTS DELIVERED SINCE 2014

$190M+

IN DEFENCE FUEL PROJECTS SINCE 2017

ENGINEERING

DURATEC.COM.AU

CONSTRUCTION

REMEDIATION

CORPORATE PROFILE

CITY OF ROCKINGHAM: WELCOMING MORE DEFENCE INDUSTRY BUSINESSES

By Deb Hamblin, Mayor, City of Rockingham.

With stunning natural beauty, proximity to Australia’s largest naval base, and opportunities for businesses to establish themselves in WA’s premier industrial corridor, it is easy to see why the City of Rockingham has become an attractive place in which to live and do business.

Located just 45 minutes south of the Perth CBD, Rockingham is a thriving centre that is home to more than 143,000 people. The exciting potential for business development in Rockingham matches up perfectly with a relaxed coastal lifestyle.

Home to 37km of pristine coastline that includes the stunning Cape Peron and Shoalwater Islands Marine Park, it’s no wonder that people are keen to live and work in Rockingham.

Across the sparkling waters of Cockburn Sound lies HMAS Stirling naval base, located on Garden Island and, in the city’s northeast, the Rockingham Industry Zone (RIZ) – an 1150ha industrial area that is a key part of WA’s most significant industrial estate, the Western Trade Coast.

HMAS Stirling naval base on Garden Island – mere minutes from the heart of Rockingham. © City of Rockingham. Supplied.

With $8bn being invested into the expansion of HMAS Stirling over the next 10 years, Rockingham is an ideal place for businesses to take advantage of the opportunities that are available in the Defence industry supply chain. It is estimated that construction on the island over the next decade will be significant enough to accommodate the estimated 7500 service personnel (currently 2500), who will then be working there.

At present, 12 fleet units, including Anzac-class frigates and Collins-class submarines, are stationed there, along with an additional 70 units, including the Submarine Training and Systems Centre, Submarine Escape Training Facility (one of only six in the world), Clearance Diving Team Four, and the Defence Communications Station Perth.

Under the planned Navy Capability Infrastructure Sub-Program, Fleet Base West will become homeport to additional Hunter-class frigates, Arafura-class offshore patrol vessels and Attack-class submarines as they come into service and, as a result, will be the location of significant expansion, sustainment and maintenance opportunities in the coming years.

The city has hosted a Defence Industry Stakeholder Symposium that focused on the future of Defence and defence industry in the region. It provided an opportunity to highlight how we can enhance the strategic opportunities flowing from the construction projects, new vessels and crews that will be based at HMAS Stirling in the future. The RAN, Defence West,

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Austal, Leonardo Australia, Luerssen, Ventia Office Defence Industry Support and Rockingham-Kwinana Chamber of Commerce were all involved.

Following the success of the city’s inaugural Defence Industry Forum in 2021, the city has gone on to host its third Defence Industry Forum. The forum includes prime defence contractors and Defence organisations and gives local businesses an in-depth understanding of the future of the defence industry in our region and the opportunities that exist.

Several high-profile defence industry names are already based in Rockingham, including Leonardo and Thales. The RIZ is strategically located on the Western Trade Coast, which is the premier industrial zone in WA. In addition, it is also a short drive from the Australian Marine Complex, located in Henderson, which is where WA’s primary shipbuilding precinct is located.

Given that the RIZ is almost directly adjacent to HMAS Stirling, it is an ideal location for defence industry businesses. The WA government’s decision to proceed with the development of a new outer harbour at Kwinana also has the potential to open exciting synergies for the defence industry sector in the region.

With a wonderful work/life balance on offer in our city, we look forward to welcoming more defence industry businesses to Rockingham, the place where the coast comes to life.

rockingham.wa.gov.au/your-city/businessand-investment/defence-industry

Rockingham is Defence Industry Ready…

Are You? With $8 billion committed by the Australian Government to infrastructure upgrade projects at the Royal Australian Navy's Fleet Base West on Garden Island over the next four to ten years, this means more investment, more jobs, more opportunities to be created particularly for the local construction, engineering, logistics, training and other supporting service industries.

The Rockingham Strategic Centre is set to become the strategic centre for Defence-related industries. With a range of industrial and commercial land available for development, it makes sense to come and locate your base next to ours.

For further information please contact the City of Rockingham's Economic Development team on 08 9528 0333 or economicdevelopment@rockingham.wa.gov.au rockingham.wa.gov.au/industryready

Government and Defence Accommodation We understand defence accommodation needs. Our team is experienced in providing accommodation services to all defence personnel.

• Providing Fully Furnished and serviced apartments • Ability to scale up as per requirements • 1 month, 3 month, 6 months, or longer • Regular cleans available • Secure private parking and balcony included Our apartments provide convenience and proximity to Rockingham, Kwinana and Naval defence bases and government facilities. Our strong partnerships deliver the best accommodation for your needs.

Send us a request to inquire more.

Key locations Ideal proximity to: Naval Base

- 15 mins

Henderson

- 20 mins

Kwinana

- 15 mins

Garden Island - 18 mins

12 Westralia Gardens, Rockingham, WA, 6168 (08) 9466 8881 +61 9466 8881 info@yaransuites.com.au yaransuites.com.au

DEFENCE ACCOMMODATION IN THE HEART OF ROCKINGHAM

For all your defence accommodation solutions needs please contact Vikram at vikram@yaran.com.au

ANALYSIS

By Emma Kelly, Senior Correspondent,

WA DEFENCE REVIEW.

AVIATION & SPACE AFFAIRS

JANDAKOT AIRPORT: WESTERN AUSTRALIA’S PRINCIPAL GENERAL AVIATION HUB ASTRIDE THE INDIAN OCEAN Situated in close proximity to the Indian Ocean, Perth’s Jandakot Airport is one of the country’s busiest general aviation airports in terms of aircraft movements and one of, if not the, largest aviation training bases in Australia.

As well as being home to a thriving flight training sector and a hub for general aviation maintenance providers and helicopter and charter operators, the airport has a growing cohort of companies engaged in the defence, parapublic and national security sectors.

A busy Jandakot airport, as seen from the control tower looking north-east across the central apron towards parallel runways 24L/06R and 24R/06L. © WA DEFENCE REVIEW. Photographer: David Nicolson.

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ANALYSIS

PAST DEVELOPMENTS Jandakot Airport, located in the City of Cockburn local government area and some 16km south of the Perth central business district, 19km south-west of Perth Airport and 13km east of the Port of Fremantle, was first conceived in the mid-1950s as a replacement for Maylands Aerodrome.

In 1946, light aircraft operations transferred from Guildford Aerodrome (now Perth Airport) to Maylands, but in the 1950s it became clear that the ageing infrastructure and capacity of Maylands could not cope with the growing levels of air traffic. In 1959, some 520ha of unproductive farmland in Jandakot was acquired and the airport was officially opened on 1 July 1963.

Since then, the airport site has increased in size, currently standing at 622ha, while a commercial and industrial area, Jandakot City, has been established at the entrance to the airport. The development of non-aviation land at the airport has provided

AVIATION & SPACE AFFAIRS

critical income, allowing the airport to maintain financial viability.

Since 1963, the land surrounding the airport has changed dramatically, with what was once unproductive farmland becoming sought-after residential and commercial areas, with development now surrounding the airport and ongoing growth in a wide variety of non-aviation activity. One aviation tenant at the airport quips: “Jandakot is the only airport in Australia with a pool company [Buccaneer Pools] on site.” Not surprisingly, with the dominance of WA’s resources sector, the airport has a growing resources footprint, including Halliburton and GE Oil & Gas. Ownership of the airport has also changed over the years. In 1998, the airport was privatised, with the Commonwealth government selling a 50-year lease, with a 49-year lease extension, to Jandakot Airport Holdings (JAH). JAH has changed hands on numerous occasions. Most recently, in late 2021, Ascot Capital and South Africa’s Kirsh Group sold the airport and the 200ha associated Jandakot City commercial and

Jandakot Airport is Omni’s main centre of operations in WA. © Omni.

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The airport is also home to a growing number of companies engaged in the defence, para-public and national security sectors, attracted to Jandakot by the very fact it is an airport and offers airside access, location, land, and proximity to customers. For companies also engaged in the maritime sector, the Australian Marine Complex in Henderson and Port of Fremantle are on the doorstep.

ERGT has been based at Jandakot since 1995. It services high-risk industries, predominantly delivering firefighting and Helicopter Underwater Escape Training (HUET), including to Defence customers.

In 2012, it moved to a purpose-built

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Helicopter services company Helicopter Logistics, safety training specialist ERGT, and aerospace technology solutions provider Omni Executive, are established Jandakot residents, while engineering design and manufacturing company Innovaero is keen to make Jandakot its home in 2023.

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Thanks to the WA climate and yearround ideal flying conditions, as well as its proximity to Perth Airport and controlled airspace and navigational aids, Jandakot has become one of the busiest flying

Another tenant is South Metropolitan TAFE, a vital link in the chain to provide a skilled workforce for the airport and aviation companies based there, offering a range of aviation engineering, maintenance, pilot and management courses.

JANDAKOT AIRPORT MASTER PLAN 2020

Jandakot is one of the busiest general aviation airports in Australia in aircraft movements – averaging 215,000 movements annually according to the airport’s Master Plan 2020, published in 2021. The airport, which operates 24/7, has an operating capacity of 460,000 fixed wing and 66,000 helicopter movements per annum, which it expects to reach within 20 years.

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Jandakot is also the base for essential air service operators, including the Royal Flying Doctor Service, RAC Rescue Helicopter, WA Police Air Wing and the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES). The Police Air Wing, for example, moved into a $1.4mn stateof-the-art facility at Jandakot in 2014, enabling its fixed-wing and rotary-wing assets to be under one roof.

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The rising value of that land prompted previous owner Ascot Capital to propose in 2006 to relocate Jandakot’s aviation activities to a site in North Dandalup or Keysbrook, near Mandurah.

Understandably, that proposal was not welcomed by well-established resident aviation operators and the idea was shelved following opposition from airport-based businesses, the local Chamber of Commerce and the WA government. Ascot Capital had failed to take into consideration the Airports Act 1996 and the terms of its lease agreement, which stipulates the continued operation of Jandakot as an airport.

The nature of the businesses at the airport has changed considerably over the years, with the development of mixed business precincts attracting more than 200 companies to the site. On the aviation side, they include aircraft charter and hire companies, aircraft distributors, maintenance organisations and airborne surveying companies.

The centre features a sea-survival pool with HUET and motor-propelled survival craft, extensive fireground facilities for emergency response, a helideck fire emergency training area, internal firefighting and self-rescue areas, a multi-level platform for working at height safely and vertical rescue training, confined space training areas, incident

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industrial area to property group Dexus for $1.3bn – one of the largest property deals ever made in WA, highlighting the value of the land on which the airport sits.

The airport is home to numerous flying schools, including the Royal Aero Club of Western Australia, which has been there since 1965 and is the oldest and largest flight training school in WA.

IGA

Jandakot is one of the busiest general aviation airports in Australia in aircraft movements – averaging 215,000 movements annually according to the airport’s Master Plan 2020, published in 2021. The airport, which operates 24/7, has an operating capacity of 460,000 fixed wing and 66,000 helicopter movements per annum, which it expects to reach within 20 years.

Safety Training Centre at the airport on a long-term lease which has provided it with security and confidence to grow, says managing director Shane Addis.

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training airports in the country. Flying training currently accounts for about 80% of total aircraft movements, with approximately 500 aircraft based there.

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management facilities, specialist training areas for emerging fuel sources, including hydrogen and lithium, and 30 classrooms and meeting rooms.

The Jandakot location has provided ERGT with the space to establish its purpose-built centre, which supports the company’s 40-year plan to meet the growth needs of high-risk industries. It also allows it to be close to industry partners, says Addis. ERGT was initially attracted to Jandakot because of the rotary wing connections, while an oil and gas precinct has been steadily growing since 2012. The airport’s location, close to the freeway and 25 minutes from the CBD, makes it appealing, as well as allowing it to

AVIATION & SPACE AFFAIRS

operate a fire training ground, which would not be possible in a light industrial area.

Omni Executive has had a presence at Jandakot Airport for nine years. Its primary value proposition at Jandakot is the provision of specialist airborne services for local law enforcement, fire and emergency services and resource sector companies. Its activities include aerial survey, surveillance and specialist support such as aerial incendiary operations. Omni has its own aeronautical engineering capability, and is Western Australia’s authorised Pilatus service centre, servicing the WA Police Air Wing’s PC-12s and other resource sector companies’ PC-12s.

FIGURE 4.4 - 2034 AIRPORT AVIATION DEVELOPMENT PLAN

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Omni’s location at the airport allows it to effectively support customers WA Police Air Wing and DFES. Being collocated with its customer base allows the company to work hand in glove to meet its client’s evolving and specialist aviation requirements, says Steven Thorpe, General Manager. He further emphasised that Omni will look at growth at Jandakot in line with the growing needs of its customers over the long term.

Helicopter Logistics is a long-term Jandakot tenant, having been there for 13 years, according to Lindsay Hawke, Business Development Manager.

Helicopter Logistics’ wide-ranging

Based at Jandakot Airport, Helicopter Logistics provides both fixed-wing and helicopter services. © WA DEFENCE REVIEW. Photographer: David Nicolson.

220 EDITION 5 • 2022-23

activities comprise aerial fire operations, including bush fire mitigation and aerial firefighting support, geophysical surveys, mining support, engineering, and aviation equipment distribution. It is also an Airbus Helicopters Service Centre.

The company, which partnered with Airbus Australia Pacific in the Team Nightjar bid for the Land 2097 project, is looking to grow its defence activities.

It is particularly interested in the potential for regional defence force helicopter flight training at the airport. Despite Jandakot’s position as a flight training centre, there is a largely untapped market for defence training, Hawke says. The Republic of Singapore Air Force conducts initial flight training at Jandakot with ST Engineering company Pacific Flight Services

ANALYSIS

before continuing at Royal Australian Air Force Base Pearce, but beyond that, this opportunity has not been exploited. With the focus in WA very much on maritime defence, Hawke believes there is a need for a vision for defence aviation, with defence force training at Jandakot being a clear opportunity.

Helicopter Logistics sees its future at Jandakot, but it will outgrow its existing facility within two years and will need to move to a larger site at the airport.

Aeronautical design, certification, product development and manufacturing specialist, Innovaero, is aiming to establish an aviation manufacturing centre of excellence at the airport.

Innovaero has had building approval for the proposed

AVIATION & SPACE AFFAIRS

site at Centurion Place, since 2019, but delays due to COVID-19 have seen those plans double in size.

Having outgrown its existing Perth facilities in Kardinya and Bibra Lake, the company will bring operations under one roof in a purpose-built facility at Jandakot, including corporate headquarters, research and development, manufacturing, training and an airside maintenance facility. That would support Innovaero’s full range of operations, expand its advanced manufacturing capabilities through automation and enable the segregation of sensitive defence projects, including its ISR aircraft and systems development. Principal examples include the continuing development of the OWL military

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UAV and the BAE Systems STRIX Uncrewed Aerial System (UAS) tactical strike platform; of which the development for both programmes are centred at Innovaero facilities in WA.

capabilities and the Jandakot facility would allow it to continue its steady growth in a sustainable way, particularly in the defence sector, says Group CEO, Simon Grosser. Jandakot has a number of advantages, he says, pointing to airside access which would make

Innovaero is unique in Australia in terms of its

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it easier to conduct repair work and attract additional work, as well as benefits from being located with other aerospace and defence companies. With new contracts requiring the company to increase its workforce, Innovaero is creating an “aspirational workplace” that supports its innovative culture, says Grosser. It already

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LEGEND Airport Boundary 1A - Conservation ~ 48ha 1B - Conservation ~ 31ha 2A - Conservation ~ 29ha 2B - Conservation ~ 11ha 3 - Aviation Operations ~ 247ha 4 - Mixed Business ~ 120ha 5 - Mixed Business ~ 41ha 6 - Mixed Business ~ 40ha 6A - Aviation Operations ~ 10ha Roads, Services and Batter Areas ~ 45ha Existing Runways Existing Taxiways Apron Proposed Runways Proposed Taxiways Existing Developed Sites Approximate Total Airport Area ~ 622ha Source: Jandakot Airport Holdings Pty Ltd

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FIGURE 3.1 - JANDAKOT AIRPORT PRECINCT PLAN

J a n d a k o t A ir p o r t P r e c in c t P la n 2 0 2 0

AVIATION & SPACE AFFAIRS

has a memorandum of understanding with South Metropolitan TAFE to incorporate a training program to develop local skills, adds Grosser.

PLANS AFOOT JAH declined to comment on defence aviation opportunities at the airport, but the vision stated in its current master plan is to continue to develop and manage the airport as a “strategically significant aviation hub with a supporting business campus”.

Approved in August 2021, Master Plan 2020, requires revisions every five years under the Airports Act 1996, includes provision for a fourth runway and associated taxiways to support further growth in pilot training, a minor extension to the primary runway, new road access to the east and the continuing balance of aviation and non-aviation activities.

No timeline has been set for airport infrastructure development, however.

Within the 20-year period of the master plan, JAH estimates that the airport will accommodate approximately 155,000m2 of aviation-related and aircraft hangar floor space, while more financially lucrative non-aviation development is expected to account for a massive 725,000m2.

Aviation growth will come with the development of Precinct 6A, located in the south-east of the airport site, which will accommodate approximately 40,000m2 of aviation-related and aircraft hangar floor space, according to the master plan, costing some $41.3mn.

On completion, the future aviation development is expected to generate $15mn annually in income, payroll, taxes and GST to the Commonwealth and state governments, and payments in lieu of rates

“

On completion, the future aviation development is expected to generate $15mn annually in income, payroll, taxes and GST to the Commonwealth and state governments, and payments in lieu of rates to the City of Cockburn. Combined with existing aviation uses at the airport, the total annual contribution to all levels of government is estimated at $59.6mn.

At the full development of the estate, JAH estimates the number of aviationrelated businesses will be around 102, employing some 1741 people.

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to the City of Cockburn. Combined with existing aviation uses at the airport, the total annual contribution to all levels of government is estimated at $59.6mn. At the full development of the estate, JAH estimates the number of aviation-related businesses will be around 102, employing some 1741 people.

In the master plan, JAH commits to maintaining Jandakot as a leading general aviation facility and enhancing its contribution to WA employment and economic growth through appropriate aviation and non-aviation development.

Servicing and modifying aircraft for aerial geophysical survey, as seen here with a Cessna Caravan, is key to Innovaero’s capabilities. Expanding the company’s footprint into Jandakot Airport is anticipated to markedly enhance Innovaero’s operations. © Innovaero.

Jandakot Airport is home to ERGT’s Modular Egress Training Simulators (METS). © ERGT.

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ANALYSIS

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Jandakot Airport Aerospace Tenants Organisation

Capabilities

1.

Aerohire Charter

Aircraft charter

2.

Aero Jacks

Aircraft maintenance & restoration

3.

AeroGleam

Aircraft cleaning & detailing

4.

Aerospace Fabrication

Aircraft welding, machining & fabrication

5.

Aerostar Hangars

Aircraft storage

6.

Air Ads

Aerial banner advertising

7.

Air Australia International

Air charter/flying school

8.

Air BP

Aircraft refuelling

9.

Airflite

MRO provider, aircraft sales, aircraft leasing

10.

Airflite Flying College

Flight school

11.

Applied Aviation

Rotary & fixed-wing MRO & modifications

12.

AR Stookes

Helicopter hire & hangar rental

13.

Aus West Airlines

Aircraft charter

14.

Xcalibur Multiphysics

Airborne geophysical survey

15.

Cloud Dancer Pilot Training

Recreational pilot licencing

16.

Complete Aviation Freight

Freight specialist

17.

Complete Aviation Maintenance

Aircraft maintenance

18.

Complete Aviation Services

Aircraft charter

19.

Corsaire Aviation

Fixed-wing & rotary-wing charter & tourism services

20.

Department of Biodiversity, Conservation Attractions, Parks & Wildlife

Aerial fire suppression & surveillance

21.

Department of Fire & Emergency Services

Emergency rescue helicopter service

22.

Dunn Aviation

Aerial firefighting

23.

Electro.Aero

Electric aircraft chargers

24.

Elite Aerospace Coatings

Aircraft, marine & industrial spray painting

25.

Flightcity

Flight simulation experiences and flight training

26.

Fly West Coast/Fly Rottnest Island

Aircraft charters & experiences

27.

Formula Aviation

Aircraft maintenance

28.

Department of Fire & Emergency Services

Emergency rescue helicopter service

29.

Dunn Aviation

Aerial firefighting

30.

Electro.Aero

Electric aircraft chargers

31.

Elite Aerospace Coatings

Aircraft, marine & industrial spray painting

32.

Flightcity

Flight simulation experiences and flight training

33.

Fly West Coast/Fly Rottnest Island

Aircraft charters & experiences

34.

Formula Aviation

Aircraft maintenance

EDITION 5 • 2022-23

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ANALYSIS

AVIATION & SPACE AFFAIRS

Jandakot Airport Aerospace Tenants (continued) Organisation

Capabilities

35.

Kookaburra Air

Scenic flights & air tours

36.

Major Blue Air

Flight training, charter, aircraft hire

37.

Medical Air

International & domestic air ambulance

38.

Minovation

Flight training, aircraft hire

39.

Omni Executive

Aircraft charter, aerial work, aircraft MRO, aerospace design & manufacture

40.

Paul Lyons Aviation

Aerial banner advertising

41.

Perth Aviation

Air charter/flying school

42.

Premier Aviation Maintenance

Aircraft refuelling

43.

Raindance Systems

MRO provider, aircraft sales, aircraft leasing

44.

Rottnest Air Taxi

Flight school

45.

Royal Aero Club of WA

Rotary & fixed-wing MRO & modifications

46.

Royal Flying Doctor Services of Australia

Helicopter hire & hangar rental

47.

Singapore Flying College

Aircraft charter

48.

Skydive Geronimo

Airborne geophysical survey

49.

Sky Electrics

Recreational pilot licencing

50.

South Metropolitan TAFE

Freight specialist

51.

Swan Aviation Club

Aircraft maintenance

52.

Swan River Seaplanes/Rottnest Air Express

Aircraft charter

53.

The Helicopter Company

Fixed-wing & rotary-wing charter & tourism services

54.

Top Gun Flights

Aerial fire suppression & surveillance

55.

Ultra Slick Coaters

Emergency rescue helicopter service

56.

United Aero Helicopters

Aerial firefighting

57.

University Flying Club

Electric aircraft chargers

58.

Viva Energy Australia

Aircraft, marine & industrial spray painting

59.

WA Aviation College

Flight simulation experiences and flight training

60.

Walsh Avionics

Aircraft charters & experiences

61.

West Star Aviation

Aircraft maintenance

62.

Western Airmotive

Emergency rescue helicopter service

Source: Jandakot Airport

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EDITION 5 • 2022-23

LIGHTWEIGHT, MULTI MATERIAL DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION SPECIALISTS

An award-winning Australian business with 30 years’ experience in prototype, and manufacture of products for the sky, the water, and everywhere else in-between.

3D Modelling CFD & FEA analysis 3D printing – FDM, SLA 3D Scanning 3 & 4 axis CNC machining Advanced composite manufacturing 1/30 Barberry Way, Bibra Lake WA 6163. Ph: 08 6191 0346 info@compositecomponents.com.au

www.compositecomponents.com.au

CORPORATE PROFILE

By Justin Wearne , Principal Consultant, JWPM.

INNOVAERO: A HIGHFLYER IN UNCREWED AERIAL SYSTEMS COMPLEX RISKS IN THE DEFENCE SECTOR For over a decade, WA company Innovaero has been an innovator in aeronautical technology and systems, focused on large uncrewed aerial systems, loitering munitions and advanced aerial camera array systems.

A growing demand for uncrewed aircraft has focused Innovaero on developing medium to large category uncrewed aerial systems (UAS, or drones), resulting in the recent announcement of two new UAS developments, STRIX and OWL. UAS have emerged as a critical defence technology of the future, as is being demonstrated daily in Ukraine. It was widely expected that drones, missiles and loitering munitions would be among the key capabilities identified in the Defence Strategic Review 2023.

Innovaero and BAE Systems executives and the STRIX uncrewed aerial system, launched

by BAE Systems at AVALON 2023. (L-R) Simon Grosser, Chief Executive Officer, Innovaero; Mike Von Bertouch, Founder, Innovaero; Ben Hudson, Chief Executive Officer, BAE Systems Australia; and Adam Kelly, Airborne Systems Manager, Innovaero. Credit: Salty Dingo.

Supplied.

BAE Systems Australia revealed STRIX at the AVALON 23 international air show and announced its partnership with Innovaero for the design, development and launch of the STRIX Uncrewed Aerial System concept. A next-generation autonomous vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) multi-role UAS, STRIX is delivering sustainable superiority on the battlefield, while keeping our military personnel safer.

STRIX is a significant Australian innovation, with Innovaero and BAE Systems combining to design an entirely new concept. The prototype currently under construction will be an autonomous VTOL UAS for various tactical battlefield roles, predominately to support ground and maritime forces or to team with piloted helicopters over the battlefield.

A next generation loitering munition, OWL, is a hybrid between a drone and a precision guided munition (PGM). A persistent and highly manoeuvrable long-range precision drone, OWL helps to address the ‘affordable mass’ challenge. The OWL concept was developed by Innovaero to be a medium-range anti-armour loitering munition and drew significant attention at AVALON 23. OWL is a next-generation expendable UAS and is Australia’s first locally- developed loitering munition.

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Loitering munitions are a critical defence capability of the future, and OWL is a huge stride towards a worldclass sovereign capability, that will deliver effective medium- to long-range strike, keeping Australian military personnel safer and further from adversaries.

Perth-based Innovaero is a 100% Australianowned aeronautical product design, certification and manufacturing company, with a track record of delivering successful outcomes for clients in Australia and the US. Its team of world-class aeronautical specialists is recognised globally for innovation, including developing world-leading aerial camera array solutions. The Innovaero team designs, builds, flies and certifies exquisite, attritable and expendable autonomous UAS, many of which are VTOL. Innovaero is on the search for new talent to complement its team and is always interested in hearing from experienced engineers and technicians in the fields of avionics, aerospace, mechatronics, and electronics.

Innovaero is one of many innovative Australian companies addressing the challenge of developing a sovereign defence capability. For this highflyer, the sky is the limit.

innov.aero

“We are recruiting”

Australian Sovereign Capability World-class large Uncrewed Aerial Systems

Imagine. Design. Build. Fly Innovaero is kicking big goals in the growing field of LARGE autonomous uncrewed aerial systems (UAS). We are currently under contract, developing and manufacturing a range of sophisticated UAS for both civilian and defence applications, with unique capabilities in range, payload and performance.

If you have a passion for new technology and advanced manufacturing, come join us on the journey. We are looking for enthusiastic engineers and technicians skilled in avionics, aerospace engineering, mechatronics and electronics.

We offer competitive remuneration, a safe, clean working environment, and an innovative free thinking culture.

Visit our website at www.innov.aero

P +61 8 6365 9179 · E info@innov.aero 20 Weatherburn Way, Kardinya WA 6163 www.innov.aero

PROUD SUPPORTER OF ®

COMMENTARY

AVIATION & SPACE AFFAIRS

TAKING ‘THE ULTIMATE HIGH GROUND’: AUSTRALIA’S DEFENCE SPACE COMMAND

By Stephen Haydon,

Defence Writer,

WA DEFENCE REVIEW

&

Around the world, the space sector is attracting greater attention and investment from governments, militaries, industry and the wider public.

In Australia there is a growing recognition of the critical role that space plays in national security and daily life. Defence has entered a new era by establishing the Defence Space Command to assure Australia’s access to space, to support the development of new space capabilities and to achieve national space ambitions, ensuring Australia remains a key contributor to global space developments.

Emma Kelly,

Senior Correspondent,

WA DEFENCE REVIEW.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, Hon Richard Marles; Commander, Defence Space Command, AVM Catherine Roberts and Dr Paul Scully-Power, at the Space Industry Roundtable Meeting, with space industry representatives in December 2022. © Department of Defence. Photographer: CPL Brenton Kwaterski.

230 EDITION 5 • 2022-23

COMMENTARY

AVIATION & SPACE AFFAIRS

FLTLT Nihal Ranasinghe talks to event attendees at the Defence Space Command display at the Australian International Airshow 2023 (AIA23). The airshow is the premier showcase in the southern hemisphere for military aviation and the aerospace industry. AIA23 showcases the ADF’s current capabilities and future concepts in a collaborative and integrated manner to government, military allies and partners, defence industry and the Australian public. © Department of Defence. Photographer: LACW Kate Czerny.

NEW ERA DAWNS Space has a vital role to play in the operations of the ADF and Australia’s way of life. AVM Catherine Roberts AO CSC, inaugural Commander of Defence Space Command (DSpC), which was established last year to support Australia’s existing and new space capabilities, told WA DEFENCE REVIEW: “Our ADF and daily lives are reliant on space – from providing real-time information to our deployed forces, to global positioning systems, mobile phones, financial systems and traffic management.”

Established in January 2022 and officially launched in March, DSpC was formed to deliver the “transformational change needed to support the delivery of new space capabilities for a congested, contested and competitive space domain”, explains AVM Roberts. Initially reporting to the Chief of Air Force as the Space Domain Lead, DSpC is composed of representatives from the army, navy, air force, Australian public service and industry.

With its motto ‘The Ultimate High Ground’, the command was formed with the vision “to assure Australian civil and

military access in space, integrated across government and in concert with allies, international partners and industry”.

“

We look at space as a program of evolving operational capability, never stagnant, and always adapting to the needs of our operators.

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Personnel from the Australian Army and their civilian counterparts participate in a Space Domain Exercise at the Australian Space Discovery Centre in Adelaide. Working alongside members from the RAAF’s No. 1 Remote Sensor Unit, the exercise was the initial phase in developing the army’s first generation of space professionals and Defence’s joint space workforce. © Department of Defence. Photographer: LACW Annika Smit.

“

There are tremendous opportunities for Defence to further leverage Australia’s space advantages and become a key contributor to global space efforts, defending Australia and our national interests.

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As such, it is responsible for managing space capability projects; development, growth and sustainment of a space workforce; force assignment of space specialists to the Chief of Joint Operations; space concepts and doctrine; and the development of effective partnerships with international, inter-agency and industry partners.

The command was allocated a $7bn budget over the next decade in the Defence Strategic Update 2020, which laid out the initial concept for a sovereign space capability and formally acknowledged space as a new defence domain, in addition to sea, land, air and cyber.

COMMENTARY

AVIATION & SPACE AFFAIRS

ACHIEVEMENTS TO DATE Much has already been achieved by DSpC since its formation, according to AVM Roberts. “DSpC’s key achievements include the release of Australia’s Defence Space Strategic Workforce plan; design and establishment of the Command Headquarters and associated functions; and establishing space engagement talks with international partners,” says AVM Roberts.

In addition, the Space Surveillance Telescope (SST) in Exmouth, WA, was declared operational in September 2022. The SST, in collaboration with the United States Space Force, is a first-of-its-type capability, which “…will allow greater space domain awareness by providing ground-based, broad-area search, detection and tracking of faint objects in deep space for purposes like predicting and avoiding potential collisions and asteroid detection,” says AVM Roberts.

Such collaboration is a key element of Australia’s competitive advantage, says AVM Roberts, with the country’s unique location and human talent making it a strategic partner. International collaboration includes Defence’s participation in the Combined Space Operations (CSpO) initiative, comprising Australia, Canada, France, Germany, New Zealand, the UK and the US. CSpO nations have agreed on guiding principles and lines of effort to improve combined military space operations, foster cooperation and coordination, and to collectively promote responsible behaviour in space.

KEY ROLE FOR WESTERN AUSTRALIA WA, in particular, plays a key role in Australia’s space activities and ambitions, exploiting its sparse, low-density population, semi-arid climate around Exmouth and prime geo-strategic location at the convergence of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. In addition to the SST, WA hosts the C-Band Radar, also located near Exmouth, which is a sensor within the global Space Surveillance Network which detects, tracks, identifies and catalogues manmade objects in space. The information is used to contribute to space-flight safety and ensuring satellites are not endangered by space debris, says AVM Roberts.

The Defence Space Strategy 2022 sets the trajectory for Defence’s space efforts to 2040 and outlines the command’s mission and goals. They include ensuring joint force access to space; delivering a robust, sustainable sovereign Defence space capability; evolving the Defence Space Organisation to “the space warfighting domain”; and increasing the national understanding of the criticality of space. “We look at space as a program of evolving operational capability, never stagnant, and always adapting to the needs of our operators,” explains AVM Roberts.

WA is also home to the Satellite Ground Station West in Kojarena, which provides a valuable vantage point for satellite communications over the Indian Ocean. “Our diverse environments play an important role, with Australia’s arid landscapes, particularly in WA and the Northern Territory, which enable us to access electronically quiet areas with clear skies,” adds AVM Roberts.

AVM Roberts says that over the next decade, investment in space capabilities will deliver a mix of sovereign and collaborative systems to Defence, including space domain awareness, positioning, navigation and timing, satellite communications and intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance. “There are also tremendous opportunities for Defence to

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further leverage Australia’s space advantages and become a key contributor to global space efforts, defending Australia and our national interests,” she adds.

PRESSING CHALLENGES Two immediate challenges could prevent Australia from reaching its full space potential, however. “The emerging space workforce in Defence and industry is the most critical factor in achieving Space Command’s mission and my highest priority as the Defence Space Commander,” says AVM Roberts. “We must develop a cadre of personnel, not only space specialists, but also the specialist staff that are integral to supporting our tasks. This means continued investment in our people and exploration of new and novel ways to train, retain, develop and reward our workforce,” AVM Roberts explains.

The second challenge relates to the rapid rate of change in space technology, which provides an opportunity as well as a challenge. AVM Roberts says: “Our aim, alongside industry, © Department of Defence. is to ensure we continue to innovate and keep pace with technological advances in Capabilities Group (JCG) by July this year. A further the space domain.” DSpC’s ability to address these recommendation suggesting that “the Chief of Joint challenges will pave the way for Defence to realise its Capabilities be given a dedicated funding line, with growing space ambitions. appropriate authorities to manage it”, has not been accepted to-date. This move into the JCG, however, FUTURE PROGNOSIS would ensure more optimal capability delivery Released in April, the much-anticipated Defence development and management in pursuit of Strategic Review 2023 addressed both challenges DSpC’s goals in space. highlighted by AVM Roberts. First, the report The review further states that the ADF needs a recommends that “a centralised space domain whole-of-government and whole-of-nation approach capability development and management function to developing the Defence space domain, while should be established”, as well as a method for recognising that developing sovereign capabilities “building and sustaining a trained Defence space “must be offset by the cost requirements of such workforce, including a defined career path for capabilities against opportunities to collaborate space professionals.” with the US and other partners.” It also states: The Australian Government agreed in principle to both recommendations. These would provide DSpC with the specialised workforce and capability development and sustainment mechanisms necessary for tackling the challenges of acquiring and maintaining a competitive edge in space in an era of rapidly evolving technologies and threats.

In pursuit of the second recommendation, the Australian Government accepted that while a separate Space Force was unnecessary at this stage, the DSpC should become a command within the Joint

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“Commercial capabilities will also play an increasingly important role in complementing and augmenting Defence’s Space Command structure.”

While there is only implicit mention in the report to industry in relation to space and the DSpC, it is clear that Australian industry will play a critical role in delivering Defence’s space capability. This will also likely include increased reliance on WA’s existing space industry, in addition to exploiting the state’s prime geographical location for hosting and operating future space capabilities.

Mission Critical High Performance UHF SATCOM Systems

www.blacktree.com.au T +61 8 6245 2120

COMMENTARY

By Hon Roger Cook BA GradDipBus MBA MLA,

Premier; Minister for State Development and Industry Development, Jobs and Trade Government of Western Australia.

AVIATION & SPACE AFFAIRS

THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE’S GLOBAL HUB FOR SPACE OPERATIONS AND EXPLORATION: WESTERN AUSTRALIA A greater recognition of the critical importance of the space domain to national security and defence operations means it is essential that partner nations increase collaboration and establish multi-site facilities and assets – and Western Australia is the perfect place to do it.

Total Solar Eclipse in Exmouth, WA. © Department of Defence. Photographer: C.I.T SGT Gary Dixon

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GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION Government and commercial space ventures continue to grow, despite economic turbulence as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and inflationary pressures. Indeed, the global space economy grew by 9% in 2021, while Australia’s space industry is expected to grow around 7% per annum. The Australian Space Agency (ASA) has the goal of tripling the size of Australia’s space sector by 2030. Coupled with the recent establishment of the Australian Defence Space Command, WA is strategically positioned to play an increasing role in Australia’s civil and defence space activities and access a greater share of the global space market.

WA has more than 60 years’ experience in the space industry, with our geographic and environmental

AVIATION & SPACE AFFAIRS

advantages making the state an ideal setting for civil and defence space projects. Located astride the Indian Ocean rim, WA is the gateway to the Indo-Pacific region. Our geographic location, large radio-quiet zones and Southern Hemisphere latitude and longitude make WA an advantageous location for infrastructure and activities that contribute to the global coverage and operation of space assets, including the tracking and launching of rockets.

WA is currently involved in a range of space missions, collaborating with international companies and space agencies including NASA, ESA, POLSA and JAXA. The state is home to significant civil and defence space infrastructure and more than 100 international and Australian organisations operating space and space-related services.

An external view of the Harold E. Holt telescope sensor site near Exmouth, WA. In September 2022, Australia and the US declared Initial Operational Capability for the Space Surveillance Telescope (SST). While ownership of the SST remains with the US, Australia takes responsibility for the overall facilities, operating and training units, preventive maintenance contracts and sustainment. The SST contributes to the global Space Surveillance Network, tracking and identifying objects in deep space, including space debris. © Department of Defence.

Photographer: CPL David Cotton.

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WA has more than 60 years’ experience in the space industry, with our geographic and environmental advantages making the state an ideal setting for civil and defence space projects. Located astride the Indian Ocean rim, WA is the gateway to the Indo-Pacific region. Our isolated geographic location, large radio-quiet zones and Southern Hemisphere latitude and longitude make WA an advantageous location for infrastructure and activities that contribute to the global coverage and operation of space assets, including the tracking and launching of rockets.

TECHNICAL EXPERTISE Recently, the WA space sector has employed a number of highly experienced space experts from NASA and other international space organisations, which has significantly enhanced local capabilities and builds upon WA’s established pipeline for space skills.

Perth is home to five universities and numerous research institutions and organisations with expertise in the civil and defence space sectors, most notably: the International Centre for

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An internal view of the telescope inside the dome at Harold E. Holt Satellite Sensor Site facility near Exmouth, Western Australia. © Department of Defence. Photographer: CPL David Cotton.

Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR), Curtin University’s Space Science and Technology Centre, The University of Western Australia’s (UWA) International Space Centre and the Australian Remote Operations for Space and Earth not-forprofit industry-led consortium focused on technology translation between the resources, defence and space sectors.

WA has world-leading remote operations capabilities that are in demand globally. Private and government space organisations are seeking to leverage expertise developed by WA’s resources companies to help them with locating, extracting and transporting resources on the Moon, which is critical to establishing a sustainable human presence and supporting future missions to Mars. WA also has leading capabilities in many other areas, such as ground-based satellite and deep space communications, data science, space situational awareness, Earth observation (EO), satellite development, and robotics.

In November 2022, Fugro opened the Australian Space Automation, Artificial Intelligence and Robotics

Control Complex (SpAARC) facility in Perth’s CBD, in partnership with ASA and the WA government. SpAARC is a world-leading multi-user facility for terrestrial and space missions and remote operations, with infrastructure enabling simulation of space vehicles, robotic systems and planetary exploration systems. Currently, SpAARC is gearing up to provide space mission operations as a service globally, and has partnered with US Intuitive Machines to support its lunar missions commencing in the first half of 2023.

In September 2021, Curtin University’s Binar Space Program took WA’s first spacecraft into orbit when Binar-1 was released from the International Space Station, a CubeSat designed and manufactured locally by Curtin University students. A further six Binar CubeSats are due to be launched in 2023.

UWA is undertaking world-leading research into optical communications, setting a world record in 2021 for the most stable transmission of a laser signal through the atmosphere utilising ‘phase stabilisation’ technology with advanced

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AVIATION & SPACE AFFAIRS

self-guiding optical terminals. Leveraging UWA’s capabilities and WA Optical Ground Station, the state is positioned to be a leader in optical communications for space operations, including NASA’s Artemis program.

WA also has proven capabilities in High Performance Computing As an indicator of WA’s growing prominence in space-related activities, LeoLabs, the world’s only (HPC) for space commercial provider of space surveillance radar data, opened its brand-new facility, the West Australian applications at Pawsey Space Radar located in Collie, which provides the capability to detect and track debris and threats in low Supercomputing Earth orbit. © LeoLabs Australia.

Research Centre and DUG Technology, facilities are operated by industry in the state, the most powerful research and commercial including: supercomputers in the Southern Hemisphere, • Airbus Space and Defence: High Altitude respectively. The Australian Space Data Analysis Facility, based at Pawsey, is training businesses Pseudo-Satellite flight base in Wyndham. in how to use space and EO data to accelerate • Electro Optic Systems: SDA facility in technological development and commercialisation.

Learmonth.

DUG Technology is utilising its HPC power to significantly reduce data processing time and improve • Slingshot Aerospace: SDA optical ground both research and commercial outcomes in areas such station in Gingin. as EO, space domain awareness (SDA) and astronomy.

• Inmarsat: ground stations across the state WA is also gaining traction as a growing hub for data supporting satellite communications for the centre facilities and operations, offering international fibre optic connectivity, a safe and secure location, ADF. capacity for renewable energy, and land availability.

• ThothX: SDA deep space radar in Carnarvon.

SPACE-RELATED INFRASTRUCTURE

In addition to our civil space sector capabilities, WA hosts significant Australian, US and joint USAustralian defence space infrastructure and facilities, including: •

“

The Australian Defence Satellite Communications Station at Kojarena, part of the US signals intelligence and analysis network ECHELON.

Recognising the state’s comparative advantages for space activity and the broad-reaching economic and community benefits, the WA government has named space industries a priority area under the Diversify WA economic diversification framework and $180mn Investment Attraction Fund.

• Joint US-Australian Space Surveillance Telescope and C-Band Space Surveillance Radar System at the Naval Communications Station Harold E. Holt in Exmouth.

• Learmonth Solar Observatory, jointly operated by the Bureau of Meteorology’s Space Weather Forecasting Centre and the US Air Force.

• The US Air Force Academy’s Falcon telescope for SDA research and STEM. A number of other defence-capable space

•

LeoLabs: West Australian Space Radar near Collie.

PRIORITISING INVESTMENT Recognising the state’s comparative advantages for space activity and the broad-reaching economic and community benefits, the WA government has named space industries a priority area under the Diversify WA economic diversification framework and $180mn Investment Attraction Fund.

With space evolving into a potential warfighting domain, WA will play an increasingly strategic role in supporting critical space operations and will continue to be a significant contributor to Team Australia’s efforts to develop sovereign space capabilities and increase Australia’s role in the global space sector.

The AUKUS agreement and Quad partnerships will continue to create significant opportunities for partners to improve access to space and bolster the resilience of global space-based assets integral to the civil, commercial and defence sectors of partner nations. WA is already well on the way to becoming the Southern Hemisphere’s global hub for space operations and exploration.

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SPACE ANGEL: RAPID ROCKET LAUNCHES FROM THE WORLD’S FIRST LOW-COST GREEN SPACEPORTS

By Ram Kuppusamy,

Founder & CEO, Space Angel.

Space Angel is a digital aerospace company that enables rapid rocket launches from the world’s first ‘Low-Cost Green Spaceports’, in WA. Our state-ofthe-art facility utilises digital technology, renewable energy and sustainable design principles, enabling rocket launch sites for commercial, scientific, government and defence space missions, featuring solar-, battery-, hydrogen- and wind-power, together with energy-efficient buildings and water systems.

Our project aligns with the WA Government’s Diversify WA economic blueprint focusing on competitive advantage where there are significant growth and diversification opportunities creating secure, quality jobs, while growing and diversifying the economy and attracting investment.

For the following reasons, the WA Government has advocated Space Angel to take the lead in the development of this flagship project: • National pride: Space exploration and development will be a source of national pride and inspiration.

A spaceport in WA will showcase this country’s technological capabilities and ambitions, and promote scientific and aerospace education.

• Economic benefits: It will benefit the state by creating quality new jobs, supporting local businesses and attracting private investment in space-related industries and research. It will also generate revenue through launch fees and other services.

• International cooperation: It will facilitate space exploration and research, as well as serving as a location for joint projects and missions, and provide a platform for international collaboration, especially among the QUAD countries. Shared interests in promoting peace, stability and security have already led to increased partnerships and joint exercises in the Indo-Pacific.

• Indo-Pacific strategic space and defence base: WA’s location in the Indo-Pacific region will be increasingly critical in shaping government and defence strategies.

The state offers strategic advantages for surveillance, intelligence gathering and response capabilities, strengthening international relationships and contributing to the wider security of the region.

This unique journey of building green spaceports is underpinned by digital technology in response to the WA Government’s vision and involves several strategies to enhance the efficiency, safety and innovation of the spaceport: • Digital design and simulation: Using these technologies will help to optimise the design of the spaceport facilities and launch vehicles, helping to reduce costs, improve performance and minimise risks.

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Space Angel’s Ram Kuppusamy (CEO and Founder), Jamir Khan and Padman Arumugam, along with Joelena Buntain (Space R&D Coordinator), during a special guided tour of the Defence Space Command Centre at Avalon 2023. © Space Angel. Supplied.

• Robotics and automation: Incorporating robotics and automation into the construction and operation of the spaceport will increase efficiency, safety and reliability.

It will include using robots for such tasks as welding, assembly and inspection, as well as automating launch operations and ground support systems.

• Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), data analytics and AI: Leveraging these digital technologies will help optimise launch operations and improve safety by analysing data from sensors and other sources. It will help to identify potential issues and develop predictive models to prevent problems before they occur.

• Virtual and augmented reality: Using these technologies will enhance training, simulation and visualisation of spaceport operations.

Safety and efficiency will be improved by allowing personnel to practice and visualise operations in a virtual environment.

• Cybersecurity: Ensuring that robust cybersecurity measures are in place to protect critical infrastructure systems and data is essential for any spaceport. This will include implementing firewalls, encryption and intrusion detection systems, as well as regular security audits and testing in alignment with recognised standards.

Partnering with the local Indigenous community in the development and operation of the spaceport is not only a way of recognising and respecting cultural heritage and connection to the land, it can also bring significant economic and social benefits. We will ensure that the spaceport is designed and operated in a way that is culturally sensitive, with the community providing traditional ecological knowledge, thereby informing the spaceport’s design and operation, and minimising any impact on the environment.

Space Angel’s vision is to build and operate multimodal green spaceports of the future, empowering the Australian Space Super Corridor by 2033. Our mission is to future-proof human wellbeing while charting a new frontier to space.

spaceangel.io

Creating tommorrows opportunities today We are developing the Australian Space Super Corridor (ASSC) enabling a network of launch sites to serve the growing demand of commercial access to space from Western Australia.

Launch facilities that would be made available to third-party rocket manufacturers who would be responsible for securing their own payloads. Incentives for launch vehicle operators using the facilities to establish either a final assembly and testing facility, or a full launch vehicle manufacturing facility in the State.

This will significantly increase the economic benefits from the launch facilities on the Western Australian and Indo-Pacific economy.

15 Howard Street 6000, Perth, Western Australia E: theforce@spaceangel.io T: (08) 6507 5304 | 08 6498 0029

ANALYSIS

By Thomas Hage, Defence Writer,

WA DEFENCE REVIEW

&

LAND SYSTEMS & WARFARE

THE DEFENCE STRATEGIC REVIEW 2023 AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR THE ARMY IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA The Defence Strategic Review 2023 will have a significant impact on Defence generally, and especially on the Australian Army. The Review sets out a new defence strategy of denial and an ADF structured as an Integrated Force.

IMPACT ON AUSTRALIA’S ARMY Dr Gregor Ferguson,

Contributing Defence Analyst.

The move to a defence strategy of denial, and the stated need to be able to strike an enemy harder and further away, has, however, collided with Defence funding. The result has been that the army will get new long-range strike weapons, based on the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HiMARS) and a variety of projectiles, some with ranges greater than 500km.On the other hand, to save money it seems, the army’s planned purchase of up to 450 Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFVs) under Project LAND 400 Phase 3 has been slashed to just 129 IFVs. To compound that, the purchase of a second regiment of Hanwha self-propelled howitzers and ammunition resupply vehicles under Project LAND 8116 Ph. 2 has been cancelled altogether. “These systems do not provide the required range or lethality,” says the Review, oddly ignoring the lessons from Ukraine that demonstrate just how important selfpropelled artillery is to a modern force.

On the upside, the Review strongly endorses the HiMARS capability, along with the acquisition of a new fleet of Army Littoral Manoeuvre Vessels – medium and heavy landing craft and replacements for the LARC V amphibious wheeled vehicle – in Project LAND 8710 Ph. 1 and 2. The emphasis on expeditionary and amphibious operations is significant

for the Perth-based 13th Brigade, an Army Reserve formation, as we shall see.

The Review foreshadows an important and growing role for the army’s reserve force. As well as calling for a comprehensive review of the ADF’s reserves as a whole, it says that enhanced domestic security and response Army Reserve brigades will be required to provide area security to the ADF’s northern base network and other critical infrastructure, as well as providing an expansion base and follow-on conventional forces.

The army’s 2nd Division, under MAJGEN David Thomae, AM, commands all of Australia’s Army Reserve forces. In 2022, it became an independent functional command with the job of generating land capabilities for the joint force and commanding assigned contingency response forces to meet domestic operational requirements. Its tasks have included patrolling of the north, thanks to the Regional Force Surveillance Group, along with managing responses to community challenges such as COVID-19, floods and bush fires.

The Review points out, however, that Defence should be the resource of last resort when it comes to domestic emergencies; state governments need to invest more in their own capabilities. And it says Defence needs to look at innovative ways to adapt the structure, shape and role of the Reserves to support

Eyes on the North-West. The remote the Dampier Archipelago is frequented by Pilbara Regiment patrols engaged in intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance work. © WA DEFENCE REVIEW. Photographer: Serge DeSilva-Ranasinghe.

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ANALYSIS

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Interestingly, the Review made no specific mention of Australia’s Special Forces, but astute readers can see the roles and contributions of the Special Air Service Regiment (SASR) and the 2nd Commando Regiment throughout it. The Review’s emphasis on expeditionary capabilities, on amphibious capabilities and on the ability to strike at long-range speak to the very essence of the SASR in particular.

The need for situational awareness, for hard information and for theatreshaping strategic strike prior to the deployment of major conventional forces has never gone away.

LAND SYSTEMS & WARFARE

Dismounted troopers of the 10th Light Horse Regiment conduct a mock patrol through bushland. © WA DEFENCE REVIEW. Photographer: David Nicolson.

the Regular Army and consider things like reintroducing the successful Ready Reserve Scheme.

MAJGEN Thomae told the RUSI of NSW last year that the role of the Army Reserve soldier is changing fundamentally.

In line with subsequent recommendations by the Review, he said, “Army’s capacity to prepare teams for the Joint Force comes from making use of the total workforce as ‘One Army’, i.e. full-time personnel, flexible-work personnel, part-time personnel, contingent work contractors and Australian Public Service (APS) personnel. Army reservists, as part of the One Army,

are central to all of Army’s planning vide the Army Objective Force.”

He added that 13th Brigade is trialling workplace reforms and establishing new capabilities. These are examined below, but MAJGEN Thomae added, “Such initiatives provide concrete examples of how Army seeks to foster innovation and enhance capability in a strategically important region of Australia.”

SPECIAL FORCES REORGANISATION Interestingly, the Review made no specific mention of Australia’s Special Forces, but astute readers can see the roles and contributions of the Special Air Service Regiment (SASR) and the 2nd Commando Regiment throughout it. The Review’s emphasis on expeditionary and amphibious capabilities and the ability to strike at long-range speak to the very essence of the SASR in particular. The need for situational awareness, for hard information and for theatreshaping strategic strike prior to the deployment of major conventional forces has never gone away.

Within WA, the SASR is the state’s only Regular Army unit and is coming down after an arduous campaign in Afghanistan that has left it badly bruised and resulted in some unwelcome reorganisation.

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Despite that, its headquarters at Campbell barracks in Swanbourne is seeing a $34mn upgrade of the regiment’s indirect fire support training, among other significant works that are intended to keep it at the leading-edge of combat capability. The project will see construction of a new Joint Fires Observers/Joint Tactical Air Controller (JFA/JTAC) simulator facility which will enable the SASR to direct fire from a range of sources, including ground launchers, fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters. The SASR ploughs its own training and operational furrow, so any further comment would be superfluous and probably inaccurate.

CONSEQUENCES FOR WA ARMY RESERVE The 13th Brigade is the next most significant army component in the state. It has an increasing number of regular troops, making it almost a hybrid in some areas, although it still lacks overall numbers.

The brigade plays a key role in the state and had begun to reorganise in response to regional and technology developments even before the Review was handed down.

The 10th Light Horse Regiment was re-raised in 2021 as the formation’s ISR unit and is equipped with Bushmaster- and Hawkei-protected wheeled vehicles.

It joined the 11th/28th and 16th battalions, Royal Western Australia Regiment (RWAR), 109th Signal Squadron (part of 8th Signal Regiment) and 13 Combat Service Support Battalion which provides the brigade’s logistics and support. They were joined last year by 13 Engineer Regiment, the newest unit in the Australian Army, and its two sub-units, 13 Field Squadron and 22 Engineer Squadron. 16RWAR is developing the brigade’s specialist riverine and littoral manoeuvre capability and has its own fleet of Zodiac riverine assault craft.

The Review endorses the change process on which 13th Brigade embarked in 2021-22. It has been criticised for not insisting on the basing of more regular troops in WA, given the state’s economic and strategic importance, leaving some commentators wondering if WA is under-defended.

The Commander of 13th Brigade, BRIG Brett Chaloner CSC, does not see it that way and told WA DEFENCE REVIEW: “Stakeholders and partners should not discriminate by whether service personnel are full or part time,” he says. “What may have been historic views of ‘reservists’ should be buried. My opinion is that the term and philosophy behind ‘The Army Reserve’ is beyond its use-by date.”

The focus of the brigade’s reorganisation is on delivering combat effects through things like ISR and riverine operations. The re-raising last year of 13 Engineer Regiment gives clues to the brigade’s future employment. The regiment’s 22 Engineer Squadron was created specifically as a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) incubator, focussing on things like rapid fabrication, robotics and decision support that enhance the traditional support engineering units have provided to the army.

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The squadron’s ‘think hub’ role within 13th Brigade is enhanced by the MakerSpace lab, based at the brigade’s Irwin Barracks headquarters, which has a workshop, electronics lab and 3D printers that is open to all services to encourage innovation, idea sharing and lateral thinking.

The brigade’s training calendar in 2022 reflects this increased capability and anticipated much of the Review’s focus on regional partnerships and an Integrated Force. Elements of the brigade have deployed twice to India for exercises and exchanges, and members of 16RWAR deployed to Hawaii on Exercise RIMPAC 2022 in support of 2nd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, the army’s designated regular amphibious unit.

In July last year, 10th Light Horse Regiment led the brigade’s participation in the US Marine Rotational Force – Darwin’s Exercise Koolendong. This began with a 1000km deployment by the Darwin-based US Marines to northern WA, where they met up with 13th Brigade’s Combat Team Sabre, which had deployed into the area using RAAF C-17 transport aircraft and road trains established by the army’s Queenslandbased 26 Transport Squadron. The Combat Team included elements of 11th/28th RWAR, which conducted airborne insertions using US Marine VM-22 Osprey tiltrotors.

On top of ‘traditional’ training exercises – patrolling, logistics, warfighting, cordon and search, and live-fire exercises – 13th Brigade has participated in two activities that have shown the way to the formation’s evolving role.

The first was the ADF Cyber Skills Challenge in late-2021 which saw troops from 109th Signal Squadron and 10th Light Horse Regiment participate in the initiative. This was an extension of 109 Signal Squadron’s Cyber Upskill Program, initiated in 2020, and was used to bring together personnel from 13th Brigade and other regional units with qualifications in, or at least a strong inclination towards, cyber security.

It is a capability that the Review says needs to be enhanced within the ADF. The other was in September 2022, when 10th Light Horse Regiment fielded a team in the Quantum Technology Challenge at the Chief of Army’s Symposium in Adelaide. This provided an opportunity for the regiment to showcase an operational concept which reduces the magnetic footprint of its own and other units’ military equipment.

So, in many ways, 13th Brigade has anticipated much of the thrust of the Review. Brigadier Chaloner emphasised to WA DEFENCE REVIEW earlier this year that the reorganisation of 13th Brigade has changed it from a traditional Army Reserve formation to one more focused on generating combat effects. It is embracing new technologies and developing new capabilities in situational awareness, littoral operations and cyber security; it is generating an institutional capacity for lateral thinking, for developing new capabilities (or improvements to existing capabilities) and fielding them rapidly.

ANALYSIS

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What the future holds for WA’s reservists remains unclear at present: the Review recommends another look at the Ready Reserve Scheme by 2025, and 13th Brigade itself is focussed on specific roles, befitting part of an Integrated Force. If the Review’s recommendations about army’s reservists are implemented, then 13th Brigade’s troops will likely emerge as even more valuable to the Australian Army’s order of battle.

Not to be overlooked, the repercussions of the Review are also going to affect the Pilbara Regiment headquartered in Karratha, another key element of the Army Reserve in WA, which forms part of the army’s Regional Force Surveillance Group. The Pilbara Regiment performs an important regular role using mostly part-time personnel. Its task, alongside other units in the RFSG,

LAND SYSTEMS & WARFARE

Indian and Australian Army soldiers share infantry tactics, techniques and procedures during Exercise Austrahind 2022, a joint training exercise conducted by personnel from 13th Brigade with the Indian Army in the Rajasthan Desert. Austrahind 2022 promotes mutual understanding and tactical-level information sharing, and exposes participants to military cultures from other countries to further enhance the skills and experiences of soldiers and officers. © Department of Defence.

is ISR across the North-West of WA, not warfighting. It is intended to provide enhanced situational awareness to conventional regular and reserve units, as well as the special forces.

What the future holds for WA’s reservists remains unclear at present: the Review recommends another look at the Ready Reserve Scheme by 2025, and 13th Brigade itself is focussed on specific roles, befitting part of an Integrated Force. If the Review’s recommendations about army’s reservists are implemented, then 13th Brigade’s troops will likely emerge as even more valuable to the Australian Army’s order of battle.

Similarly, the Review has indicated that the RFSG will receive funding for upgrades in basing and equipment, suggesting that the Pilbara Regiment and NORFORCE, both of which

operate in WA (NORFORCE has a squadron permanently deployed in the Kimberley region), will in future likely be better prepared for operations and contingencies that align with their area of specialisation.

Although developments since January 2022 have indeed suggested a trend of growth and revitalisation for the army’s role in WA, expectations need to be tempered, particularly in relation to the 13th Brigade and the prospect of an increased Regular Army presence in the state, outside of the SASR. Significantly, the June 2023 announcement to defer the $360mn redevelopment of Irwin Barracks, the aging main base of the 13th Brigade in WA, suggests that the army’s future potential for expansion is limited. That said, in the light of recent developments, the army in WA today is more capable and effective than it has been in decades. But the question still remains: are Defence’s objectives for the future of army in WA lacking in strategic vision?

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PRECISION TECHNIC DEFENCE: PROVIDING TACTICAL SOLUTIONS

By Greg Whitehouse,

Managing Director, PTDefence.

The task of delivering capability to end users is a challenge in the current Defence procurement environment, given the sheer number of stakeholders involved in the process. The fundamental inputs to capability (FIC) are key pillars, which, if not all duly considered, result in the system failing to meet its objectives. It is imperative that the defence industry, as one of the FICs, understands all inputs and delivers a capability, not a widget. Those in the industry who come from a background in defence understand that all too well; the companies run by veterans are all very familiar with the drive to support end users, as they once were one themselves.

How does Precision Technic Defence Pty Ltd stand out from the other small Defence industry companies?

We have been on the front line, have had to work through band-aid solutions that are not fit for purpose and, for most of us, we still have friends in uniform with a vital job to do.

PTDefence is the Australian subsidiary of Precision Technic Defence Group, a global company that specialises in providing defence solutions and services to military and law enforcement agencies. With a team of experienced engineers, technicians and program managers, the company has built a reputation for delivering high-quality, innovative and cost-effective defence products to customers in the region.

Founded in 2017, PTDefence has grown to become one of the leading providers of defence battlespace management systems in the Asia-Pacific region. Our focus is on providing customised defence solutions for specific customer requirements, which range from individual components to complete turnkey systems.

PTDefence is committed to providing superior customer support and after-sales service, ensuring that all its customers receive the best possible solution to their specific needs.

PTDefence offers a wide range of defence products and services, including communications systems, light mobility decision-making tools, intelligence and surveillance systems, weapon systems and through-life support. The company has a strong commitment to research and development, and invests heavily in the development of new technologies and innovations to enhance its product offerings.

“Our current focus is on the delivery of Communication, Cyber and Computers for Command and Control and Information (C4I), Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), Integrated Soldier Systems (ISS), and light mobility vehicles with a heavy emphasis on mission support systems. We pair a proven platform with long-range sensors, video capture and dissemination, and networked command and control radios, as well as survivability solutions such as armour, weapon stations and force protection equipment”, notes Greg Whitehouse, PTDefence Managing Director.

PTDefence offers comprehensive communications systems that provide reliable and secure communications for military and security operations. The company’s communication systems are portable and can be deployed

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PTDefence technicians installing tactical radio systems on an MRZR light mobility vehicle. © PTDefence. Supplied.

rapidly in the field, making them ideal for use in remote and challenging environments.

In addition to its product offerings, PTDefence also provides a range of integrated logistics support services, including training, maintenance and repair. This end-toend service ensures that customers have the necessary resources and support to operate and maintain their defence systems effectively, maximising their capabilities and reducing downtime.

The company operates under a strict ISO 9001-certified quality management system, which ensures that all its products and services meet the highest standards of quality, safety and reliability. The company is also committed to ensuring the security of all the work that it does and holds certifications in the Defence Industry Security Program and ISO 27001.

PTDefence is dedicated to supporting the military and first responders, and has a strong commitment to veterans’ welfare. Our company is heavily involved with veterans’ support agencies, from sponsoring the families of those who have died during their service, supporting the transition of veterans through employment support organisations, and helping the defence industry to grow through events, mentoring, internships and partnerships.

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COMMENTARY

By Geoff Robinson,

President, Australian Military Medical Association.

HEALTH & MEDICINE

SUPPORTING THE MILITARY MEDICINE AND VETERANS’ HEALTH SECTORS: THE AUSTRALASIAN MILITARY MEDICINE ASSOCIATION The Australasian Military Medicine Association (AMMA) was established in May 1991 by a group of like-minded RAAF Medical Officers, who determined there was a need for an independent organisation that would facilitate the presentation, dissemination and interpretation of military and veterans’ health-related research and information. It was to become the Journal of Military and Veterans Health (JMVH), an annual conference and workshops.

As an independent association, AMMA was not bound by the many restrictions that would have resulted had it been established within the Defence Health Organisation.

RAN Medic LS Rhys Noblett simulates monitoring the heart rate of a diving casualty during training exercises within the navy’s hyperbaric chamber at the Submarine and Underwater Medical Unit at HMAS Penguin. © Department of Defence. Photographer: LSIS David Cox.

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COMMENTARY

HEALTH & MEDICINE

(L-R) Underwater Medics, AB Nikita Wolfgang, LS Christie Atwell and PO Kiah Chapple in the breezeway of the ADF Diving School at HMAS Penguin in Sydney, NSW. With only 27 positions in the Royal Australian Navy, Underwater Medics are highly specialised, independent clinicians in hyperbaric medicine and are integral to supporting the submarine, diving and special operations community. The six-month long Underwater Medic course is held once a year with only six navy and two army positions made available. Posted to submarine and Underwater Medicine Units, Underwater Medics provide general healthcare, looking after daily medical requirements and supporting operations including diving. © Department of Defence.

Photographer: POIS Lee-Anne Cooper.

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RECOGNISED PLATFORMS Additionally, it was neither the intent nor charter of the association to interpret and comment on Defence health policies and procedures but, rather, to provide a platform to which serving, reserve and formerly serving health personnel could present information and research that had contributed to the development of contemporary policy and procedures.

The annual conference, and JMVH, quickly became favoured and recognised platforms to present at and comment on operational matters and recent deployments.

In recognition of the NZDF Health Services and New Zealand veterans’ community, a resolution was approved in October 2012 to rename the Association the ‘Australasian Military Medicine Association’ to include New Zealand.

As an independent, professional scientific organisation of medical and allied health professionals, the objectives of AMMA are to: (a) Promote the study of military medicine; (b) Bring together those with an interest in military medicine; (c) Disseminate knowledge of military medicine; (d) Publish and distribute a journal in military medicine; and (e) Promote research in military medicine.

AMMA membership is open to doctors, dentists, nurses, pharmacists, paramedics, human factors specialists, psychologists, psychiatrists and anyone with a professional interest in any of the disciplines of military and veterans’ health. While the association is totally independent of any defence force, there are strong connections with the ADF Joint Health Command.

AMMA ACTIVITIES

their own organisations. AMMA will support and encourage the presentation of research from those organisations that may also help to shape the theme of a given year’s conference or workshop.

Scholarships and Awards: By being committed to supporting the growth of the military medicine and veterans’ health sectors, AMMA continues to provide significant financial assistance to its members and supporters who are undertaking research in those areas, or who wish to attend the annual conference to further their scientific, professional or academic knowledge.

“

AMMA membership is open to doctors, dentists, nurses, pharmacists, paramedics, human factors specialists, psychologists, psychiatrists and anyone with a professional interest in any of the disciplines of military and veterans’ health. While the association is totally independent of any defence force, there are strong connections with the ADF Joint Health Command.

JMVH: Published quarterly, the journal remains a fundamental function of AMMA and the council is committed to its publication and improvement.

The journal is willing to assist, mentor, and encourage first time and junior authors, as it has extensive editorial and consultative board.

In partnership with the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, Defence, and several universities involved in veterans’ health and military medicine research, AMMA has continued to commit to this important strategic initiative in the field of scientific and professional publishing. The JMVH Editor-in-Chief is currently Dr (CDRE) Andy Robertson, CSC, PSM, who also holds the position of Chief Health Officer and Assistant Director-General within the Public and Aboriginal Health Division in the WA Department of Health.

Council: AMMA Council oversees the functioning of the association in

accordance with its constitution and fiscal responsibilities. Council is assisted in those responsibilities by the continuing engagement of Leishman Associates, who have done so for many years.

FUTURE OBJECTIVES AMMA will continue to grow and to provide a professional and scientific organisation and platform for those with interests in the history, current practice and development of military medicine and veterans’ health.

By remaining independent, AMMA supports a healthy membership base of mostly serving and ex-serving personnel who benefit from its activities.

The JMVH and annual scientific conference are considered the strength of the association, which provide highly regarded platforms for the presentation of research and operational activities.

In 2023, Perth will be the venue for the annual AMMA Conference.

The association reflects and encourages the broad spectrum of health that contributes to the fascinating and vital discipline of military medicine and veterans’ health.

Services: AMMA is proud to offer a range of services to its members and supporters.

They include an annual conference, yearly workshops, access to a highquality journal, merchandise, and links to professional associations.

Research: AMMA encourages the presentation of scientific research into the many facets of military and veterans’ health, which offers the Defence Health Service and Department of Veterans’ Affairs an opportunity to consider research that may be occurring outside

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A diverse team of ADF personnel, public servants and contractors work together to provide top-class medical care at Joint Health Command Centres across Australia. Seen here outside the Health Centre at RAAF Base Richmond, are military medical technician SGT Sharee Lewis (RAAF), military doctor SQNLDR Perlon Leung, rehab manager Jennifer Tosh (APS) and physiotherapist Justine McCarthy (Serco Contractor). © Department of Defence. Photographer: SGT David Gibbs.

For the first time ever the Australasian Military Medicine Association (AMMA) is bringing its annual conference to Perth.

The conference will be held at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre from 12-15 October 2023.

Themed, Military Medicine: Planning for the Expected, the conference aims to foster discussions across a broad range of topics on military medicine and emerging fields.

The conference is calling for abstracts to be submitted. To be part of an exciting program, submit an abstract via: 2023.amma.asn.au/call-for-abstracts

Registration Details Early Bird rates end on

21 July 2023

To enjoy discounted registration rates, visit: https://2023.amma.asn.au/ registration/ Full registration rates start from

AUD $890

Full registration includes attendance to all sessions from 13-15 October and entry to both the social functions.

Become an AMMA member The association is proud to offer a range of services to its members and supporters.

These include an annual conference, yearly workshops, access to a high-quality journal, merchandise, and links to professional associations.

For more information visit:

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COMMENTARY

By COL Toni Bushby,

Vice-President, Australian Tactical Medicine Association.

HEALTH & MEDICINE

ADVANCING TACTICAL MEDICINE THROUGH INTERDISCIPLINARY AND INTERAGENCY COLLABORATION AND INNOVATION International models of tactical medicine have evolved significantly with the lessons learned from the battlefields of the Global War on Terror. The establishment of the Australian Tactical Medical Association (ATMA) has realised significant advancements in interdisciplinary and interagency collaboration and innovation to support the provision of the highest standard of tactical medicine in austere and complex environments, by both clinicians and non-clinicians.

FOUNDATION & EVOLUTION ATMA was first conceptualised in 2017 with the realisation that, in Australia, there were no real collaborative efforts to prepare for, resource and respond to a significant multi-casualty event from hostile or kinetic threats. Individual organisations were working in their respective spheres of influence, but any cross-pollination of efforts and knowledge sharing was opportunistic and primarily reliant on professional and personal relationships. The overarching concept was reinforced by the findings of the inaugural ATMA President, Matt Pepper, who was awarded a Churchill Fellowship to study international models and innovation in Tactical Emergency Medical Support.

Matt’s findings reinforced the belief that Australian emergency services and government agencies lacked the preparedness and resilience to successfully meet the threat profiles that were being seen around the world. Matt’s report highlighted that the agencies tasked with responding to tactical emergencies, generally lacked the necessary integration (with commensurate training and resourcing), to ensure that casualty survival was prioritised alongside threat neutralisation. While this model was normalised in the Australian Army its application in the civilian emergency

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response model was absent across Australian emergency services.

Formally established in 2017, ATMA is composed of paramedics, law enforcement, military medics, emergency doctors and anaesthetists. The initial drive was to increase the awareness of tactical medicine in Australia and to help build networks and collaborative efforts between individuals, organisations and industry to help in the generation of health effects in tactical, high threat and austere environments.

The inaugural Australian Tactical Medical Conference (ATMC) in September 2018 was the centre of these endeavours. The success of the occasion defied expectations, with 350 people attending the two-day event, along with representatives from industries that support pre-hospital and emergency medicine. The success of ATMC18 extended to ATMC19, with the addition of workshops to the event schedule. After two years of successful conferences with overwhelmingly positive feedback and industry support, ATMA has continued to evolve and build both its membership base and the reputation and impact of its conferences.

ATMA is a not-for-profit, recognised charity association that represents the interests of Australians involved in the provision and development of tactical medicine. The ATMA committee has

reflected on the association’s first five years and remains committed to providing a platform for interdisciplinary and interagency advocacy, collaboration and networking in support of tactical, high-threat and austere medicine in Australia.

COLLABORATION & INTEROPERABILITY While the annual conference is the seminal ATMA event, there are a range of other areas in which the association drives collaboration and interagency interoperability efforts for its membership base. The official journal of ATMA, the Journal of High Threat & Austere Medicine (JHTAM), was established in 2020 as an open source, peer-reviewed journal for the publication of literature pertaining to tactical medicine.

Additionally, the ATMA podcast is well established, with a regular schedule of in-person events. This complements the regular webinar series which provides international insights from across the spectrum of pre-hospital issues. While tactical medicine remains the core of ATMA business, the inclusion of less clinically-focused presentations is drawing more viewers to the webinars and, subsequently, to the conference and association.

The most recent initiative is the creation of a financial assistance grant

COMMENTARY

HEALTH & MEDICINE

“

While the term ‘Tactical Medicine’ may, for many people, conjure images of black-clad specialists in body armour, ATMA encompasses and represents a wide range of first aid and medicine environments; as well as clinical and non-clinical providers. The crossover between all those environments is significant. It is a point that has been reinforced in recent years with the requirement to enact a whole-of-nation efforts in response to unprecedented natural disasters and pandemic events.

for ATMA members who are conducting research or professional development endeavours. An application process is being established that will see up to four members per year receive up to $1000 to support their venture. The return on this investment comes from the successful

Delegates engage in networking at the successful Australian Tactical Medicine Conference 2022 held at trade hall, Brisbane. © ATMA.

applicant providing a report or presentation on their venture through the ATMA webinar, conference or JHTAM.

WHOLE-OF-NATION EFFORT

While the term ‘Tactical Medicine’ may, for many people, conjure images of black-clad specialists in body armour, ATMA encompasses and represents a wide range of first aid and medicine environments; as well as clinical and non-clinical providers. The crossover between all those environments

is significant. It is a point that has been reinforced in recent years with the requirement to enact a whole-of-nation efforts in response to unprecedented natural disasters and pandemic events.

Interagency collaboration will support a larger evidence base to draw upon, as well as opening communication channels and starting conversations that will enable greater and more cohesive response capacities in wilderness, expedition, prehospital, tactical, military and austere applications.

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COMMENTARY

DISASTER & EMERGENCY RESPONSE

AUSTRALIA’S FLOOD CRISIS: HARBINGER OF FUTURE CHALLENGES

By Brendan Moon,

Director-General, National Emergency Management Authority.

The flooding which started in our eastern states has cascaded into several separate events stretching from coast to coast, enveloping vast areas of the country in floodwaters. Australians all the way from Broome and the Kimberley in WA, down to the towns that are on and around the Meander and Macquarie (Tinimarakuna) Rivers in Tasmania, have experienced record flooding that has damaged their households, communities and economies.

PRIORITY ATTENTION The countrywide flood crisis has been complicated and compounded by Australia’s third consecutive La Niña event, and follows a global pandemic which shut down the country, the 2019-20 Black Summer Bushfires which engulfed more than 24mnha, and the 2019 North Queensland Monsoon Trough which flooded around 15,000km2 of the state.

Our communities are fatigued, our ecosystems are damaged, and our capability and capacity to respond and recover is stretched.

Our country is standing on a flooded platform, and our systems need to evolve. They need to absorb our challenges, adapt to changing conditions, and be ready to function in the face of a future filled with more frequent and intense disasters and emergencies.

That is why the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has been established. NEMA coordinates, drives

and enables collective, strategic action before, during and after disaster. We partner with households and communities, businesses and industries, and governments and NGOs, so that we are working together as a nation to charge up our capabilities, strengthen our systems, and support Australians to feel stronger, safer and more connected.

We have three strategic pillars which guide our actions. First, we ensure that the country has scalable emergency management capabilities that can be deployed in any location, at any time, and in response to any threat, consistent with the Australian Government’s Crisis Management Framework and associated emergency plans.

Second, we champion and facilitate locally-led disaster response and recovery, which occurs when all our partners take collective action to ensure communities become safer, stronger and more connected. Finally, we increase investment in disaster risk reduction, such as through the recently opened Disaster Ready Fund, which will provide up to $1bn over the next five years, so that our communities are resilient before disasters strike.

DEFENCE ENABLER The ADF is one of our partners in action, and is a critical component of a scalable and responsive emergency management system.

Upon activation of the Australian Government Disaster Response Plan 2020, states and territories may request non-financial assistance. When the request for assistance may be met by the ADF, NEMA tasks Defence in providing that support.

Seen here Australian Army aircrewman, CPL Stewart Eddleston watches from the door of an MRH-90 Taipan helicopter as it lands at Broome Airport after returning from a mission to Fitzroy Crossing. The ADF provided support to the WA government in the Kimberley Region where heavy rainfall from Tropical Cyclone Ellie isolated communities and caused significant disruption. © Department of Defence. Photographer: SGT David Said.

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The ADF provides equipment, personnel and resources to the states and territories, in response to requests for non-financial assistance, which NEMA coordinates through the National Situation Room and, when activated, a Crisis Coordination Team. The events of the last three years have challenged how we coordinate and provide this essential non-financial assistance, due to the consecutive, concurrent, compounding and protracted disasters that are testing the scalability and responsiveness of our emergency management workforce.

COMMENTARY

DISASTER & EMERGENCY RESPONSE

The National Situation Room, which is staffed

by NEMA employees, is a secure and critical coordination facility directly connected to state and territory emergency centres, providing 24/7 all-hazard situational awareness, impact analysis and decision support to government. The facility also coordinates Australian Government emergency assistance, such as the National Security Hotline, which is vital to Australia’s national counter-terrorism efforts. © NEMA.

RISING TO THE CHALLENGE NEMA also facilitates the National Coordination Mechanism to coordinate and mitigate impacts of complex disasters across governments, private sectors and non-government organisations.

As a country, we need to respond to this challenge by strengthening our partnerships, and expanding our national emergency management workforce capability and capacity, so that we can

provide additional resources to support response and recovery during disasters of any scale. That is why the veteranled volunteer organisation, Disaster Relief Australia, has been awarded an Australian Government grant of $38.3mn to enhance their operations, uplift their capability, and enable them to recruit up to 5200 additional volunteers who can be deployed to disaster-affected communities across the country.

“

Our country is standing on a flooded platform, and our systems need to evolve. They need to absorb our challenges, adapt to changing conditions, and be ready to function in the face of a future filled with more frequent and intense disasters and emergencies .

These investments in our workforce capability go beyond supporting immediate response and recovery efforts.

They go towards building our national disaster resilience. That is my focus as the first Coordinator-General of NEMA: to ensure that Australia’s emergency management arrangements are ready to face what lies ahead, so that our communities can emerge stronger, safer and more connected.

CORPORATE PROFILE

By Roy O’Reilly,

National Operations Manager, Safety Direct Solutions.

SAFETY DIRECT SOLUTIONS: SETTING THE BENCHMARK IN CRITICAL RISK MANAGEMENT, EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND RESCUE, MEDICAL, FIRE AND SAFETY TRAINING Safety Direct Solutions Pty Ltd (SDS) is a Registered Training Organisation and a leading provider of medical and emergency response, confined space and vertical rescue, fire and industrial safety training, and personnel in the Australasian region. SDS sets the benchmark for excellence in emergency management, critical risk management, and safety training, with operations in WA, NT, Queensland, NSW, South Australia and New Zealand.

SDS is owned by SIS Limited, one of Asia-Pacific’s largest security personnel companies. SIS provides security, facility management and cash logistics services.

• Medical Services – As well as pre-hospital care, SDS can facilitate pre-employment medicals, injury management and drug and alcohol testing.

SDS’s approach is to achieve excellence and deliver the highest standards of clinical care in the environments in which we operate, through a combination of multinational emergency response personnel, local knowledge and the integration of clinical governance, training and medical supplies.

• Isolations Officers – Provision of officers to manage isolation processes.

SDS operates across a range of industries, including energy, mining, infrastructure and defence. The company has an extensive background and experience in supplying turnkey solutions in critical risk management services and personnel, security, training and medical response services and personnel.

SDS devised the name and concept of the P.E.R.M.I.T.S system:

• Permits – Undertake/provide support in confined spaces, hot works and heights management. This includes the issuing of permit to work systems for working at heights, confined space entry, hot works and any other critical risk task.

• Environmental – Respond to any onsite spills (chemical and hydrocarbon) to control and contain any hazard.

• Rescue and emergency personnel – Provide high-level emergency response capability.

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• Training – Facilitation of onsite training.

• Safety – Facilitating onsite HSE advising, auditing and safety systems management.

• Security – Providing a high level of customer service and compliance duties onsite with experienced and trained staff.

Our contracts with Defence have provided the foundation for SDS to grow, innovate and become a leader in the critical risk management space. SDS’s Critical Risk Management Division supports multiple naval prime contractors and currently encompasses such services as elite emergency response, high risk work permits, critical deconfliction, atmospheric testing, ventilation, HSE consultation and isolation administration.

Throughout our 10-year relationship working alongside naval primes and Defence, SDS has developed multiple solutions utilising technology to improve our services and provide efficiencies, including digital permits systems, online booking and scheduling solutions, dynamic atmospheric testing options and the provision of thermal imaging cameras as part of our ‘hot work’ support. This latter innovation not only assists with time/cost saving measures for defence primes and their contractors with cooldown periods for hot work tasks, but also mitigates the risk of heat and fire spread that has led to unfortunate events in the past.

As innovation is key for the Critical Risk Management team, we are currently trialling the use of monitors that track an individual’s key health observations and the live data of persons working inside confined spaces or conducting high-risk tasks.

Such innovations ensure that we can follow trends and monitor the health and safety of individuals in real time, which can help us to mitigate and, hopefully, eliminate a medical episode before it even begins.

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COMMENTARY

CYBER & INFORMATION WARFARE

STRENGTHENING AUSTRALIA’S CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE SECURITY AND RESILIENCE

By Hamish Hansford,

Cyber and Infrastructure Security Department of Home Affairs, Australian Government.

Australian businesses and critical infrastructure operators continue to face a deteriorating risk environment — from cyberattacks and ransomware, to fire and flood, malicious insiders and malign foreign powers — there’s no shortage of risks that need to be thought about and managed in the modern era.

RISK MITIGATION

SECURITY STANDARDS AWARENESS

To some critical infrastructure sectors this comes as no surprise – managing risk has been part and parcel of doing business for many years. But for others, thinking about the full range of hazards modern critical infrastructure faces, and planning reasonable, practicable mitigations across the realms of cyber, physical, personnel, and supply chain security, is relatively new.

Through the implementation of agnostic rules, the Cyber and Infrastructure Security Centre (CISC) within the Department of Home Affairs hopes to create a baseline for security across all critical infrastructure sectors in the Australian economy.

While many organisations will no doubt already exceed the thresholds set out in the rules, we hope the Risk Management Program (RMP) rules will uplift all critical infrastructure entities, right through supply chains.

To assist owners and operators conceptualise risk across these domains – and to empower them to take action that will lower risk to the ongoing operation of their systems, assets, and businesses – the Critical Infrastructure Risk Management Program (CIRMP) requirement is now live. The CIRMP is the third and final of the three positive security obligations legislated within recent amendments to the Security of Critical Infrastructure Act 2018 – the other two being Mandatory Cyber Incident Reporting, and the Critical Infrastructure Asset Register requirement.

Working together, these obligations uplift Australia’s critical infrastructure security and resilience, further protecting the essential services all Australians rely on. The Minister for Home Affairs, Clare O’Neil, ‘switched on’ the CIRMP rules on 17 February 2023, following an extended period of consultation. Through this consultation process, the Minister was able to incorporate feedback from critical infrastructure stakeholders that has ultimately made the rules simpler and easier to implement.

Now the rules are in effect, responsible entities for critical infrastructure assets are required to adopt, maintain and comply with a risk management program that identifies and manages material risks of hazards that could have a relevant impact on a critical infrastructure asset.

The plan must identify each hazard where there is a material risk that the occurrence of that hazard could have a relevant impact on the asset, and – as far as it is reasonably practicable to do so – must minimise or eliminate any material risk of such a hazard occurring.

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In that vein, we envision the rule benefiting not just the responsible entity, but both its upstream and downstream suppliers; ensuring that an awareness of security standards becomes the norm for many Australian businesses. The inclusion of a requirement for a board or governing body to sign an attestation regarding the RMP lifts the issue of risk management

“

Through the implementation of agnostic rules, the Cyber and Infrastructure Security Centre (CISC) within the Department of Home Affairs hopes to create a baseline for security across all critical infrastructure sectors in the Australian economy.

While many organisations will no doubt already exceed the thresholds set out in the rules, we hope the Risk Management Program (RMP) rules will uplift all critical infrastructure entities, right through supply chains.

COMMENTARY

CYBER & INFORMATION WARFARE

Image: Supplied.

and security from an operational level to the board level. By ensuring that directors of companies have these issues at the front of their minds as they make strategic decisions, we will aim to ensure a stronger effort to protect our critical infrastructure at all levels.

This issue particularly goes to the requirement for responsible entities to consider supply chain hazards – we have all seen the significant disruptions in the supply chain caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. By requiring directors and board level decision makers of a responsible entity to be thinking about how best to mitigate possible hazards to their supply chain, we will see more industries consider not just cost but also security and reliability of their supply chains going into the future.

MEASURED OVERSIGHT While pursuing sensible regulation, our approach is not intended to increase the burden on owners and operators, nor to duplicate other mechanisms. For example, where a requirement for an RMP already exists under other legislation, we won’t be enforcing dual reporting. Similarly, nothing in the rules overrides any existing provisions within the Privacy Act 1988, the Australian Privacy Principles, or the Fair Work Act 2009, and nor do the rules absolve employers of any

other obligations, including relevant occupational health and safety legislation.

The Secretary of the Department of Home Affairs, Michael Pezzullo AO, also has the power to review a responsible entity’s plan, to ensure actions are being taken appropriately.

This ensures the CIRMP sits alongside other important and relevant legislated requirements – it doesn’t overrule, duplicate, or impinge upon them.

Now the rules are live, there is a six-month transition period for responsible entities to adopt a written CIRMP. If a responsible entity’s asset becomes a CI asset after the rules commence, the responsible entity must meet CIRMP requirements within six months of the day the asset became a CI asset.

The CISC is committed to working in partnership with all levels of government and industry to support the wider security uplift of Australian critical infrastructure. For some critical infrastructure entities, we recognise that implementation of a CIRMP will be an extensive task. Wherever your business is in terms of maturity, the CISC will assist whenever possible.

Together, sensible government regulation and attentive owners and operators can secure Australia’s critical infrastructure – in the process safeguarding our shared security and prosperity.

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COMMENTARY

By Jason Brown, Deputy Chair, Policy Forum of Australian Security Executives.

CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

PROTECTION OF CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE: SECURING AUSTRALIA’S NATIONAL INTERESTS VIA GOVERNMENT AND INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIPS Industry welcomed the consultative approach taken by the Department of Home Affairs in holding virtual town halls, industry-specific workshops and roundtables as part of the critical infrastructure security reform process. It is good to see that this level of stakeholder engagement continues following the assent to the Security Legislation Amendment (Critical Infrastructure Protection) Act 2022.

RESILIENCE & PREPAREDNESS In particular, the introduction of Positive Security Obligations, designed in a principle-based outcome model with appropriate levels of maturity relevant to risk, is supported by industry and is something that any sensible industry should be doing for its own benefit. Additionally, industry expressed its support in principle for the concepts under the Enhanced Cyber Security Obligations relating to incident response planning, cyber security exercises and vulnerability assessments. Those activities can help to build cyber security resilience and preparedness.

Industry still has some concerns as to how the reforms might apply to companies that have diversified portfolios and operate, service or supply assets to a range of sectors identified under the Act, including (but not limited to) suppliers, manufacturers and the ‘data storage or processing’ sector. For members of the Defence Industry Security Program, it is less of an issue if their business focus is entirely defence oriented. Companies such as Thales may be operating in up to six sectors and reporting arrangements are yet to be fully clarified.

There is also a potentially higher regulatory burden created for SMEs and those not currently subject to critical infrastructure security legislation. There is also a need to understand the extent of entity responsibility based on what is within an entity’s control (including scope of critical assets and supply chains), as well as related matters such as the scope of responsibility of an entity that may flow down the supply chain.

MULTI-SECTORAL MODELLING The significant contribution that key supply chain partners can make to the overall security and resilience management of critical infrastructure owners

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and operators is not effectively recognised in the current system and only inferred in the consultation document. The major engineering services companies providing consulting, engineering, procurement and construction/construction management (EPC/EPCM), fabrication and operations and maintenance services, are intimately involved throughout asset lifecycles.

The range of transverse functions and services

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Industry still has some concerns as to how the reforms might apply to companies that have diversified portfolios and operate, service or supply assets to a range of sectors identified under the Act, including (but not limited to) suppliers, manufacturers and the ‘data storage or processing’ sector. For members of the Defence Industry Security Program, it is less of an issue if their business focus is entirely defence oriented. Companies such as Thales may be operating in up to six sectors and reporting arrangements are yet to be fully clarified.

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Image: Supplied.

needed for each sector to provide its outputs needs mapping and risk assessment, including multi-sectoral consequence modelling. The emphasis should be on outcome, identifying and prioritising capabilities for relevant entities to be seen as capability providers within and across sectors. The Department of Home Affairs and its Cyber and Infrastructure Security Centre are aware of this issue and have allocated staff to review.

The broadly identified sectors collectively cover the key areas of output, but do not yet identify the critical first- and second-order supply chain members.

Second, the definitions of what is covered under each sector require additional clarification. Third, the siloed approach to each sector adequately identify both

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The introduction of Positive Security Obligations, with appropriate levels of maturity relevant to risk, is supported by industry and is something that any sensible industry should be doing for its own benefit.

the cross-sectoral elements needed to ensure those outputs can be achieved and even those entities that operate in multiple sectors. Approaching national critical infrastructure resilience from a capability or architecture model will provide additional insights that a sector-based approach may miss.

COLLABORATION & FACILITATION With respect to non-regulatory approaches, the value of education, communication and engagement activities should not be underestimated, especially in building trust and facilitating genuine collaboration between governments and industry.

This was previously acknowledged in the Explanatory Memorandum to the Security Legislation Amendment (Critical Infrastructure) Bill 2020, noting that a refreshed Critical Infrastructure Resilience Strategy to incorporate these elements will help to “improve our collective understanding of risk within and across sectors.”

In summary, the government team leading the reforms and legislative changes has done a good job listening and responding to many of the stakeholder concerns. I believe that this government and industry partnership can grow and become more effective in protecting Australia’s national interests.

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OMNI: PROTECTING NATIONAL SECURITY IN COMPLEX AND CHALLENGING ENVIRONMENTS

By Jon ‘Irish’ Hawkins,

Founder & Chief Executive, Omni.

Australia’s unique landscape and extreme weather conditions define the Australian way of life and how we live in our beautiful country. Natural disasters reveal the most unforgiving characteristics of the Australian environment, leaving exposed communities and the critical infrastructure necessary for their prosperity, welfare and safety.

The increasing prevalence of extreme weather events due to climate change, including floods, storms, bushfires and drought, places a growing need for governments to respond swiftly and effectively.

The impacts of climate change are seeing a surge in demand for emergency service response resources, putting further strain on government agencies and making it more difficult to respond to emergencies in an effective and timely manner. Recent floods, including the devastating events in WA, highlight the challenges impeding emergency service responses, especially the vulnerability of critical infrastructure like communication networks.

In recognition of such challenges, the Commonwealth Government’s establishment of the National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA), an end-to-end agency coordinating preparedness, response and recovery, is a positive step. Establishing NEMA is a critical first move to improve Australia’s preparedness for future natural disasters, but the next important step is to open a dialogue between government and industry.

Emergency responders increasingly require new capabilities to help combat extreme weather events.

The private sector needs to play a more active role in providing and developing leading capability platforms to help prevent the tragic and unnecessary loss of life during natural disasters. Australian industry could deliver two capability offerings to benefit emergency responders immediately: intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) technology, and temporary cellular networks.

Uncrewed drones with ISR technology are a cost-effective and safe means of monitoring areas susceptible to extreme weather events, strengthening the government’s efforts to collect data to prepare for, and prevent, future disasters. Equally, the technology offers a safe way of monitoring unpredictable and unfolding weather events, providing emergency services with more information without placing people in dangerous environments.

While governments can introduce new technology, like drones, to improve current practices, there is also an opportunity to look at addressing existing critical infrastructure weaknesses, particularly in communication networks. Temporary cellular networks can be deployed when traditional communications infrastructure is destroyed, preventing communities

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from becoming disconnected while allowing emergency services to locate affected individuals.

Those capabilities currently exist, and Australian sovereign companies like Omni can immediately An Omni engineer at work in one of adapt and deliver the company’s aerospace hangers. © Omni. Supplied. technology to help recover and restore vital telecommunications. As a wholly Australian-owned company, Omni is trusted to protect national security in the most complex and challenging environments.

Our staff of more than 400 across Australia have proven experience delivering solutions to evolving threats, and their capability can contribute to government efforts to better prepare, respond and recover from extreme weather events.

Omni’s specialist team in Jandakot, WA, utilises fixed-wing aircraft and has extensive experience in completing aerial survey missions and supporting emergency operations, including airborne fire attack and control, hazard reduction burning, search and rescue, and aid delivery. Complementing that, Omni has a fleet of helicopters fitted with the latest sensor capability to assist emergency services and enhance survey options.

Omni is also developing portable cellular network units that emergency responders can deploy by wearing the unit like a backpack, immediately providing communications options to emergency services when infrastructure is unavailable or does not exist. The units are designed to enable swift and effective responses by rapidly establishing communications, helping to locate individuals, mapping population spread and broadcasting urgent messages.

The challenges facing emergency response agencies are increasing. Governments need to be agile and adaptable in responding to those challenges, and partnering with local industry can generate trusted, proven and cost-effective outcomes. Omni’s unique expertise can assist in keeping communities protected and people safe.

omniexe.com

TRUSTED PROVEN AUSTRALIAN In an increasingly challenging geostrategic environment, individuals, business, and government face an ever-growing list of threats – threats that include traditional and non-traditional risks to people, assets, infrastructure, systems, and interests.

To meet the government’s future needs, Omni is developing sophisticated aerospace capabilities to further our contributions to strengthening Australia’s national security.

Put simply, we don’t do easy.

www.omniexe.com

COMMENTARY

By Toby Horstead,

National Chair, Asset Management Council .

CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

MAKING CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE SYSTEMS RESILIENT, ROBUST AND RELIABLE National security and the economic wellbeing of business, governments and the community are compromised when critical infrastructure systems and services are subjected to extended disruption. Disruptions may be due to unexpected or planned-for effects, with changes in climate, sabotage, and espionage attacks all potentially affecting supply security and service continuity.

LEGISLATIVE REQUIREMENTS Identification of the critical assets is now required under the Security of Critical Infrastructure Act 2018, as amended 2 December 2021. The Act applies to 22 asset classes across 11 sectors, including communications, data storage or processing, defence, energy, financial services and markets, food and grocery, health care and medical, higher education and research, space technology, transport, water and sewerage.

Although the Act is intent on gaining compliance, opportunity exists for an asset-owning organisation to re-consider at the same time the value to it of any critical assets to determine if those assets still meet the current strategic objectives of the company.

VITAL INTERDEPENDENCIES Having identified the critical assets and their complex systems, as well as interdependencies between critical infrastructure asset systems, the risks associated with external threats to those assets and systems can be assessed. Both mitigation and

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The Asset Management Council has found that organisations that adopt asset management have been able to derive much value for their organisations and are better placed to respond to market changes and disruption, delivering sustainable benefits over the long-term, not just short-term cost reductions.

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adaptation solutions can be applied to make critical infrastructure systems more resilient, robust and reliable. Any costs associated with implementing the management of those risks can be integrated into the decision-making process in the investment planning cycles of the organisation. It shows a balanced approach of weighing the risks against the desired performance of the assets and available funding.

An asset management system (a management system, not an IT tool), assists in the process as it provides a structured framework for investment planning that conveys the most cost-effective solutions for delivering acceptable levels of service over the entire asset lifecycle at minimal risk.

SUSTAINABLE BENEFITS The Asset Management Council has found that organisations that adopt asset management have been able to derive much value for their organisations and are better placed to respond to market changes and disruption, delivering sustainable benefits over the long-term, not just short-term cost reductions.

Here are some of the benefits implementing asset management across a business: •

Improved financial performance. It is not unusual to initially find an organisation is not spending enough on its assets to sustain its business when continual cost-cutting has resulted in insufficient funding being allocated to managing risks.

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Informed asset investment decisions.

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Risk managed effectively, and the ability to demonstrate it, enables business directors to discharge their duties in a demonstrable manner.

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Improved services and outputs.

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Demonstrated social responsibility.

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Demonstrated compliance.

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Enhanced reputation.

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Improved organisational sustainability.

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Image: Supplied.

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Compliance with the Security of Critical Infrastructure Act 2018 may just be one of the catalysts for asset-owning organisations to find improvements and efficiencies to their business and, in so doing, improve national security.

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Improved efficiency and effectiveness, and increased reliability.

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Safety management.

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Increased ability to predict outcomes with confidence, leading to better relationships

RISK MITIGATION We are seeing a trend of people moving to cities and coastal towns that are also under threat from rising sea levels. The critical infrastructure needed for those communities will change alongside the climate and the movements of their populations. Having asset management systems in place enables evidence-based responses to the changing critical infrastructure needs of communities.

With the current threats to the nation’s critical infrastructure from the effects of unexpected rainfall patterns, extreme drought and decarbonisation, it has never been so crucial to make sure that our critical infrastructure systems are able to continue to keep functioning during such events.

Compliance with the Security of Critical Infrastructure Act 2018 may just be one of the catalysts for asset-owning organisations to find improvements and efficiencies to their business and, in so doing, improve national security.

with stakeholders.

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CORPORATE PROFILE

HIGH RISK MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS: MANAGING COMPLEX RISKS IN THE DEFENCE SECTOR

By Wayne van Biljon, Director, HRMS.

&

Graham Challen, Director, HRMS.

When it comes to identifying and mitigating complex risks within the Defence sector, award-winning contractor High Risk Management Solutions (HRMS) continues to pave the way. Prior to being engaged as a preferred national supplier to Defence, HRMS provided bespoke risk management services to an array of industries, including the resources, construction, energy, health care and maritime sectors.

HRMS fast became a recognised and respected provider of time-sensitive services to clients seeking bespoke solutions to meet their risk, rescue, safety, maintenance support and pre-hospital care needs. In so doing, HRMS has fast developed an enviable nationwide reputation for supporting its customers no matter the location or how challenging the task may be. With Defence, HRMS’s activities have included confined space entry, working at heights, hot works, HAZMAT, gas testing, tank inspection and cleaning, ventilation services and permit management, to name but a few.

Members of the HRMS team onboard a navy vessel ensuring a confined space is safe prior to it being accessed by contractors. © HRMS. Supplied.

A key ingredient for its nomination as a finalist in last year’s WA Minister’s Award for Excellence in Defence Industry (SME), was its clientfirst approach. As Wayne van Biljon, Director at HRMS, says, “We are very proud of our reputation among the Defence family and have worked hard to become a one-stop solution for its safety needs. Fundamental to that is our ability to remain nimble and flexible with changing needs. That, coupled with the experience and skills of our class-leading safety professionals, makes for a very attractive solution.”

One example is its significant investment in new and emerging technologies to ensure all products and services exceed expectations. HRMS has launched its online Task Safe platform that provides users with real-time data associated with their high-risk activities. Able to be customised to suit any asset, Task Safe can display a schematic or technical version of an asset, display and track any high-risk activity being undertaken, the scope of work and who is undertaking the work, as well as the completion status. A powerful reporting feature is included, making it an industryleading tool for today, as well as tomorrow. Task Safe has been used to great success across the naval fleet and has been a positive step to not only achieve value for money, but also to mitigate hazards and support critical maintenance scheduling.

HRMS has also embraced cyber security bestpractice to help protect its customers. Improvements in technology include, but are not limited to, unique login protocols, data encryption, restricting data access to approved users only, and the strengthening of firewalls.

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“Our partnership with Defence has certainly demonstrated our values of respect, integrity, generosity, humility, and team,” Graham Challen, HRMS Director, said. “We listened to what Defence wanted to achieve aboard its fleet and, collaboratively, we identified the best and most efficient course of action. We compiled a team of career safety professionals, equipped with the tools, technology and know-how to support Defence with its high-risk maintenance and first response needs.”

HRMS proudly reinvests in those communities in which it operates, and it recognises the value of partnering with local businesses and employing locally. “We have seen tangible evidence following our collaboration with local businesses and with the community. This has driven inclusion and a sense of belonging among team members. Yes, it creates a more efficient use of resources, but it has also strengthened community spirit”, Wayne said. “For example, we work closely with Working Spirit, a registered charity that supports and facilitates employment placements for veterans. They provide veterans with access to training, mentoring, and coaching, as well as introductions to future potential employers. This has certainly been a win-win as we have been able to engage an experienced, disciplined, and well-skilled workforce.”

With a can-do approach and a near-national presence in WA, NSW, SA, QLD and the NT, HRMS is ideally positioned as your one-stop shop solution for all your safety needs.

hrmsgroup.com.au

HIGH RISK MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS Safeguarding Your Operations We provide a range of services and systems for managing high risk within a variety of industries, including defence, mining, shipbuilding and construction.

We supply rescue services and all equipment to high risk workplaces nationwide.

We proudly deliver customer integrated services to assist in the safe management of high-risk work during critical shutdown periods.

Our Health and Safety Consultants are available to assist you and your business with your workplace health and safety needs, reducing the risk and helping you to meet your legislative requirements.

National Office U5, 15 Kalinga Way, Landsdale, WA 6065 T: (+61) 1300 89 02 03 E: info@hrmsgroup.com.au W: www.hrmsgroup.com.au

We balance your risk and operational requirements with a strong safety focus: SHUTDOWNS FIRST AID EVENT SERVICES SAFETY ADVISORS MEDICAL SERVICES RESCUE SERVICES HIGH RISK MANAGEMENT EMERGENCY SERVICES OFFICERS INDUSTRIAL TANK CLEANING & INSPECTION

COMMENTARY

By Hon Bill Johnston MLA,

Minister for Mines and Petroleum; Energy; Hydrogen Industry; Industrial Relations, Government of Western Australia.

CRITICAL MINERALS

WESTERN AUSTRALIA: TRANSFORMING OUR WORLDLEADING MINING SECTOR INTO A GLOBALLY SIGNIFICANT MINERAL are the first of their kind in Australia, will see WA minerals processed into high-puri PROCESSING AND CHEMICAL chemicals for export to international markets.”

MANUFACTURING HUB

Western Australia is a major supplier of battery and critical minerals, accounting “…the WA half government is seeking to attract new investment and establish strateg for around of the world’s lithium supply.

It is also a major producer of nickel, partnerships with keyand international cobalt, manganese Rare Earth partners.”

Elements (REE). Unprecedented demand for battery and critical minerals is being driven by demand for electric vehicles and renewable energy technologies, as well as growing concerns from end users around the geographic concentration of processing and supply chain vulnerabilities. As companies and governments around the world are racing to Infographics & Maps: secure new sources of supply to meet their economic development, defence and decarbonisation goals, new opportunities are emerging for WA industries.

RESOURCE ABUNDANCE Critical minerals are defined as minerals that are essential for modern technologies, economies or national security, and have supply chains that are at risk of disruption. Battery minerals, such as lithium, nickel, cobalt, manganese, graphite, high purity alumina and vanadium, are used to manufacture rechargeable batteries for use in electric vehicles and energy storage systems. REEs are a set of metals that are largely used to manufacture permanent magnets, which have applications in electric motors, wind turbines and defence technologies.

WA is establishing itself as a reliable, ethical and cost-effective supplier of battery and critical minerals and materials.

We are well on the way to transforming

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WA is establishing itself as a reliable, ethical and costeffective supplier of battery and critical minerals and Source: Western Australia: A Global Battery and Critical Minerals Hub (June 2022). materials.

Source: Western Australia: A Global Battery and Critical Minerals Hub (June 2022).

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https://www.australianvanadium.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/220516_Battery-andCritical-Minerals_Prospectus-Web.pdf

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ity

gic

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Source: Geoscience Australia.

our world-leading mining sector into a globally significant mineral processing and chemical manufacturing hub.

In less than a decade, WA has successfully established a multi-billion dollar battery and critical minerals

processing industry, which includes global-scale investments in lithium hydroxide, battery-grade nickel sulphate and REE processing facilities. Those projects, which are the first of their kind in Australia, will see WA minerals

processed into high-purity chemicals for export to international markets.

Three of the world’s largest lithium producers – Tianqi Lithium, Albemarle and SQM – have partnered with Australian companies to build and

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In less than a decade, WA has successfully established a multi-billion dollar battery and critical minerals processing industry, which includes global-scale investments in lithium hydroxide, batterygrade nickel sulphate and REE processing facilities. Those projects, which are the first of their kind in Australia, will see WA minerals processed into high-purity chemicals for export to international markets.

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Image: Supplied.

operate lithium hydroxide facilities in WA, with Tianqi Lithium becoming Australia’s first producer of commercial quantities of battery-grade lithium hydroxide at its Kwinana plant in May 2022. The facility will produce 24,000t per annum once fully operational, with plans to expand to 48,000t per annum.

The MARBL Joint Venture between Albemarle and Mineral Resources has also commenced producing lithium hydroxide at its Kemerton facility. Once fully operational, the plant will produce 50,000t per annum. Adding to that is

Covalent Lithium’s Kwinana facility, which is planned to produce 45,000t per annum.

BHP Nickel West produced Australia’s first nickel sulphate crystals in September 2021. Located in Kwinana, the nickel sulphate plant will produce 100,000t per year when fully operational.

Major investments by Lynas Rare Earths and Iluka Resources are set to establish Western Australia as one of few jurisdictions in the world to offer processed REEs. In April 2022, Lynas Rare Earths commenced construction on

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CRITICAL MINERALS

Image: Supplied.

Australia’s first REE processing facility in Kalgoorlie.

The facility is scheduled to be operational in July 2023.

Iluka Resources has also made a final investment decision to build Australia’s first fully integrated REE refinery in Eneabba, with first production of REE oxide earmarked for 2025.

BRIGHT FUTURE This future-facing industry has created thousands of high-quality jobs for West Australians, with many more thousands to come. Further investments are in the pipeline across the state, including production of battery-grade vanadium, graphite, high purity alumina, manganese, cobalt and precursor cathode active materials, with significant funding already committed to many of those ventures.

The WA government is supporting development of our critical minerals industries through its Western Australia’s Future Battery and Critical Minerals Industries Strategy, launched in 2019. The strategy outlines the government’s vision to grow the state’s participation in global battery and critical minerals supply chains, with the primary goal of increasing domestic valueadd manufacturing.

With battery and critical minerals processing already well underway in the state, the opportunity is emerging for increased advanced manufacturing

to occur in WA, including local manufacturing of batteries. The WA government is currently undertaking a pre-feasibility study to investigate downstream battery industry opportunities, such as cell manufacturing, battery assembly and recycling.

The study is an important step to understanding the opportunities and challenges of developing these industries, and sets the groundwork to begin detailed discussions with global manufacturers of batteries and other advanced technologies.

To bring that to fruition, the WA government is seeking to attract new investment and establish strategic partnerships with key international partners.

There are many opportunities to be harnessed across WA’s battery and critical minerals industries and I invite you to review the state’s battery and critical minerals prospectus outlining these opportunities.

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…the WA government is seeking to attract new investment and establish strategic partnerships with key international partners.

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AUSTRALIA’S RARE EARTHS CHALLENGE

By Ross Louthean,

Resources Sector Correspondent,

WA DEFENCE REVIEW

Image: Supplied.

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The growth in the number of global critical minerals – amplified by the emergence of powerful batteries, electric vehicles and sophisticated electronics, robotics and defence requirements – has Australia well positioned.

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now grabbing global attention through supply, also has processing and market outlets showing growth for Mt Weld, south of Laverton. As one of the richest REE mines, Mt Weld produces a plethora of elements and also contains tantalum, titanium and phosphate deposits.

RARE EARTHS ADVOCACY One of the critical mineral specialists working for Lynas in the tough early years, Dudley Kingsnorth, is today a professor at the WA School of Mines and recently became chairman of one of the new wave of REE explorers, Australian Rare Earths.

Image: Supplied.

WORLD-LEADING PRODUCER Australia’s ability to advance from being a raw supplier to a downstream manufacturer is, however, another matter, best shown by our incredible march into iron ore mining in the Pilbara where all the initial projects had legislation to allow a move into steelmaking. It was a target that failed, in WA at least, due to issues like the tyranny of distance for getting coking coal from the east, commercial energy rates, wage and cost increases, and the growth of red tape.

Australia is a big producer of an increasing list of critical minerals such as nickel, copper, vanadium, cobalt and the big recent addition of lithium, in which we

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are a global leader, and further elevated in 2022 by major new pegmatite finds.

REE EXPLORERS There is growing government support, including financial, on all levels for critical minerals, in particular, Rare Earth Elements (REE), for which the number of explorers has exploded over the last year.

Many of the newest Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) on the Australian bourse either have a portfolio of REE targets or are transforming their focus to those metals.

Lynas Rare Earths is the pacesetter, with a massive new kiln, evident on the western drive into Kalgoorlie, as a cracking and leaching plant for rare earths from its Mt Weld mine. It adds to REE supply through the company’s older plant in Malaysia – at times in the past hogtied by activists fanning alarm over radioactivity – and another facility now in the United States for specialty materials.

France will sell you a bottle of wine, but it won’t sell you grapes. China really doesn’t want to sell you rare earths, it wants to sell you a wind turbine or an electric vehicle,” said Professor Kingsnorth, as quoted last year by the Sydney Morning Herald.

Professor Kingsnorth has been a leading advocate for rare earths development and has hosted, and spoken at, major conferences. For years, he has raised alarm bells about Australia and its allies being locked out of markets by the growing dominance of China in the mining and manufacturing of REEs. “France will sell you a bottle of wine, but it won’t sell you grapes. China really doesn’t want to sell you rare earths, it wants to sell you a wind turbine or an electric vehicle,” said Professor Kingsnorth, as quoted by the Sydney Morning Herald last year.

Last October, Professor Kingsnorth told a Las Vegas conference that the estimated global demand for Rare Earth Oxides (REOs) was now an annualised 250,000t and the global REE market value was between $US10-15bn. China was dominant in supplying 80-90% and consuming 7080% of demand. By 2030, REO demand could be 500,000t per annum.

CHALLENGES AT HAND

Lynas has been around for decades, but the springboard has really only been bouncing in recent years and, at the 2022 Diggers & Dealers Forum in Kalgoorlie, Lynas Managing Director Amanda Lacaze accepted the prestigious Diggers Award.

Professor Kingsnorth pointed out that the lack of rare earths project design, construction, start-ups, operations, and product development expertise and experience, is a major impediment to timely project development. He and other mining leaders told WA DEFENCE REVIEW that Australian mining faces major challenges from technical and labour shortages and that the learning arc for REE projects is more pronounced when there is a chronic shortage of students undertaking metallurgy. Another concern for universities is a drop in the number of female students. Australia therefore needs a new cohort of graduates and trainees to service rare earths production.

Lynas has been through more hoops than most established Australian miners but, as well as

Mining people often say that finding the orebody is the easy part, with the growth of red tape adding to that

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project, where the Newmont deposit has an inferred resource of 43.5mn tonnes at 1192ppm. It also has the nearby O’Connor target.

Image: Supplied.

aphorism. That can be foreseen as Australia’s rare earths challenge. A classic lesson was the mid-1990s advance into nickel-cobalt laterite refining in WA, when the learning arc included the big engineering companies.

Australia’s rare earths rush added iron ore giant Hancock Prospecting to its fold when its principal, Gina Rinehart, placed $60mn in a $121mn raising by NT hopeful Arafura Rare Earths, to advance its Nolans REE-phosphate project. It represented a 10% stake in Arafura. While Hancock Prospecting has been bankrolling select junior explorers recently, that was its first publicly-aired move into rare earths.

project in WA’s Gascoyne region, which could supply up to 8% of world demand for neodymium and praseodymium (NdPr). This was aided by a Northern Australian Infrastructure grant of $140mn and subsequently attracted backing from Andrew Forrest. Hastings is also building a hydromet export facility at Onslow port, 420km from the mine.

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ASX LISTINGS New floats on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) are showing a strong swing to rare earths, and some of the notables are: •

Hastings Technology Metals: Building a plant for the Yangibana

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Major new REE discoveries will still be needed to cater for escalating demand.

For Australia’s defence industry, that could bring the opportunity to play a greater role in global supply chains and new technological advances.

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•

American Rare Earths: An Australian company in the US market, with two rapidly advancing projects at Halleck Creek in Wyoming and La Paz in Arizona. Some commentators have identified those as two of the best American targets, despite financial incentives for US domestic explorers from government and defence organisations.

Australian Rare Earths: Chaired by Professor Kingsnorth, this company has the Koppamurra project near Naracoorte in South Australia, close to the Victorian border, where high grades of NdPr and dysprosium are evident. The company has signed a non-binding MoU with rare earths producer Neo Performance Materials Inc to take up to 50% of output.

• OD6 Metals: The Splinter Rocks deposit, north-east of Esperance in WA, is producing healthy grades of Total Rare Earth Oxides (TREOs) from 65 of the initial 179 drill holes, with almost half providing assays above 750ppm.

• West Cobar Metals: This diverse explorer also has a TREO find northeast of Esperance with the Salazar

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Lanthanein Resources: Holds the Lyon prospect east of Hastings’s Yangibana development, where a series of high-grade NdPr results have been received.

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Desert Metals: The Innouendy prospect, as part of the company’s north Murchison tenements in WA, has produced encouraging nickel and platinum group metal zones and also a distinctive REE target with high grade results.

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Arafura Rare Earths: This longheld REE-phosphate-uraniumthorium prospect has received NT Government approval for the NdPr deposit at Nolans, north of Alice Springs. Nolans has a 56mn tonnes deposit grading 2.6% TREO and 11% phosphate. A major late-2022 cash raising paves the way for a miningprocessing start in early 2025.

BALANCE OF WORLD SUPPLY

By April, the demand for new floats on the ASX had slowed through market changes but the thirst for rare earths and critical minerals remained high, to the point that most aspiring floats had REE, lithium or nickel in mind.

One positive recent development was a major increase in the estimated reserves at Australian Rare Earths’ Koppamurra project that saw the company’s share price double, prompting senior business commentator Robert Gottliebsen of The Australian to rank the find alongside China’s and Myanmar’s ionic clay mines.

While it was a step forward, Gottliebsen warned that Koppamurra, even with increased reserves of dysprosium and terbium, as well as neodymium and praseodynium – all vital for electric vehicles and wind turbines – was still only a small REE plant. It was, he said, a long way from changing the balance of world supply.

Major new REE discoveries will still be needed to cater for escalating demand.

For Australia’s defence industry, that could bring the opportunity to play a greater role in global supply chains and new technological advances.

COMMENTARY

ENERGY RESILIENCE

BOLSTERING NATIONAL SECURITY THROUGH ENERGY RESILIENCE

By Shannon O’Rourke,

CEO, Future Battery Industries Cooperative Research Centre

If you ask any archaeologist about tipping points in civilisation, they will point you to the Stone, Bronze, Iron, industrial and the information ages. A defence historian may remind you that those ages dawned because of new technology, and that the civilisations that developed and mastered those new technologies dominated and thrived at the expense of the ones before.

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In a renewable future, we will reduce our dependence on imported fuels, and foreign energy markets. There will be no need for a strategic oil stockpile.

IMMENSE CHANGE Very specific advances in technology – particularly in mining, metallurgy and advanced materials – define each transition. From metals and alloys to semiconductors. Progress continues today with critical minerals, rare earths and battery materials. Our energy system is undergoing immense change from dependence on fossil fuels that defined the industrial age, towards clean energy technologies, which define the information age.

And at a macro level, clean energy technologies are more resilient. Yes, these technologies are exposed to known daily and seasonal vagaries of the weather. But they offer more resilience to economic and systemic changes, such as retirement of ageing coal-fired generation, and supply side shocks, like the 1970s energy crisis. Distributed energy is more resilient to malevolent foreign actors, who want to undermine the fabric of our energy system, interrupt fuel supplies or seek to disable our energy system and our ability to defend ourselves. On our current trajectory and, on balance, Australia is becoming more resilient.

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Australia is more trade connected and trade exposed. We produce oil but are reliant on imported refined products. Our strategic oil reserve is overseas. We produce gas, primarily for export, which connects our domestic gas to foreign markets. We have coal resources, but our generation fleet is ageing, and the coal resource is not equally distributed across the states.

DECARBONISING EXPORTS Mining and agriculture, our most valuable exports, are exposed to carbon risk. Our trading partners are implementing mechanisms to penalise exports with high embodied emissions.

Mining and refining accounts for 75% of embodied emissions in a battery and according to the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation, about 31% of all greenhouse gas emissions occur from primary agriculture. Unless we act to decarbonise our exported goods, our export income is at risk. A renewable future will reduce these exposures. It will make us more resilient.

In a renewable future, we will reduce our dependence on imported fuels and foreign energy markets. There will be no need for a strategic oil stockpile.

Our exports will be advantaged vs countries that have not decarbonised.

And, of course, with our unique endowment of critical minerals and sparsely populated land mass, we can exploit our resource advantages to become a green energy ‘superpower’.

AVERTING CRISES Our future domestic energy system is being designed for resilience. Australia’s network engineers are aware that

sometimes the sun doesn’t shine, and the wind doesn’t blow. Australia should be confident in a renewable energy future.

Distributed generation and storage, typical of renewable energy, makes system failures less impactful. Storage, network control and flexible markets will enable our energy system to respond to intermittency. This technical resilience will take planning, insightful market design, and some intervention.

Perhaps the most interesting, and positive, aspect of renewables is their resilience in the face of foreign attack, or supply disruption. You may recall, or have seen photos of queues of vehicles in the 1970s energy crisis, and you could contrast them against photographs of Ukraine’s bombed solar fields. Distributed energy systems are by their nature more physically resilient, so long as the control systems are secure. Distributed storage, accounting for about 50% of all storage, will play an important role, as will vehicle-based storage.

There is a lot to look forward to in the energy transition. When you look on balance at our current risk environment and towards our self-sufficient energy future, I see an environment that is more resilient, not less. That can only be a good thing.

“

Perhaps the most interesting, and positive, aspect of renewables is their resilience in the face of foreign attack, or supply distribution.

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© FBICRC.

ENERGY RESILIENCE

CORPORATE PROFILE

By Masoud Abshar,

Founder & Managing Director, Magellan Power.

MAGELLAN POWER: RELIABLE CLEAN POWER FOR CRITICAL INDUSTRY, DEFENCE AND REMOTE LOCATION CLIENTS A family-owned business, Magellan Power has been supplying customised, high reliability batterybased DC and AC backup power to the oil and gas extraction, mining, water, gas and electricity utilities, transport and defence industries for the past 30 years.

Our expertise is in the design, manufacture and servicing of AC and DC power systems, grid-supporting energy storage, stand-alone power systems, microgrids and electric vehicle chargers.

Magellan Power brings together hardware, software and deep knowledge of industrial batteries to ensure

Used for battery-powered cars and trucks, Magellan Power’s Electric-Vehicle Charging Station comes replete with two 40KW DC chargers and one 21KW AC charger. © Magellan Power. Supplied.

continuous clean power for critical industrial and defence equipment.

With a team of over 65 researchers, engineers, technicians and professional support staff, the company is accredited at the ISO 9001:2015 level for its quality management systems across the areas of research and development, manufacturing, and the supply and service of power electronics and renewable energy and industrial batteries.

Magellan Power’s local-manufactured 1MW Utility Scale Energy Storage is used by clients for cold start of power stations. © Magellan Power. Supplied.

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Our core values of providing ‘steadfast support for our customers’ and ‘making products that last for years’, have been formed by decades of providing outstanding service to our clients in the remotest parts of Australia and our deep, practical knowledge of the harsh environmental conditions, which has enabled us to manufacture equipment with a 25-year design life.

magellanpower.com.au

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64 Bushland Ridge, Bibra Lake 6163 WA T. 08 9434 6621 mabshar@magellanpower.com.au magellanpower.com.au

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ENERGY RESILIENCE

THE ZERO EMISSION HIGHWAY: A VISION FOR A CARBON-FREE AUSTRALIAN ROAD NETWORK

By Dr Adam Osseiran,

Co-founder and President, Hydrogen Society of Australia & Director, Innovate Australia,

&

Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles and Battery Electric Vehicles are today perceived as adversarial technologies, competing for domination of the global $1.5bn vehicle market. The situation is slowing the move towards carbon-free transport, and requires urgent action from the international business community and governments to increase the collaboration between those two ‘competing’ EV technologies leading, sooner rather than later, to a cohesive zero-emission transport strategy.

Peter Kasprzak,

Co-founder and Director, Hydrogen Society of Australia & Chairman, Innovate Australia.

© Hydrogen Socity Australia. Supplied.

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COMMENTARY

ENERGY RESILIENCE

In November 2018, the Hydrogen Society of Australia held its inaugural meeting for the newly established Hydrogen Highway Group. © Hydrogen Society of Australia.

COLLABORATIVE INFRASTRUCTURE It is impossible to predict which technology, hydrogen or battery, will develop faster and eventually be the first to dominate the global transport market. Innovation in each of the two technologies will most likely continue to tip the scale back and forth between them, resulting in many potentially speculative investments. Government agencies making legislative and investment decisions may consider picking a winner risky, as the wrong choice could have severe financial and political consequences.

The Zero Emission Highway (ZEH) concept aims to support heavy transport vehicles using both technologies.

Although focused on heavy transport, the infrastructure would be accessible to

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Anticipated to be a network of 80 hydrogen refilling and EV fastcharging stations, the ZEH is strategically positioned along WA’s critical transport routes allowing for the movement of heavy transport to every corner of the state while creating skilled rural jobs and increasing national fuel security.

all commercial and passenger vehicles, paving the way for zero-emission transportation. An investment in such comprehensive and collaborative infrastructure should not be considered speculative. The strategy will also help to gain a social licence for carbon-free transport by empowering people through the choice of technologies.

Initially called the ‘Hydrogen Highway’, the ZEH project was initiated

by Innovate Australia and its then interest group, the Hydrogen Society of Australia, the latter which formed in January 2018.

Innovate Australia is a not-for-profit organisation with a goal for Australia to become the global leader in innovation by 2030.

The ZEH is a vision for Australia’s extensive road network to become 100% carbon-free and to equip Australia’s major transport routes with renewable recharging and refuelling options, enabling emission-free transportation.

Anticipated to be a network of 80 hydrogen refilling and EV fastcharging stations, the ZEH is strategically positioned along WA’s critical transport routes allowing for the movement of heavy transport to every corner of the state while creating skilled rural jobs and increasing national fuel security. Stage 1 is foreseen as a network of six hydrogen fuelling and EV fast-charger stations along State Route 95 from Perth to Port Headland and Highway 1 to Karratha, for a total of 1860km. Each station is approximately 400km apart, as the range of most zero-emission trucks is 600-1000km.

Worldwide, carbon emissions generated from the heavy transport sector are notoriously difficult to reduce due to heavy reliance on oil.

The carbon footprint of the heavy transport industry in Australia is amplified due to the long distances between cities and mining ports, creating a great demand for on-road freight and long-haulage transport. In Australia, transport is the third-largest source of greenhouse gas emissions, as recognised by the Hume Hydrogen Highway project funded by eastern state governments.

POTENTIAL FOR GREEN HYDROGEN Renewable energy, such as green hydrogen, will soon be more affordable than fossil fuels. Furthermore, the renewable ZEH hydrogen will likely be produced locally. Australia is internationally recognised for its potential to become the world’s largest producer of green hydrogen. In parallel, heavy transport manufacturers, such as Toyota and Hyundai, believe that the market is at a tipping point. Manufacturers working on hydrogen technology for years are now reporting that they are ready to bring hydrogen fuel cell-powered trucks to the mass market.

The time is undoubtedly right to create a battery and fuel cell coalition to bring together the two camps and jointly implement the ZEH, the future of transport. Twenty years from now, every highway will be a zero-emission highway, but we don’t have the luxury of waiting that long.

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Agile Project Management R&D Tax Incentive Facilitation We focus on service and process improvement to achieve positive outcomes for our clients.

www.abandh.com.au russell.ascott@abandh.com.au +61 413 819 715

THE IP SENTINELS

IP Strategists for Western Australia’s Defence Innovators Golja Haines & Friend are committed to providing high

West Australian and particularly focused in assisting both

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local companies that are starting-up, and those already

and commercially relevant to our clients. We are proudly

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INNOVATION & DISRUPTIVE TECHNOLOGY

CSIRO: PARTNERING WITH DEFENCE AND INDUSTRY TO SOLVE REAL-WORLD PROBLEMS

By Dr Kathie McGregor,

Research Director Advanced Materials and Processing, CSIRO.

As Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO has a vital responsibility to align our scientific work with national priorities. To achieve that, we work closely with the ADF to augment their capability and contribute to the security of our nation and region.

CSIRO scientists have wide-ranging expertise in devising leading-edge advanced manufacturing solutions. © CSIRO.

3D PRINTING The CSIRO works with a range of research organisations and industries to devise leading-edge, commercially viable and scalable solutions to solve real-world problems in our defence sector. One area of increasing interest to Defence is additive manufacturing, or 3D printing. This technology allows highly customised products to be rapidly developed and printed ‘on demand’, slashing costs and downtime significantly.

At CSIRO, we operate Lab 22, one of Australia’s leading additive manufacturing research centres.

Lab 22’s mission includes working with local manufacturers on new materials for manufacture at scale. Our partners can also access our state-of-the-art machinery and get help from our additive experts to develop and optimise their product.

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Examples of our work include CSIRO experts helping local manufacturer, Albins Performance Transmissions. Albins had been asked by multinational defence firm Thales to make a prototype steering pump bracket for its next-generation light protected vehicle, the Hawkei. As Albins only had one week in which to deliver, time was of the essence.

Our team worked from a digital file to manufacture a mould using our 3D sand printer. We then used the mould to cast the bracket – all within deadline.

INNOVATIVE TECH A similar technology is cold spray, which uses a stream of gas to blast metal particles onto a surface, creating a dense, thick coating. CSIRO has extensive experience with this technology, which can solve the problem of maintaining critical equipment by repairing, rather than replacing, damaged parts.

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INNOVATION & DISRUPTIVE TECHNOLOGY

CSIRO has partnered with Boron Molecular, EPE, and Monash University on a ground-breaking respirator canister to protect military personnel from weaponised toxic industrial chemicals and vapours. The Defence Innovation Hub contract will further develop and commercialise world-leading respirator technology. © CSIRO.

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At CSIRO, we operate Lab 22, one of Australia’s leading additive manufacturing research centres. Lab 22’s mission includes working with local manufacturers on new materials for manufacture at scale. Our partners can also access our state-of-the-art machinery and get help from our additive experts to develop and optimise their product.

Another area rich with opportunity is novel or composite materials which have special structural, electrical or thermal properties. CSIRO is a leader in advanced materials development.

Our capabilities include extractive metallurgy, metal powder production, metal organic frameworks, composite and hybrid materials, and advanced highperformance polymers.

Recently, we assisted Tasmanian company CBG Systems to develop a multifunctional composite material to improve its passive fire protection systems. The collaboration resulted in a new fireresistant cladding, RAC Plus, which can withstand temperatures of over 1000°C. It is stronger than conventional fire protection coatings, but 50% lighter than traditional metal cladding.

We are also working with Boron Molecular, EPE, and Monash University on a ground-breaking respirator canister to protect military personnel from weaponised toxic industrial chemicals and vapours. In this project we are combining our expertise in nanofibers and porous solids and developing a technology that uses an advanced crystal technology, called metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), which have the largest internal surface area of any

known substance. MOFs are used to absorb toxic industrial chemicals before they affect the wearer and the resulting single canister device is a step change from existing technology. It will protect the wearer for longer against a greater number of threats.

ADVANCED MANUFACTURING CSIRO has expertise in many other areas of advanced manufacturing, including robotics and automation, which can improve the efficiency and accuracy of manufacturing processes, as well as data analytics, which can be used to optimise production and supply chains. Energy storage will also be important, as the defence sector increasingly employs smart assets that need to be powered.

In all those areas, Australian advanced manufacturers could have a profound impact on Australia’s defence capability.

In turn, the adoption of advanced manufacturing technologies by Defence will force innovation and drive growth in the broader economy. It will be a very exciting time, and one which should see new industries and supply chains form. It will also create skilled jobs and accelerate the move to a sustainable, technologydriven, globally-competitive advanced manufacturing sector.

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COMMENTARY

By Tamryn Barker,

Co-founder & Director, CORE Innovation Hub,

&

Brodie McCulloch,

Co-founder & Director, CORE Innovation Hub.

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INNOVATION & DISRUPTIVE TECHNOLOGY

CORE INNOVATION HUB: USHERING IN POSITIVE DISRUPTION AND NEW INDUSTRIES, BUSINESSES AND OPPORTUNITIES Practically every day, it seems we hear of climate and emissions challenges, and increasing demands on those resources in order to solve the challenges confronting us. The conversations being had across industry and broader markets have never been more important, as we seek to rapidly find solutions to decarbonisation and sustainability – and a way to future-proof Australia’s most important industries.

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The vision for CORE is to make it as easy as possible for companies that are wanting to work with the resources and energy industry to make those connections and to leverage our services and networks to create those and other new business opportunities.

INNOVATION & COOPERATION CORE Innovation Hub was established in 2016 to activate an ecosystem of entrepreneurs and drive innovation across the mining and resources sectors.

Since its inception, CORE has supported

INNOVATION & DISRUPTIVE TECHNOLOGY

hundreds of businesses to grow, scale and develop innovations that tackle the critical challenges that we face.

The vision for CORE is to make it as easy as possible for companies that are wanting to work with the resources and energy industry to make those connections and to leverage our services and networks to create those and other new business opportunities.

Over the next two to three years, we believe we will see a shift in the industry in how mining and energy companies engage with entrepreneurs, innovators and SMEs to help them co-design and solve their challenges. CORE exists to provide the platform to help accelerate and drive that change, ushering in new technologies – not just in Perth, but across the country.

REGIONAL HUBS In 2022, CORE was pleased to open our first regional hub in Newman, WA. The goal in establishing a presence in Newman is to provide new avenues for local businesses and industry to collaborate and drive innovation, thereby supporting overall economic growth in the broader Pilbara region.

We believe that regional towns – and mining towns in particular – provide unique opportunities for technology and innovation to flourish. The connection to boots-on-the-ground cannot be understated when it comes to solving problems and developing and implementing practical, real-world solutions.

Our hub in Adelaide has recently expanded to include a brand new purpose-built co-working space as part of South Australia’s Innovation Precinct, Lot Fourteen. Having operated in SA for the last two years, working closely with the state Department of Energy and Mining, CORE is pleased to be able to open a physical hub to really drive connection and collaboration with SMEs, industry and government.

With South Australia being at the forefront of renewable energy production and rich in critical minerals, the opportunities for technology development are extensive. With our expertise in leveraging and developing ecosystems to provide platforms for growth, we believe big things are to come from Adelaide in the near future.

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In October 2022, CORE Innovation Hub was awarded the contract to establish and activate the Australian Automation and Robotics Precinct (AARP) in Neerabup, WA. We are very excited to be partnering with DevelopmentWA to deliver this world-class facility that will serve as a development and testing ground for autonomous technology across a multitude of industries including energy, mining, resources, defence and even space.

ROBOTICS & AUTOMATION In October 2022, CORE was awarded the contract to establish and activate the Australian Automation and Robotics Precinct (AARP) in Neerabup, WA. We are very excited to be partnering with DevelopmentWA to deliver this world-class facility that will serve as a development and testing ground for autonomous technology across a multitude of industries including energy, mining, resources, defence and even space.

The initial 51ha site will be used for testing, research and development, and training in autonomous, remote operations and robotic systems and equipment. The globally linked and locally relevant facility with test laboratories, virtual laboratories and design co-labs will provide precinct users and researchers the opportunity to accelerate technology and analytics testing and scaling, without interrupting onsite production and activities.

At CORE, we know that the challenges our industries face are big, but we believe in collaboration and interconnectedness across these industries, at all levels: start-ups, SMEs, industry, government and academia. This will see new technology not just being developed but implemented, creating positive disruption and the establishment of new industries, new businesses and new opportunities.

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COMMENTARY

By Steve Duffield, SUT Chair – Perth Branch,

&

Mark Musarra, SUT Committee Member.

POLICY & ADVOCACY

DEFENCE AND RESOURCES SYNERGIES: HOW TO MAKE A SUCCESSFUL TRANSITION FROM OIL AND GAS TO DEFENCE INDUSTRY Since the early 1970s, the development of Australia’s, and more particularly, WA’s, technological capability has supported such vital industries as the Bass Strait and North-West Shelf oil and gas sectors, and the indisputable strength of the mining sector on the back of several resources booms over the past 50 years. As a result, industry support for these sectors has reached an envious level of maturity.

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LEVERAGING SYNERGIES Across those industry sectors, there remain common synergies that are paramount to successful operations and outcomes for any enterprise considering offering their goods and services into the defence sector: •

Logistics and supply chain: all industries require efficient and secure supply chain management for the delivery of their goods and services.

•

Technology: advanced technologies can be applied to the defence sector, such as unmanned marine vessels and remote sensing.

•

Infrastructure: all industries require significant investment in infrastructure.

•

Human capital: all industries require skilled workers, particularly in areas such as engineering, operations and project management.

•

Procurement: all industries engage in large-scale procurement activities, providing opportunities for the joint procurement of common goods and services.

The SUT has several Special Interest Groups (SIGs), including for defence.

The UK-based Defence SIG is a group that provides a forum for professionals from navies, industry, academia and government to discuss and share ideas, technologies, applications, concepts and guidance for the development and use of technology in the underwater battlespace.

Consideration of the following would help that transition: •

Cyber security: all industries are vulnerable to cyber threats and must invest in robust cyber security measures to protect their assets and operations.

Conduct market research: understand the demand for defence products and services in the market, including the existing competition, market trends and customer requirements.

•

By leveraging those synergies, the defence and oil and gas sector can achieve cost savings, improve operational efficiency and enhance their competitiveness.

Develop a business plan: outline the steps required to transition the company’s capabilities from oil and gas to defence, including a clear vision, mission and strategy for the new business.

•

Acquire the right skills: identify the technical and business skills required for the defence industry and invest in training and development programs for employees to acquire those skills.

•

Build relationships: network with relevant stakeholders in the defence industry, including suppliers, customers and government agencies, to build relationships and establish a reputation as a reliable defence supplier.

•

ENTERING THE DEFENCE SECTOR Transitioning from oil and gas industry support to defence industry support can, however, be a complex and challenging process, as the two industries have distinct differences in terms of operations, regulation, technology and market demand.

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Making a successful transition from oil and gas to defence requires a well-planned and executed strategy, strong leadership and a commitment to investing in the right resources.

There is scope within SUT to assist with that transition.

•

•

Comply with regulations: familiarise yourself with the regulations and standards that apply to the defence industry and take steps to ensure compliance with those regulations.

Secure financing: Explore financing options to fund the transition, including grants, loans and investment from venture capital firms.

HOW SUT CAN HELP The Society for Underwater Technology (SUT) is a multi-disciplinary learned society that brings together organisations and individuals with a common interest in underwater technology, ocean science and offshore engineering, including defence, oil and gas, and renewable energy.

SUT was founded in the United Kingdom in 1966, with a branch office opening in Perth in 2004, and has members from more than 40 countries, including engineers, scientists, other professionals, and students working in those areas. In recent decades, many of

POLICY & ADVOCACY

On 12 October 2022, SUT Perth hosted an Evening Technical Meeting, titled ‘Underwater Autonomous Technologies and their Application within Defence Industry’, which featured senior guest speakers who represented prominent firms such as BlueZone Group, Blue Ocean MTS and Kongsberg Maritime. The event attracted a large gathering from across the undersea sector and further reinforced the widening interest in the defence sector. © Intelligent Communications. Photographer: Eddy Lidya.

our members have come from the offshore hydrocarbon sector.

Today, we also see growing numbers of members from defence, offshore renewables, marine autonomous systems and the policy, law and insurance sectors, who support offshore activities of many kinds.

The SUT has several Special Interest Groups (SIGs), including for defence.

The UK-based Defence SIG is a group that provides a forum for professionals from navies, industry, academia and government to discuss and share ideas, technologies, applications, concepts and guidance for the development and use of technology in the underwater battlespace.

The aims and objectives of this SIG include: •

Monitoring all underwater technology developments of interest and application to defence sector users.

•

Providing a forum for discussion of the modus operandi and associated ethics of technology developments.

•

Determining the legal and policy implications of new underwater technology in terms of vehicles, systems, sensors and applications.

•

Providing technology foresight reports to government, defence

contractors, armed services and other interested parties.

•

Delivering an annual seminar or showcase to an invited audience.

•

Writing papers suitable for publication in relevant journals.

•

Preparing suitable briefs for presentation at identified underwater technology conferences and exhibitions.

•

Becoming known as a forum of excellence, or ‘think tank’, for innovative underwater defence technologies.

Currently, the Australian branch does not have a Defence SIG, but would be supportive of one being created in Perth.

The group would work hand-in-hand with the UK group and members to assist in the transition towards a defence focus.

A current example is the Autonomous Marine Technology conference being planned for October 2023. This conference is expecting speakers from Defence, manufacturers, customers and government.

Making a successful transition from oil and gas to defence requires a well-planned and executed strategy, strong leadership and a commitment to investing in the right resources. There is scope within SUT to assist with that transition.

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By Toby Swingler, CEO, Centre for Entrepreneurial Research and Innovation.

INNOVATION & DISRUPTIVE TECHNOLOGY

DISRUPTIVE INNOVATION: DEVELOPING SOLUTIONS FOR DEFENCE-RELATED PROBLEMS Imagine a world without digital photography, GPS or even the internet.

Those everyday technologies have revolutionised the way we live – and often stem from disruptive innovation associated with the defence sector.

Conveniently located in one of Perth’s inner suburbs, CERI’s office is situated on Stirling Highway in Nedlands. © CERI.

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MIT REAP pointed to the Defence Innovation Initiative of the North Atlantic (DIANA) as a successful example of collaborative innovation – an example worth noting in a WA context. By partnering with start-ups and targeting both commercial application and defence needs, DIANA is fostering rapid innovation with broader societal benefits.

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TEMPLATE FOR START-UPS With military budget cuts and monetary investment in pure research dwindling, the defence sector’s role in innovation-led entrepreneurship is changing – a topic explored at the recent Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Regional Entrepreneurship Acceleration Program (REAP), where the Centre for Entrepreneurial Research and Innovation (CERI), represented WA’s innovation ecosystem.

MIT REAP pointed to the Defence Innovation Initiative of the North Atlantic (DIANA) as a successful example of collaborative innovation – an example worth noting in a WA context. By partnering with start-ups and targeting both commercial application and defence needs, DIANA is fostering rapid innovation with broader societal benefits.

For any start-up, a challenge lies in navigating the ‘valley of death’: the pitfalls of commercialisation in which start-up failure rates soar. At CERI, we often encourage start-ups to find a so-called ‘co-creating customer’, an organisation with both the budget and patience to help ‘pull’ an idea through the stages of commercialisation. DIANA provides a working

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INNOVATION & DISRUPTIVE TECHNOLOGY

Team members from Lixa, a CERI alumni start-up (L-R): Craig Ridley, Matthew Poh, Angela Fonceca, Andrew Barker, Maud Eijkenboom and Kristen Houston. © CERI.

example of defence industry as that cocreating customer, offering both resources and the incentive for future contracts to start-ups developing solutions to defencerelated problems. Added to that are the program’s specialised labs and research institutions across Europe that are driving faster commercialisation.

Start-ups often face a David vs Goliath type of battle when engaging with large corporate and institutional customers.

Intellectual property issues, contracts and payment terms are often heavily weighted against the newcomer. Through a DIANA-style start-up sandbox, it may be possible for the defence sector and startups to strike more egalitarian terms for innovation co-creation.

SUCCESS STORIES Over the past seven years, CERI has helped to educate over 600 budding entrepreneurs and led to the establishment of over 40 companies in a bid to foster WA’s high-knowledge, highvalue future industries. Over that time, several of our start-ups have fostered cocreation-style relationships with defence industry. A number of our companies have also developed products and services with potential defence applications, including those in the sensing, mental health and bio-technology sectors.

CERI alumni start-up, Sherpah, has developed wearable biometric devices

and analytics to assist military personnel and leadership in making critical decisions to enhance human performance and operational effectiveness. Their artificial intelligence models can predict degradations in sleep and provide early warning signs of mental deterioration and health issues. To complete their R&D and commercialisation work, Sherpah is actively seeking to foster relationships with defence organisations, in a move that could see their technology deployed to the benefit of military stakeholders.

Fellow CERI alumni, Lixa, is tackling the issue of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a massive global issue, considering that almost 5mn people died from AMR-related diseases in 2019. Lixa is developing a proprietary non-antibiotic, antibiofilm platform technology, applicable to human, animal and environmental health. The platform could not only help to treat defence personnel, but also may have applications in the treatment of biofouling on marine-based military assets.

Programs like DIANA may give start-ups like Sherpah and Lixa the confidence to pursue their innovation more stridently, shortening the timeframes to

“

commercialisation. More broadly, this is not only positive for the defence sector, but could also have positive flow-on effects for innovation across society. Who knows what future innovations will rival GPS and the internet, but I look forward to a world where the development of such innovations can be measured in years, rather than decades.

Over the past seven years, CERI has helped to educate over 600 budding entrepreneurs and led to the establishment of over 40 companies in a bid to foster WA’s high-knowledge, high-value future industries. Over that time, several of our start-ups have fostered cocreation-style relationships with defence industry. A number of our companies have also developed products and services with potential defence applications, including those in the sensing, mental health and biotechnology sectors.

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By Professor Gia Parish,

Director, University of Western Australia Defence & Security Institute.

ACADEMIA & UNIVERSITIES

PROF GIA PARISH: “AUKUS, AS A CAPABILITY PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THREE HISTORICALLY STRONG ALLIES OF AUSTRALIA, THE UK AND THE US, PROVIDES AN EXCITING NEW CONTEXT FOR THE ROLE OF UWA DSI” The University of Western Australia Defence & Security Institute (UWA DSI) was launched in 2021 to unify and focus UWA’s expertise in defence and security research, engagement, and education. A key role is to facilitate and enhance the ability of our researchers and educators to engage with the ADF, defence industry, government, and other universities, to deliver outcomes that collectively progress our national defence and security strategies and capabilities.

“

AUKUS, as a capability partnership between three historically strong allies of Australia, the UK and the US, provides an exciting new context for the role of UWA DSI. The Defence Strategic Review 2023 similarly highlights the critical nature of ensuring that the ADF has the right capabilities to meet the challenges of this new global era of strategic competitiveness and reduced threat timeline, as well as non-military threats such as climate change. Both open significant new opportunities for UWA DSI to deliver value in research, education and policy to Defence and defence industry.

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SIGNIFICANT NEW OPPORTUNITIES We also assist our staff with the complexities and logistics of dealing with security, foreign interference and export control obligations. Within the WA defence ecosystem we also partner with the state government and Team WA Universities, particularly via the Defence Science Centre, a member of the Australian Defence Science Universities Network, established by Defence Science and Technology Group.

The activities of UWA DSI have been especially enhanced by the Defence Strategic Program funded by a Defence Strategic Policy grant, which delivers a comprehensive program around Indo-Pacific defence and security policy. Through this program, UWA DSI has delivered numerous roundtables, public events and strategy papers over the past three years.

Most recently, we hosted roundtables with RADM Rick Seif, Commander of the US Submarine Force, and a US Congressional Staff delegation on AUKUS and industrial collaboration. Together with Perth US Asia Centre, UWA DSI has also developed a strong working relationship with the WA government in supporting delivery of major Defence events, such as the 2022 Indian Ocean Defence and Security Conference.

AUKUS, as a capability partnership between three historically strong allies of Australia, the UK and the US, provides an exciting new context for the role of UWA DSI. The Defence Strategic Review 2023 similarly highlights the critical nature of ensuring that the

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ACADEMIA & UNIVERSITIES

On 6 April, the UWA Defence and Security Institute hosted a visiting US Congressional staff delegation for a roundtable discussion chaired by Hon Kim Beazley AC, and involved 20 local business, departmental, education and military leaders from across Perth. © UWA Defence and Security Institute.

ADF has the right capabilities to meet the challenges of this new global era of strategic competitiveness and reduced threat timeline, as well as non-military threats such as climate change. Both open significant new opportunities for UWA DSI to deliver value in research, education and policy to Defence and defence industry.

AREAS OF INTEREST Key research areas identified through AUKUS Pillar II Advanced Capabilities and reinforced in the Review include cyber capabilities, artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, and additional undersea capabilities, areas in which UWA has proven capabilities and established and growing links with Defence.

As noted in the Review, the development of these critical technology areas should be prioritised in the shortest possible time. We are excited about the opportunities presented by the Australian Government’s commitment to establish

an Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator (ASCA) to see research and innovation more rapidly and effectively transferred into Defence.

Education and training is where the greatest AUKUS-related increase in government investment in the tertiary sector is going to be realised and an aligned Higher Education and Vocational Education and Training strategy is under development. For AUKUS Pillar I, building a greater STEM and trade workforce is essential for nuclear propulsion stewardship across production, sustainment, and operation.

Increase in STEM skills is also required in broader defence fields. UWA, supported by DSI, and in partnership where relevant with other universities in WA and the Go8, will work to support the WA and Commonwealth governments in strengthening ADF and defence industry personnel capabilities through microcredentials, short courses, associate degrees and articulations, as well as tweaking traditional offerings where

possible. UWA and DSI are already progressing significant but targeted initiatives in this space, such as the Associate Degree in Applied Technologies in collaboration with South Metropolitan TAFE.

COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE Australia has a long history of punching above its weight when it comes to both the international impact and excellence of its research and innovation activities, and the prosecution of global defence and security responsibilities.

Strong and mutually beneficial partnerships within and beyond our shores across academia, industry, and government are key.

With an unprecedented level of global interdependency of economic, health, environmental and societal circumstances, these partnerships are more important than ever, and UWA DSI stands ready to participate, facilitate, and progress the partnerships that we need for a strong and secure future.

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RSM: A SPECIALIST TEAM TO BOOST YOUR BUSINESS IN THE DEFENCE SECTOR

By Tom Hüberli, Principal, RSM Australia.

Obtaining work in the defence sector can be a great profit and cashflow booster for businesses in manufacturing, technology and other industries. To succeed, however, you must be able to demonstrate a strong capability to service the industry before you can land the work.

Tom Hüberli, Principal at RSM in Rockingham and Mandurah, says most businesses tend to focus solely on proving capability in terms of staff numbers. Yet winning larger scale Defence contracts requires much more groundwork.

“Ideally, you need strong systems that make it easy to evaluate your business against Department of Defence standards and quickly prove your ability to deliver. A robust accounting platform and the valuable analytics it provides can go a long way towards helping you achieve that, while giving you a strong base from which to forecast and strategise. It’s also essential for business owners who wish to operate in the defence sector to consider how they structure their business and any finance arrangements.”

Johan van den Berg, Manager of Corporate Finance at RSM, agrees. “Particularly as you grow, you will want a financially flexible capital structure with practical solutions designed to facilitate growth. An optimal capital structure not only de-risks your balance sheet – it unlocks shareholder value.”

Proper groundwork does not just mean spending money to make money. According to Simon Harcombe, Principal at RSM and a specialist in R&D tax, there are worthwhile government tax incentives and grants that can provide a significant cashflow boost for businesses in the defence sector.

“Improving Australia’s sovereign defence capability is a key goal for our government,” says Simon. “As such, there are incentives available. For example, if your business is investing in innovation and new technologies, you may be eligible for the R&D tax incentive and Early Stage Innovation Company (ESIC) status.”

“Understanding eligibility and making a successful claim comes down to the expertise of your accountant.

Working with an R&D specialist with proven experience in the defence sector will help to ensure you claim everything you’re eligible for, and that you keep the appropriate records to support your claim. Because the specialist will already speak your language, you can have a genuine conversation about your R&D activities. This is a huge time saver and makes the claim process so much simpler.”

It’s no surprise that Defence takes information security very seriously and requires every business it engages

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RSM offers a united defence industry financial and advisory service utilising a cross-section of traditionally separated services. © RSM Australia. Supplied.

with to hold those same values. Jeff Xie, Cyber Security and Privacy Risk Services at RSM, says Defence Industry Security Program (DISP) certification is not always easy to achieve, but is well worth the effort to give your business a competitive edge when tendering for Defence contracts.

“Achieving DISP accreditation requires effective cyber security controls and an optimal cyber strategy which should complement your existing operations and align with other business strategies. Done well, they will also give you greater confidence in your cybersecurity posture, which has never been more important.”

Tom, Johan, Simon and Jeff know from experience that working with business advisors and tax specialists who understand the defence industry can make a world of difference to your success in the sector.

“It’s simply about leveraging the domain experience of others,” says Tom. “Even if you’ve worked in defence for 20 years, it’s how you translate that experience in terms of running a business that has what it takes to land and deliver on important projects.”

“Working with a local firm that has an international presence, such as RSM, is also really beneficial. For example, we help our clients access trusted capital from both debt and equity markets – be they domestic or international – by utilising our global networks and established relationships in those markets.”

“Whether it’s compliance, cashflow, government grants, digital transformation, cyber security, data analytics, sustainability, mergers and acquisitions, funding, or any other aspect of running a business in the defence sector, the right team will know how to help you.” rsm.global/australia

COMMENTARY

By Anthony Weymouth,

Head – Defence, Advanced Manufacturing & Space, Austrade.

INTERNATIONAL TRADE & EXPORT

AUSTRADE: HELPING ASPIRING DEFENCE EXPORTERS TO NAVIGATE INTERNATIONAL MARKETS Global defence spending in 2022 rose to over $2tn and is set to grow by more than one-third of a trillion dollars by 2030. Increased expenditure will enable sustained or increased equipment procurement as well as research and development expenditure across Australia’s key defence export markets, including the US, Europe, the Middle East, and the Indo-Pacific.

Perth-based provider of high-performance computing, DUG Technology (DUG), is at the forefront of providing innovative hardware and software solutions that leverage large and complex data sets for the global defence, resources, research, education, and technology sectors. © DUG.

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The Team Defence Australia stand at AUSA 2022. © Austrade.

PARTNERSHIPS & OPPORTUNITIES The Australian Government supports the responsible trade of military and dual-use goods, services and technology.

It understands that a healthy defence industry in Australia cannot be sustained by the needs of the ADF alone and seeks to assist Australian defence industry to enter, navigate and succeed in international markets.

Australia’s partnerships will also offer new opportunities. The AUKUS partnership with the US and the UK will provide opportunities across cyber, AI, quantum computing and undersea technology capabilities. Likewise, the Quad grouping, with the US, India and Japan, is working across dual-use technology areas in which innovative Australian companies have already demonstrated solutions.

Underpinning those global trends is the Australian Government’s commitment to modernising Australia’s defence capability, securing the nation while strengthening its sovereign defence industry. Australian companies that

“

Austrade’s partnership with the Australian Defence Export Office helps Australian companies to navigate the obstacles to export success.

Market exposure and entry are critical first steps and the badge of government can help.

provide novel offerings in niche defence industry sectors in which Australia is a global leader – AI, autonomous systems, robotics and Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance and Electronic Warfare (ISREW) are good examples – continue to succeed in global markets.

EXPORTER SUPPORT Austrade recognises that pursuing defence exports is complex, with high barriers to entry. Overseas procurement processes can be protracted and nontransparent, and integrity risks remain a challenge in some markets. There is also a high regulatory burden at home and offshore; appropriate given the nature of the dual-use goods, services and technology. Formal offset policies that mandate local content in many countries can also limit opportunities.

Austrade’s partnership with the Australian Defence Export Office helps Australian companies to navigate the obstacles to export success. Market exposure and entry are critical first steps and the badge of government can help.

Team Defence Australia, part of the Australian Defence Export Office, is the national platform showcasing Australian defence and dual-use company capabilities at international trade events. Austrade can provide extensive support for businesses at international trade events, matching businesses with international customers and partners in the public and private sectors.

In 2022, Team Defence Australia helped WA-based company DUG diversify its offerings into the defence sector. DUG designs, builds, owns and runs some of the fastest and greenest supercomputers in the world. The

company is at the forefront of highperformance computing with a strong foundation in applied physics enabling cloud-based software and hardware solutions, multi-tiered support for technology onboarding and code optimisation, and integrated geoscience services.

Austrade has supported DUG by working with Team Defence Australia to introduce DUG in the European and US space and defence markets, providing business matching and market intelligence support. DUG has participated in Team Defence Australiasupported international events this last year, including the Farnborough International Air Show in the UK, the International Astronautical Congress in France and the Association of the US Army Conference and Exposition in the United States.

Austrade’s network of eight defence and security directors, strategically placed around the globe, is an important resource for Australian defence companies seeking export success.

These directors are industry and market experts who provide practical advice and support, and are based in Indonesia, Japan, Singapore, the EU, United Arab Emirates, the UK and the US. They are working hard to assist Australian business in-market, determining market opportunities and communicating regular market insights and opportunities.

Hence, Austrade is well-equipped to empower Australian defence and dualuse companies to achieve growth and welcomes your interest in working with us.

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Western Australia offers the world a unique set of strengths and capabilities.

Energy

Tourism, International Defence Mining and Space Health and Primary events and education industries METS industries medical life industries creative sciences company is at the forefront of highprovide novel offerings in niche defence industries PARTNERSHIPS & OPPORTUNITIES The Team Defence Australia stand at AUSA 2022. © Austrade.

The Australian Government supports the responsible trade of military and dual-use goods, services and technology.

It understands that a healthy defence industry in Australia cannot be sustained by the needs of the ADF alone and seeks to assist Australian defence industry to enter, navigate and succeed in international markets.

Australia’s partnerships will also offer new opportunities. The AUKUS partnership with the US and the UK will provide opportunities across cyber, AI, quantum computing and undersea technology capabilities. Likewise, the Quad grouping, with the US, India and Japan, is working across dual-use technology areas in which innovative Australian companies have already demonstrated solutions.

Underpinning those global trends is the Australian Government’s commitment to modernising Australia’s defence capability, securing the nation while strengthening its sovereign defence industry. Australian companies that

industry sectors in which Australia is a global leader – AI, autonomous systems, robotics and Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance and Electronic Warfare (ISREW) are good examples – continue to succeed in global markets.

EXPORTER SUPPORT Austrade recognises that pursuing defence exports is complex, with high barriers to entry. Overseas procurement processes can be protracted and nontransparent, and integrity risks remain a challenge in some markets. There is also a high regulatory burden at home and offshore; appropriate given the nature of the dual-use goods, services and technology. Formal offset policies that mandate local content in many countries can also limit opportunities.

Austrade’s partnership with the Australian Defence Export Office helps Australian companies to navigate the obstacles to export success. Market exposure and entry are critical first steps and the badge of government can help.

Team Defence Australia, part of the Australian Defence Export Office, is the national platform showcasing Australian defence and dual-use company capabilities at international trade events. Austrade can provide extensive support for businesses at international trade events, matching businesses with international customers and partners in the public and private sectors.

performance computing with a strong foundation in applied physics enabling cloud-based software and hardware solutions, multi-tiered support for technology onboarding and code optimisation, and integrated geoscience services.

Austrade has supported DUG by working with Team Defence Australia to introduce DUG in the European and US space and defence markets, providing business matching and market intelligence support. DUG has participated in Team Defence Australiasupported international events this last year, including the Farnborough International Air Show in the UK, the International Astronautical Congress in France and the Association of the US Army Conference and Exposition in the United States.

Austrade’s network of eight defence and security directors, strategically placed around the globe, is an important resource for Australian defence companies seeking export success.

These directors are industry and market experts who provide practical advice and support, and are based in Indonesia, Japan, Singapore, the EU, United Arab Emirates, the UK and the US. They are working hard to assist Australian business in-market, determining market opportunities and communicating regular market insights and opportunities.

Hence, Austrade is well-equipped to empower Australian defence and dualuse companies to achieve growth and welcomes your interest in working with us.

Western Australia is forging a dynamic future from a position of economic strength.

“

Our innovative mindset has sparked cutting-edge products and technologies.

Austrade’s partnership with

the Australian Defence Sharing a time zone with over half of the world’s Export Office helps population, it isAustralian easy to invest in, buy from, travel navigate the in our great state. to, companies work intoand study

In 2022, Team Defence Australia obstacles to export success. helped WA-basedNo company DUG Western Australia Like Other. diversify its offerings into the defence Market exposure and entry - It’s sector. DUG designs, builds, owns and are critical first steps and View a snapshot ofthe our WA sectors runs some of the fastest and greenest supercomputers in the world. The badge of government can help. investandtrade.wa.gov.au

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COMMENTARY

By Andrew Perkins,

National Defence Sector Lead, Export Finance Australia.

INTERNATIONAL TRADE & EXPORT

EXPORT FINANCE AUSTRALIA: FACILITATING DEFENCE INDUSTRY MARKET ACCESS OVERSEAS Government and industry have long recognised the importance of building Australia’s sovereign industrial capability in the defence sector and that defence exports play a key role in delivering on the government’s plans to build our capabilities.

Export Finance Australia supported Austal with the export of two Cape-class patrol boats to the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. Seen here at the Austal Henderson shipyard handover ceremony in May 2021, Austal CEO Paddy Gregg and a senior representative of the Trinidad and Tobago Coastguard sign the certificate of transfer for the newly built vessels. © WA DEFENCE REVIEW. Photographer: Serge DeSilva-Ranasinghe.

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OVERSEAS COMPETITIVENESS A vital step to ensuring our competitiveness overseas, and one of the key challenges to building sovereign capability and increasing defence exports, is scale. The Australian defence industry will need to see many SMEs increase their scale to support the delivery of those plans.

While the benefits to business of scaling up are well known, such as lowering unit costs, reaching new customers and the potential for greater levels of innovation, it does not come without challenges.

Financing a scale-up is one of the most significant challenges faced by businesses in the defence sector.

At Export Finance Australia, supporting SMEs to grow is the core of what we do. We have been providing finance to help Australian businesses export and increase scale for over 65 years. We also have experience in the defence export sector, supporting business of all sizes, from SMEs to large corporates, and playing an important role in delivering the Defence Export Strategy.

Our unique position in the market as Australia’s export credit agency means that we can provide finance support that other financiers cannot. Our process for assessing a finance application, particularly for SMEs, demonstrates our ability to take on more risk and support the scaling up of a business.

Any business looking to scale-up must have the capability to do so. A business must have a product or service that meets a specific customer need and must be able to produce it efficiently. During our assessment process, we complete a detailed technical assessment of the business and, importantly, its capability. That assessment allows us to better understand the business and support it to scale-up.

AUGMENTING GROWTH Working alongside Austrade, the Australian Defence Export Office and other agencies, we contribute to the government’s Defence Export Strategy by administering the US$3bn Defence Export Facility.

One of the ways we support Australian defence businesses is by helping to make the purchase of Australian defence products and services more attractive by funding foreign buyers of Australian defence exports. When WA-based shipbuilder Austal was pursuing a deal with the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, the Australian Government approved an $80mn loan through the Defence Export Facility. That helped to secure a $126mn contract for two Cape-class Patrol Boats.

Our support for the sector is continuing to grow.

In addition to buyer finance and finance to support export growth, we can also provide finance to SMEs to help them enter the supply chains of major international prime contractors and participate in vital defence projects. Advanced Navigation, a global leader in AI-based navigation solutions and robotics, is an example of an Australian business we have supported. We provided a $3.35mn loan to Advanced

INTERNATIONAL TRADE & EXPORT

“

Our support for the sector is continuing to grow. In addition to buyer finance and finance to support export growth, we can also provide finance to SMEs to help them enter the supply chains of major international prime contractors and participate in vital defence projects. Advanced Navigation, a global leader in AI-based navigation solutions and robotics, is an example of an Australian business we have supported. We provided a $3.35mn loan to Advanced Navigation to enter the supply chain of a major international prime contractor.

Navigation to enter the supply chain of a major international prime contractor.

We also recognise the importance of Australianbased contracts to building Australia’s defence export industry and can consider a wide range of projects where there is an export link, including facility and infrastructure projects.

LOCAL MARKET EXPERTISE As the defence sector lead at Export Finance Australia, I oversee defence-related transactions and our WA-based team provides local market expertise.

Together, we take the time to get to know and understand suppliers’ capabilities.

We understand the unique needs and finance challenges faced by businesses operating in the defence sector. Our support can cover costs associated with long lead times to prepare for a contract, working capital for a specific order, increasing the size of your company’s operations or even investing offshore, where you need to be closer to your end customer.

Not only can we support direct exports and export supply chain transactions, we can also provide finance for domestic contracts that may lead to future exports.

Our team is experienced in the sector and committed to helping build Australia’s defence capabilities. If you would like to learn more about how we could support your business, reach out to us to discuss your finance needs today.

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By Dr Gabriele Maluga,

Director & Company Secretary, Janssen + Maluga Legal.

JML: BRINGING INTERNATIONAL LEGAL EXPERIENCE TO DEFENCE INDUSTRY AND VETERANS’ AFFAIRS With last year marking 70 years of diplomatic relations between Australia and the Federal Republic of Germany, the enduring friendship between the two countries and changing world order means that now is the ideal time to speak about a partnership in defence. Looking generally at the European Union’s new orientation towards the Indo-Pacific region, and specifically at the ongoing negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement between the EU and Australia, through its implementation of the Indo-Pacific Policy Guidelines, Germany is putting words into action and transferring those values into regular practice.

The German and Australian defence industries are actively working to reinforce their joint defence efforts. To support the implementation of that combined approach, JML offers its services as the ideal legal partner. As a German-Australian law firm, with lawyers admitted to practise in both jurisdictions, we have the experience and expertise to manage such cross-border matters.

JML’s interest in moving further into the Australian defence industry and veterans’ affairs market is based on our 27 years of legal experience with German and international companies, a depth of experience that was brought with us when we opened our JML Perth office in 2009. As the Honorary Consul for the Federal Republic of Germany in WA, Dr Maluga has forged closer and more regular contact with individuals and corporations across the defence industry and veterans’ affairs. The potential of such significant multilateral engagements as Exercises Pitch Black and Kakadu, as well as the participation of one of the Luftwaffe’s A400Ms in the 2023 Avalon Airshow, confirms that there is a market, and need, for our specialised services.

Our strength comes from combined expertise in international contract matters and tender projects.

Dr Maluga and Professor Dr Janssen both have vast experience as chief executive officers in the German stainless-steel market and a waste-toenergy company respectively, providing them with broader perspectives beyond a lawyer’s knowledge in identifying the specific needs of, and providing the tailored advice sought by, businesses in the market. In practical terms, it means that we are able to actively assist with contractual law in tender processes and the establishment of businesses and networks in Australia. A deep understanding of both the legal and business approaches to the market makes bilateral and multilateral projects our firm’s strength.

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Admitted to practise in both Germany and Australia, Professor Dr Gerhard Janssen brings a wealth of international commercial and academic experience to JML’s Perth legal services. © Janssen + Maluga Legal. Supplied.

We are, however, not limited to acting in corporate capacities. Both Professor Dr Janssen and Dr Maluga have been working with veterans since 2000, initially by offering services in Germany and the EU to veterans who had been affected by personal injuries and issues that were, at the time, not readily identified or assisted within existing frameworks. JML has a depth of experience as personal injury lawyers and is at the forefront of successful representation in Australia, the UK, US and Germany. Such work is not only part of our firm’s work in an ethical sense; it has, since 2000, also been a key element of us providing pro-bono assistance to current and former service-people to facilitate their access to legal services.

An active understanding of the market is essential in providing the particular legal advice required in the fields of defence industry and veterans’ affairs. In recent years, for instance, the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide has confirmed a growing awareness of defence and veterans’ issues. As the need for international cooperation continues to grow, with our vast experience in international markets, JML’s services enable individuals, as well as national and international corporations operating in Australia, to realise their full potential.

janssen-maluga.com.au

Janssen + Maluga Legal Perth/Australia • Düsseldorf/Germany

Navigating Defence Law & Veteran Affairs

Janssen + Maluga Legal is a GermanAustralian law firm based in Perth, Western Australia.

We are a traditional service provider of comprehensive legal advice, with a particular emphasis on judicial, commercial and defence aspects.

You, our Client, are our priority.

We support you with more than 25 years of international experience in the legal sector.

Our lawyers are admitted to practice law in Germany and Australia. The team’s main practice areas include (international) commercial law, (international) contract law, tenders and competition law, and (international) criminal law.

Our client base includes individuals and companies from the business, banking, insurance as well as the defence sectors.

We have established a global network of experts over the past decades who complement our team efforts.

Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation 22 Stirling Highway, Suite 4, Level 2, Nedlands WA 6009, Australia Phone: +61 (08) 9322 8107 | Fax: +61 (08) 9322 8109 | Email: lawyers@janssen-maluga.com.au

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DEFENCE & INDIGENOUS ENGAGEMENT

Navy Indigenous Advisor, Royal Australian Navy.

DEFENCE AND INDIGENOUS ENGAGEMENT: BUILDING PERMANENT RELATIONSHIPS BASED ON MUTUAL RESPECT AND LONG-TERM OUTCOMES

* Disclaimer: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples should be aware that this article may contain images and names of deceased persons in photographs and printed material.

Some material may also contain terms and views that reflect that of the writers/ cast or attitudes at the time materials were produced.

Defence’s efforts to attract, recruit and retain Indigenous employees has made progress in recent years. One of the crucial aspects of Defence’s Indigenous initiatives is the guidance and leadership provided by dedicated Indigenous advisors or teams. Defence has formed partnerships with Reconciliation Australia and established Defence Reconciliation Action Plans (RAPs) with agreed deliverables. The RAPs are endorsed by senior leadership and overseen by dedicated leads in the Indigenous space. This clear leadership structure has been instrumental in the success of Defence’s Indigenous initiatives and its contribution to the Australian Government’s Closing the Gap framework.

By LCDR Sam Sheppard,

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An Australian Army soldier from Charlie ‘Sarpeye’ Company, 51 FNQR dressed in traditional Torres Strait Islander attire and a ceremonial headdress known as a ‘Dhari’ for the Torres Strait Island Light Infantry Battalion 80th anniversary ceremony held at Thursday Island, QLD. © Department of Defence.

Photographer: LSIS Leo Baumgartner.

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DEFENCE & INDIGENOUS ENGAGEMENT

In March 2023, Officer Commanding Charlie ‘Sarpeye’ Company, 51 Far North Queensland Regiment (51 FNQR), MAJ Chris Freeman led the ADF contingent at the 80th anniversary ceremony for the founding of the Torres Strait Island Light Infantry Battalion held at Thursday Island, QLD. The Sarpeye Company was joined by Royal Australian Navy Cadets, veterans, civilian organisations, local Indigenous elders and dignitaries. Chief of Army, LTGEN Simon Stuart AO DSC, attended the parade as Reviewing Officer. © Department of Defence. Photographer: LSIS Leo Baumgartner.

ROLE OF ELDERS & NETWORKS In the ADF, Elders play a crucial role in providing cultural support and guidance to Indigenous personnel. Over the past decade, the army and air force have each appointed Indigenous Elders. Uncles Roy Mundine and Harry Allie were the inaugural First Nations representatives in the army and the air force, respectively, and were succeeded by Aunties Lorraine Hatton and Deb Booker. The navy has established a hybrid model with a Navy Indigenous Advisor position and a Senior Navy Indigenous Member to fulfil the role of the Service Elder.

In addition to these high-level positions, Defence has also established dedicated networks to provide support to Indigenous members and help bridge the gap between Defence and Indigenous communities.

The army has its Indigenous Cultural Advisory Board (AICAB), which consists of members from junior enlisted ranks to the Army Elder and a vast Liaison Officer organisation. The air force has the Air Force Indigenous Leadership Circle (AILC) and has appointed a network of 11 Indigenous Liaison Officers, a Senior

ILO and a WOFF Indigenous Affairs. In the navy, a Diversity Reference Group has been established to support Indigenous members and provide cultural guidance, along with Regional Indigenous Development Coordinators (RIDCs) in each major establishment.

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The ADF’s journey in supporting and increasing its Indigenous workforce is ongoing, and the changes made thus far are aiming to move the current representation of around 3% across Defence towards the Australian Government’s target of 5% by 2025.

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Defence has an opportunity to increase its flexibility in managing Indigenous members, particularly those who have entered Defence on a dedicated Indigenous pathway.

There is a need to open up greater opportunities for Indigenous members to contribute to Defence, whether that be a change of category or a bespoke pathway to commissioning. It would help to increase the representation of Indigenous people in the ADF, which currently stands at around 3%.

Regional Force Surveillance Units (RSFUs) play an integral role supporting Operation Resolute. Seen here, soldiers from NORFORCE on board a Zodiac boat conduct a long-range patrol on Katers Island off WA’s remote Kimberley littoral. The patrols searched the islands for foreign fishing vessels and evidence of illegal activities by conducting foot patrols, water patrols, observation posts, and information gathering. © Department of Defence. Photographer: SGT Jarrod McAneney.

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DEFENCE & INDIGENOUS ENGAGEMENT

The presence of Elders and dedicated networks within Defence helps to ensure that Indigenous members receive the support and guidance they need, particularly during their transition from civilian life into uniform. The Elders provide cultural support at varying levels of Defence, from the Service Elder to unit level, and are involved in programs such as the Navy Indigenous Development Program (NIDP) in Cairns and the Army Indigenous Development Program (AIDP), and the Indigenous Pre-

Recruit Programs held in Kapooka and Wagga Wagga.

BRIDGING THE GAP The ADF recognises the importance of building strong, permanent relationships with Indigenous communities. To achieve that goal, services have an Indigenous Liaison Officer (ILO) stationed in areas where Defence has a major unit or establishment. This provides a consistent point of contact for the community and helps to bridge the gap between Defence

On 27 May 2022, past and present Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ADF members stand together after the unveiling of a dedicated Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander memorial at Anzac Square in Brisbane. The unveiling event was held by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Dedicated Memorial Queensland Incorporated (ATSIDMQI). © Department of Defence. Photographer: CPL Dustin Anderson.

and the community. The ILOs play a key role in ensuring that the community is well-informed about Defence activities, and that Defence events are culturally appropriate and community-led.

One key point of feedback received from Indigenous communities was the frustration of not being able to find a consistent point of contact for Defence, and the loss of relationships when posting cycles occur. The local ILOs also provide Defence with the ability to provide

COMMENTARY

short- notice, culturally appropriate, and community-led information. This relationship is crucial for the ADF in incorporating local languages and ceremony into significant events and major exercises.

Defence has an opportunity to increase its flexibility in managing Indigenous members, particularly those who have entered Defence on a dedicated Indigenous pathway. There is a need to open up greater opportunities

DEFENCE & INDIGENOUS ENGAGEMENT

for Indigenous members to contribute to Defence, whether that be a change of category or a bespoke pathway to commissioning. It would help to increase the representation of Indigenous people in the ADF, which currently stands at around 3%.

INDUSTRY ENGAGEMENT Australian defence industry also presents opportunities for veterans, including Indigenous veterans. Many businesses could benefit from the skill

sets that veterans bring, as often they have built their workplace cultures on values that align with those of Defence.

My observation is that, while Defence members from technical roles have a clear equivalence in defence industry, more could be done to align those from combat roles with potential career paths in defence industry.

The ADF’s journey in supporting and increasing its Indigenous workforce is ongoing, and the changes made

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thus far are aiming to move the current representation of around 3% across Defence towards the Australian Government’s target of 5% by 2025.

While many defence industry businesses may not have the number of people or resources to replicate what Defence has done, many of the underlying principles

RAAF Senior Indigenous Liaison Officer, WGCDR Jonathan Lilley conducts a smoking ceremony at the opening of the new south gate at RAAF Base Williamtown. Held during NAIDOC week in July 2019), Worimi Elders joined with RAAF Base Williamtown personnel to officially open the newly completed South Gate at RAAF Base Williamtown. © Department of Defence. Photographer: CPL Craig Barrett.

of respect, consultation, availability and relationship building can be scaled to match the size of the business. These core themes will best demonstrate the intent and culture of a workplace to support Indigenous employees and to build permanent relationships based on mutual respect and long-term outcomes.

The Australian and Australian Aboriginal flags are parachuted over Cessnock airfield in New South Wales, as aerobatic pilot Paul Bennet impresses crowds with his aircraft at the Hunter Valley Airshow in March 2023. © Department of Defence.

Photographer: SGT Glen McCarthy.

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COMMENTARY

By Rohan Green, Chair, Henderson Alliance.

POLICY & ADVOCACY

DEFENCE READY: WEST AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRY POSITIONED FOR AUKUS OPPORTUNITIES The landscape for Australian defence industries has certainly received a major upswing over the past 18 months, especially with the new AUKUS alliance now dominating the Indo-Pacific strategic landscape.

Henderson Alliance President, Rohan Green, was invited to participate as a Discussant for WA DEFENCE REVIEW’s 4th Strategy, Defence & Industry Dialogue, focusing on the ‘Future Of Australia And The Indian Ocean Region: Shared Economic And Security Interests’ held on 23 March 2023 at the City of Cockburn Administration Building. © WA DEFENCE REVIEW. Photographer: David Nicolson.

IMPLICATIONS & OPPORTUNITIES Now that the outcomes of the Defence Strategic Review 2023 have come to light we can develop a clearer understanding of its implications and opportunities for WA. Clearly the previous national pipeline of construction and sustainment opportunities will face wholesale changes, so significant adjustments in approach will soon be required in every jurisdiction across the nation. However, we do not want to see any reduction in commitment towards local sovereign capability as a result, this is the time

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the Commonwealth Government must knuckle down and insist upon IP transfers and local SME involvement as a core economic driver.

Already we have seen a complete turnaround in approach towards submarines and unfortunately it is now clear that the new nuclear-powered submarines will not be in service before 2040. The Collins-class submarines with a Full Cycle Docking sustainment program was already stretching their shelf-life into the 2030s to allow the previous French-designed replacements to be introduced, however the strategic

changes will now place significant pressure upon this capability pipeline.

Some pundits claim there will need to be an interim locally constructed nonnuclear conventional option developed to ensure the defence inventory is adequate for the transition period. Conversely, it appears more likely now that working submarines will be acquired from overseas or other technologies developed with long-range aircraft, warships and missiles to cover the critically important role of submarines. There are many considerations at play.

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WA has an amazing array of unique skills from the energy, mining and oil & gas sectors which are potentially transferable to defence industry – and these should be actively sought out by government to inject additional world-leading engineering and technology skills into the national defence industry.

UNIQUE INDUSTRIAL CAPABILITY One thing is for sure, the nature of defence construction, acquisition and sustainment is going to change markedly, which will create major opportunities for WA’s defence sector, particularly for SMEs which are our lifeblood. WA has an amazing array of unique skills from the energy, mining and oil & gas sectors

which are potentially transferable to defence industry – and these should be actively sought out by government to inject additional world-leading engineering and technology skills into the national defence industry.

As part of the next stages of review Australia should be looking at the unique industrial capability profiles of each state and then planning many of the programs around them. This is what the Henderson Alliance has been vigorously advocating since its inception over seven years ago.

For instance, it is well known that Adelaide hasn’t got the necessary human resources and capabilities required to build and sustain the submarines, frigates and AWD upgrades they have been allocated, so it makes abundant sense for interstate SMEs with specialist capabilities to come in and deliver services at key times.

Our preference would be for some of the platforms to be relocated west as our industrial ecosystem can certainly support an expansion.

POLICY & ADVOCACY

MAXIMISING OUTCOMES Certainly, the SMEs in WA are ready to participate with equipment, technology, systems and service supplies for interstate platform builds and this will later deliver enormous benefits to defence industry.

This is particularly apparent if the sustainment is conducted latterly in Henderson by those that undertook the specialist engineering and construction works in the first place.

Change always creates a well-spring of opportunities and in WA we are poised to seize any prospective avenues to open more defence industry opportunities on the west coast. The rich heritage we have developed with SMEs delivering world-class services across a wide diversity of industries stands ready to be put to good effect.

This way there is every chance that Defence can start to shake off its ‘nuisance tag’ of being unable to develop quality products on-time and on-budget.

It’s simply a matter of making the best use of the resources in the national kit bag and WA has a whole lot to offer. What WA defence industries needs now is certainty.

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PREPARING THE NEXT GENERATION FOR NONTRADITIONAL STEM JOBS

By Cherish McNamara,

Chair, Women in Aviation (WA Chapter) & Advocate – Women in STEM,

WA DEFENCE REVIEW

Science. Technology. Engineering. Mathematics. STEM. In today’s world, these words are all well-known and understood. We also know there is a big push to get more students involved in the traditional STEM subjects, but there are also many careers, military specialty roles and non-traditional STEM jobs right in front of us. Which ones can you think of?

YOUTHFUL UNCERTAINTY As a former US Air Force Pilot, I was trained in all aspects of flying, from theory-heavy subjects such as aerodynamics and meteorology to the more practical and hands-on ‘subjects’ like formation flying and airdrop, to name just a few. While I was in the middle of that jam-packed year-long training course, I didn’t stop to think that what I was learning would be considered as STEM. For me, at the time, it was all wrapped up in a box as ‘Pilot Training’ with a pretty bow on top.

I am a huge fan of STEM (or STEAM, or any version of STEM). I think that the more that children are exposed to career options, the better. You see, when

I was growing up, back in the 1980s (yes, I was born and raised back in the 20th century), whenever I was tasked with writing, presenting, drawing/etc on the topic of ‘what do you want to be when you grow up’, I never truly knew. My exposure to ‘careers’ was what my parents did for a job, and what my friends’ parents did. Back in those days, there were still the ‘traditional’ male/female roles, although it was starting to change… slightly. We had the first women astronauts and Supreme Court judges, but the military, however, still had a ‘no females in combat’ rule in place.

AIR SHOW EPIPHANY As I continued through my school-age years and into high school, the Gulf War kicked off. I would

In May 2022, Cherish McNamara delivered a speech about her career as a pilot in the US Air Force to a female student audience at a Techtrails event hosted by Women in Technology in WA (WiTWA), which aims to inspire the next generation of girls to take up STEM-related careers. © Cherish McNamara.

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On 28 June 2021, then Commanding Officer of Australian Clearance Diving Team - Four (AUCDT4) LCDR Fletcher Wall, members from AUCDT4 and VIP guests gathered at Anzac House in Perth for an event to raise awareness of the Navy Clearance Diver Trust. The Trust is aimed at supporting past and present Australian Clearance Divers and their families in times of need. Seem here, veteran panellist and former US Air Force aviator (second left) Cherish McNamara addresses questions from the audience. © Department of Defence. Photographer: LSIS Ronnie Baltoft.

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To me, aviation and STEM are completely intertwined. It may not be ‘traditional’ STEM, but the sciences, technology, engineering and maths are all encompassed in that wonderful industry, military or civilian. I think you would be hard-pressed to convince me, or anyone else, otherwise. So, I leave you with this thought: what non-traditional STEM careers do you know of, and how can we get kids excited about them?

sit in front of my TV, mesmerised by what I was watching and confused as to why we would carry on as normal, when there was a war going on. I still remember writing an English assignment on that fact, and that is when I learned that my English teacher was a veteran! It was also a time when I went to my first air show and saw military aircraft flying above me: that was my turning point.

Up until that point, I would answer the question of ‘what do you want to be when you grow up’ with some made-up job. I really had no idea, but I also was a good student and wanted to pass, so the careers were traditional ‘female’ roles. The air show changed my life, however, as I had an ‘a-ha’ moment that day.

After seeing the aircraft flying above, hearing the sounds, smelling the jet fuel and feeling the sheer power of what those aircraft could do, I knew that was what I wanted to do. I had

been exposed to something I had never seen (or heard, felt and smelled) before.

It lit the passion inside me and it wasn’t a little flame, it was a massive bonfire!

THE NEXT GENERATION When I look back at that moment, and the path I went down since, I now realise that it was that exposure that had me hook, line and sinker. Now that I am well past those years and have children of my own, I wonder how I can light that fire in the next generation.

To me, aviation and STEM are completely intertwined. It may not be ‘traditional’ STEM, but the sciences, technology, engineering and maths are all encompassed in that wonderful industry, military or civilian. I think you would be hard-pressed to convince me, or anyone else, otherwise. So, I leave you with this thought: what non-traditional STEM careers do you know of, and how can we get kids excited about them?

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AIDN: LOCAL DEFENCE INDUSTRY INTEGRAL TO ERA OF SIGNIFICANT CHANGE

By Brent Clark,

CEO, Australian Industry & Defence Network.

Industry awaits the release of the Defence Strategic Review 2023 following the Australian Government’s announcement on the way forward for the acquisition of the nuclear submarine. Both AUKUS and the Review will serve to inform the government as to the future structure of the ADF. The future structure of the ADF can only mean significant change and, in particular, for Australian industry.

SOVEREIGN DEFENCE While we understand how the Government intends to acquire a nuclear submarine, we still have no way of knowing exactly what advice the Review will provide. What we do know is that the role of Australian industry must be considered by both reviews, and that if

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Australian industry will need to be proactive in its approaches to the outcomes of the Review. The need to upskill the workforce, to invest in plant and machinery, and to be able to provide professional services to multiple parties requires considerable planning. AIDN will work with the government to ensure that such investment is recognised, and that Australian industry is rewarded for its investments of time, effort and cash. We cannot accept any outcome that does not include the meaningful involvement of our local industry.

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they fail to assess the impact on Australia’s sovereign industrial capacity, they are deficient. Australia cannot embark on a reshaping of its national defence strategy without a strong and vibrant indigenous industrial capability. To do so would be a folly, as every other tier one nation has a robust sovereign defence capability.

Our allies have ensured that they have sovereign capability to ensure that they are not held hostage by the whims of foreign-owned entities and governments.

That is not to say that Australia should not be working with our allies and their home-grown industries. Indeed, Australia will need the assistance of our allies and their industrial might to strengthen our own capability.

Without access to the required intellectual property and the technical know-how and know-why guaranteed by appropriate commercial arrangements, Australian industry may well struggle to compete for meaningful workshare on such Defence programs.

AIDN has often said that the Review and AUKUS arrangements should not simply be export opportunities for overseas entities. Rather, they are an opportunity for Australia to strengthen its industrial base. They also offer the opportunity for Australia to negotiate for inclusion in multinational supply chains to help ensure a self-sustaining Australian industrial base.

The supply chains of many of our allies are under ever-increasing strain, so the advantage of creating a supply base within Australia cannot be underestimated. Having multiple supply chains serves to bolster the collective security of Australia and its allies.

Our geopolitical environment remains complex and tense. It is hardly likely that that it will change in the foreseeable future. For Australia and its allies to maintain a position of relative strength, there can be no time when a supply chain is unable to deliver a product. The only way to achieve security and robustness of supply is to have multiple companies capable of supplying into multiple programs. That allows for competitiveness, research and development activities, economic growth and the upskilling and training of workforces to meet the challenges that the next decade will inevitably bring us.

SEISMIC OPPORTUNITIES Australian industry will also have obligations to ensure that IT security, cyber security, and the protection of all data is 100% guaranteed. It is vital that Australian industry starts the process for that protection now as – it will be a fundamental requirement for any activities. If Australian industry does not meet the requirements for data security, it will effectively be excluding itself from those programs.

Australian industry will need to be proactive in its approaches to the outcomes of the Review. The need to upskill the workforce, to invest in plant and machinery, and to be able to provide professional services to multiple parties requires considerable planning. AIDN will work with the government to ensure that such investment is recognised, and that Australian industry is rewarded for its investments of time, effort and cash. We cannot accept any outcome that does not include the meaningful involvement of our local industry.

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The opportunities that these activities can bring are potentially seismic in nature.

Equally, however, without a genuine effort from all parties to include Australian industry they could reduce this country’s self-reliance and send it down a path of having to rely upon the goodwill of overseas entities.

Given that we have not yet even considered the economic benefits of ensuring that as much activity as is possible is done domestically, we need to be careful not to look at this merely through the lens of an urgency to acquire equipment – which many commentators will be, and are, calling for. To do so is disingenuous to the Australian people and denies the often-heard claim of Australian industry being a fundamental input to capability.

AIDN will thus be working closely with the government, Defence, prime contractors and our membership to ensure that all parties are aligned and working towards a common purpose.

AIDN CEO, Brent Clark, responds to questions from the media at the inaugural AIDN Policy Symposium & Sovereign Showcase event at Parliament House, Canberra, in November 2022. © AIDN.

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COMMENTARY

By Hon Matt Keogh MP,

Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel, Australian Government.

VETERANS’ AFFAIRS

HON MATT KEOGH: “WE ARE COMMITTED TO A DEFENCE AND VETERANS’ FAMILY SUPPORT STRATEGY TO DESIGN BETTER POSTING CYCLES, HOUSING SOLUTIONS AND TRANSITION SERVICES” It is a huge honour to serve as Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel. As an Albanese government minister from Western Australia, I am proud to continue to work with WA DEFENCE REVIEW to shine a light on the strategic importance of our great state to our nation’s defence.

DEBT OF GRATITUDE

SUPPORTING PERSONNEL & FAMILIES

When a person enlists in the ADF, they undertake a commitment to our country and may be placing their health and wellbeing on the line in service to our nation. Families join them on that journey, too. Australians owe a debt of gratitude to our ADF personnel, veterans and families. Thanks to the most recent census results, we know there are over 581,000 people who have served, or are serving, our nation.

Our government is working to make a career in Defence something that more people want to strive for, and to make the employment package more appealing. We want to see people living a story worth telling. That is why we are committed to a Defence and veterans’ family support strategy to design better posting cycles, housing solutions and transition services.

The 2020 Defence Strategic Update rightly observed that, while previous Defence planning had assumed a 10-year strategic warning time for a military threat against Australia, that is no longer an appropriate basis for Defence planning. This government is absolutely committed to making sure our strategic posture is fit for purpose, which is why the Defence Strategic Review 2023 was announced within our first 100 days in government. The Review has since been released and sets the agenda for ambitious, but necessary, reform to Defence’s posture and structure. Central to that are our people. Our personnel are our most important capability.

When a person signs up for a life in the ADF, their family signs up with them. We are focused on making sure both personnel and families have the best experiences in Defence that they possibly can, and are working with Defence to introduce new initiatives that will make the lives of personnel better. They include: (a) Expanding the eligibility for Defence housing; (b) Improving and increasing access to educational opportunities; (c) Growing the ADF Family Health Benefit; (d) Improving the current ADF Higher Duties Allowance policy; (e) Simplifying the travel allowance process; and (f) A new ‘Continuation Bonus’ to encourage retention in the ADF.

The challenges in recruiting, retaining and growing the Defence workforce are clear and present. Here in WA, we are home to the nation’s biggest naval base but, for many West Aussies, that is where their knowledge of Defence begins and ends. It is incumbent on all of us to change that.

It is our duty to support personnel and families while they are in the ADF and, after they transition to civilian life, to enable them to continue their commitment to service in different ways. Quite simply, our objective is to deliver a better future for everyone in the broader veterans’ community. I am determined to make sure we deliver the services and support that our Defence personnel, veterans and families not only need, but deserve.

We need to drastically scale-up our recruitment and retention efforts, needing to recruit more than 18,000 people by 2040 to meet our strategic requirements.

We need to dispel any mystery surrounding a career in Defence, innovating to compete and attract new skills, not just for personnel in the field, but in intelligence, space, cyber and advanced networking. That is not just about getting young people to sign on the dotted line.

It is about making the employment offering better.

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Members of the veteran community have had very different experiences of service and post-service life.

Not everyone requires support, but those who do often have specific, individual requirements. That means the kind of support they receive must be tailored accordingly, without leaving anyone behind. As a

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abolished the public service staffing cap, which has prevented DVA from hiring and retaining more well-trained permanent staff to process claims faster.

The claims backlog is now coming down.

VETERAN HEALTH Meanwhile, this government is acutely aware of the national tragedy that is Defence and veteran suicide. We have listened to the families of veterans and supported their calls for the Royal Commission. We have an obligation to ensure that all our personnel are kept safe, here and abroad, both mentally and physically. The same goes for when they come home.

I don’t shy away from the fact that we have a lot of work to do, but we’ve taken action on all of the recommendations in the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide Interim Report. Importantly, we’re developing a pathway to improving convoluted, confusing veterans’ legislation that contributes to the massive backlog in processing claims. We will also modernise the ICT systems in DVA to speed up that claims processing.

Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel, Hon Matt Keogh MP, visited Wodonga for the opening of the local Veterans’ Hub on 6 December 2022, which enhances support for current and former serving members within the Albury-Wodonga Military Area. © Department of Defence.

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I am very conscious of the compensation claims backlog, with some veterans waiting much too long for their claims to be processed. That is unacceptable, and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) has been under-resourced for too long. As a government, we are investing an additional $233.9mn to employ 500 new frontline DVA staff to eliminate the compensation claims backlog, delivering on a key election commitment.

government, we are committed to delivering a package of practical support measures that will improve the welfare and wellbeing of all Defence personnel, veterans and families, now and into the future, building on the range of services currently available.

For instance, I am very conscious of the compensation claims backlog, with some veterans waiting much too long for their claims to be processed.

That is unacceptable, and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) has been under-resourced for too long. As a government, we are investing an additional $233.9mn to employ 500 new frontline DVA staff to eliminate the compensation claims backlog, delivering on a key election commitment. We have also

On the services front, we know that many veterans want to access services close to home, while exservice organisations want to deliver coordinated support and services to fellow veterans and loved ones locally.

That is why we will deliver 10 Veterans and Families Hubs across Australia, including in the Rockingham area, nice and close to HMAS Stirling, to support not only veterans, but currently serving personnel and their families as well.

We are not taking a ‘cookie cutter’ approach to those hubs. Rather, the government will deliver them in consultation with local veteran communities and ex-service organisations to ensure that the services provided are what the local community wants and needs.

SYNERGIES WITH DEFENCE INDUSTRY Another priority of this government will be to deliver a comprehensive veterans’ employment program to provide greater support to Defence personnel as they transition to civilian life. I appreciate that many of our excellent Aussie defence industry businesses are already working with veterans and achieving great success; industry knows the great skill sets that veterans have to offer.

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“ Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel, Hon Matt Keogh MP, addresses the Defence People Symposium in Brisbane, June 2022. The event brought together Defence, industry, strategic and international partners to discuss workforce challenges and opportunities. © Department of Defence.

I am working to ensure the wider community knows and appreciates the value of employing veterans, with a $24mn commitment to improving veterans’ employment prospects, education and backing veteran-owned businesses. We want to retain as many of our service personnel as possible. But if, for whatever reason, they do transition out of Defence, working with defence industry, especially if remaining in the

Reserves, is a great way to continue to contribute to sovereign capability and serve our national interest.

To all who have served our country or are still doing so, as well as the families that support you, I thank you for your service. I am very much looking forward to working closely with you all to ensure we deliver a better future for the defence and veteran community.

I am working to ensure the wider community knows and appreciates the value of employing veterans, with a $24mn commitment to improving veterans’ employment prospects, education and backing veteran-owned businesses.

We want to retain as many of our service personnel as possible. But if, for whatever reason, they do transition out of Defence, working with defence industry, especially if remaining in the Reserves, is a great way to continue to contribute to sovereign capability and serve our national interest.

The

Better Together BALL

Raising funds for our veterans and their families

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Corporate packages and sponsorship opportunities available. rslwa.org.au/news-events/better-together-ball

COMMENTARY

By Vince Connelly,

CEO, RSL WA.

VETERANS’ AFFAIRS

RSLWA: RAMPING UP ENGAGEMENT AND ADJUSTING OUR APPROACH Australians are a fiercely proud mob. We love our sunburnt country, our bush and cities, our country towns and beaches.

We cherish our individual and collective freedoms. That is why, for generations, passionate Australian men and women have put themselves forward to protect Australia and our national interests here and abroad. For 106 years, RSLWA has actively supported veterans and their families to thrive in our local communities.

SUPPORTING VETERANS RSLWA is grateful to have a network of more than 9000 members in WA. The huge value of that membership base takes the form of what we could call ‘human capital’. Members provide each other with camaraderie and support, as well as an ongoing shared connection to what has been an incredibly important part of their lives: their military service. Membership also provides a channel to keep serving in a different way – within our local communities. For example, we see RSLWA sub-branches supporting veterans in need, as well as local schools, surf clubs and other community groups.

The nature of military service is both personally rewarding and extremely taxing. The rewards include fulfilling a sense of national duty, developing technical, teamwork and leadership skills, and keeping fit and healthy, but the extremely difficult conditions of both training and operations exact physical and mental

There are broadly three bands of veterans: those still serving or recently discharged, those now in other types of work who probably also have children at home, and retirees whose children have left home (or should have). While for the latter cohort, weekday meetings and gatherings are very welcome engagements, it is much harder for the other, timepoor veterans. So, how can RSLWA be relevant to the younger, busier crew?

We know from the latest census data that there are 62,000 veterans here in WA, including 7000 currently serving either full time or as reservists. Our mission is to support all veterans and their families, not just RSLWA members, so the data indicates that we have a significant task on our hands.

In recent months, we have been ramping up our engagement in different ways. For example, at the 2022 Perth Royal Show, RSLWA and the Royal Agricultural Society arranged for veterans and their children to get free access (and a showbag for the kids)

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We are also partnering with, and helping to enable, other ex-service organisations. RSLWA partnered with Legacy WA to deliver the inaugural Better Together fundraising ball. When we heard that Soldier On were running surfing classes for veterans and their kids, we posted it on RSL social media pages, and the courses were booked out. I even grabbed my surfboard and joined them for a session! RSLWA views engagement as the front door for broader and deeper connections with veterans, and as a key enabler for the delivery of our services: advocacy, welfare and employment.

We know from the latest census data that there are 62,000 veterans here in WA, including 7000 currently serving either full time or as reservists. Our mission is to support all veterans and their families, not just RSLWA members, so the data indicates that we have a significant task on our hands. Accordingly, we have been ramping up engagement and adjusting our approach to ensure that we are agile and relevant to all ages, genders and types of service.

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on Veterans’ Day, thanks to sponsorship from Hancock Prospecting.

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The RSLWA’s annual Poppy Appeal fundraising event is enthusiastically supported by both ADF members and community volunteers. Seen here selling poppies in Perth city for the November 2020 appeal are (L-R) Dental Officers LS Edward Todd, SMN Grace Parsons and CPO Tanya Scheskie-Boge, all from HMAS Stirling. © Department of Defence. Photographer: LSIS Ernesto Sanchez.

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The positive skills and attitudes of veterans are not always readily understood by businesses. That is why support for veterans as they make the transition back to civilian life is so valuable. Our employment support program, in partnership with Working Spirit, has helped well over 100 veterans into jobs in WA in the last 12 months, and we want to grow that further in 2023.

strain. Further, the positive skills and attitudes of veterans are not always readily understood by business. That is why support for veterans as they make the transition back to civilian life is so valuable. Our employment support program, in partnership with Working Spirit, has helped well over 100 veterans into jobs in WA in the last 12 months, and we want to grow that further in 2023.

While the types of military training and operations have continued to evolve across generations, the nature of military service – including great challenge and sacrifice – endures, as does the mission of the RSLWA. Through our actions to better engage with and support the tens of thousands of veterans in our state, RSLWA is ensuring that we remain ready, relevant and inclusive for all our valued veterans.

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CAPTURE THE TALENT

EMPLOY A VETERAN With lived experience from Military Service, Working Spirit are the Military Recruitment Specialists. Our exclusive pool of veterans have received world‑class training from the Australian Defence Force.

In partnership with RSLWA, our Transition Employment Portal (TEP) is an Australia-wide, online platform connecting veterans and transitioning service members with employers who are committed to hiring and supporting them.

To Capture the Talent, visit workingspirit.org.au

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WA Director Greg Whitehouse

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VETERANS’ AFFAIRS

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LEGACY WA: HELPING LEGACY WA: VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES VETERANS A

By Matt Granger, CEO, Legacy WA.

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As Legacy Australia observes its centenary in 2023, we pause As Legacy to consider Australia observes from where we have come, where we are, and to where wefrom are headed. where we have come, wh

By Matt Granger, Legacy began from a wartime promise from CEO, one digger toLegacy anotherbegan that, iffrom a wartime Legacy WA. either one should not make it home, the other would look after eitherthe onemissus should not make it and kids. A simple, yet powerful, promise. and kids. A simple, yet powerf

Legacy across Australia supports approximately 43,000 beneficiaries, predominantly partners of servicemen and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of their country.

CHANGING DEMOGRAPHIC We have continued to provide this service through our volunteer members, known as Legatees, some of whom have dedicated over 50 years of support to widowed beneficiaries.

Across Australia, Legacy supports approximately 43,000 beneficiaries, predominantly partners of

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servicemen and -women who have made the ultimate CHANGING sacrifice in the service of their country. As we strive DEMOGRAPHIC to provide support to our changing demographic of We have contin ADF families, we now bring the families of ill-health provide this servic veterans into our fold. our volunteer mem Our national coordinating body, Legacy Australia, known as Legatees has instituted the ‘Legacy 2030’ project to both of whom have ded assess the strategic direction of Legacy and plan over 50 years of su the implementation of the strategy to individual to widowed benefi clubs. An anticipated decline in beneficiary numbers Across Australia, L has not been anywhere near as rapid as expected, supports approxim primarily due to the growing number of Vietnam43,000 beneficiarie era veterans’ widows becoming beneficiaries. While predominantly par

Legacy across Australia supports approximately 43,000 beneficiaries, predominantly partners of servicemen and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of their country.

The late Marlene Robbins converses with WA Governor Christopher Dawson at a Legacy WA Christmas Jingle in 2022.

The late As aMarlene longstanding Robbins converses with WA Governor C beneficiary of Legacy’s support to her family since childhood, Marlene went on to become a highly dedicated and beneficiary respectedof volunteer Legacy’sLegatee, support to her family since childh whose contribution to the community and Legacy WA’s mission remains unparalleled. © Legacy WA. whose contribution to the community and Legacy WA’s m

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LEGACY WA: HELPING VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES

By Matt Granger, CEO, Legacy WA.

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As Legacy Australia observes its centenary in 2023, we pause to consider from where we have come, where we are, and to where we are headed.

Legacy began from a wartime promise from one digger to another that, if either one should not make it home, the other would look after the missus and kids. A simple, yet powerful, promise.

Legacy across Australia supports approximately 43,000 beneficiaries, predominantly partners of servicemen and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of their country.

CHANGING DEMOGRAPHIC We have continued to provide this service through our volunteer members, known as Legatees, some of whom have dedicated over 50 years of support to widowed beneficiaries.

Across Australia, Legacy supports approximately 43,000 beneficiaries, predominantly partners of

servicemen and -women who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of their country. As we strive to provide support to our changing demographic of ADF families, we now bring the families of ill-health veterans into our fold.

Our national coordinating body, Legacy Australia, has instituted the ‘Legacy 2030’ project to both assess the strategic direction of Legacy and plan the implementation of the strategy to individual clubs. An anticipated decline in beneficiary numbers has not been anywhere near as rapid as expected, primarily due to the growing number of Vietnamera veterans’ widows becoming beneficiaries. While

CEO of Legacy WA, Matt Granger, engages in fundraising in Perth CBD for Legacy Week, which is an annual national appeal to raise awareness and funds for the families of incapacitated and deceased veterans who have served Australia. © Department of Defence. Photographer: LSCSO Julia Rickards.

we will inevitably see a reduction in the number of elderly beneficiaries, we are adding at a similar rate our contemporary cohorts of widows and ill-health dependant families.

Membership of Legacy can either be as a Legatee or as a volunteer who does not wish to take the oath to join Legacy, but still identifies with the mission and culture of Legacy and wants to help support our beneficiaries.

Anyone can apply to become a Legatee; it is no longer necessary to have served in the ADF, neither do you need have been a past beneficiary of Legacy. We welcome applications from anybody who feels that they can positively contribute to Legacy’s mission.

JEWEL IN THE CROWN The jewel in the crown of Legacy WA is our camp, sited just south-west of Busselton which we have been operating since 1957 for beneficiary respite and wellness, providing 365-day access throughout the year. The highlight is probably the annual Kids’ Camp, held across the second week of January each year.

current serving ADF members from 13th Brigade and the SASR.

A HAND-UP, NOT A HAND-OUT Legacy strives to provide support to all eligible families and beneficiaries in need. Our activities are predominantly funded through fundraising activities, such as the traditional street appeals, donations and bequests.

In 2021, Legacy WA was the grateful recipient of a grant from the WA government via the ANZAC Day Trust which significantly aids our ability to provide support and welfare services to our 3000+ beneficiaries in WA. Services include socialisation activities, the provision of security alarms and security services, financial counselling, and transport to and from legal, medical and social appointments.

The tightening financial situation is being experienced by Legacy WA and other not-for-profit organisations as a decline in donations and giftgiving. That shortfall can best be made up through the At the camp, we host approximately 100 children, concerted actions of corporate bodies and companies including some from the eastern states, New Zealand stepping forward to help Legacy help ADF families and, recently, the United Kingdom. The activities run to support themselves. Our vision is to empower the during the camp are designed around 10 core themes families of our veterans through resilience, education including mental health, resilience, socialisation, The late Marlene Robbins converses with WA Governor Christopher Dawson at a Legacy WA Christmas Jingle in 2022. As a longstanding beneficiaryleadership of Legacy’s support to her family having since childhood, Marlene dedicated and respected volunteer andaahighly bright future.

Our mission is toLegatee, provide a handand, of course, fun. This is went on to become whose contribution to the community and Legacy WA’s mission remains unparalleled. © Legacy WA. up, not a hand-out. supported by up to 50 staff, including Legatees and

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NAVY CLEARANCE DIVER TRUST

The Navy Clearance Diver Trust (NCDT) is a not-for-profit trust fund dedicated to providing relief to current and former members of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) Clearance Diving Branch and their dependants, who become deceased, damaged or permanently disabled in, or as a result of their service or training.

The funds raised by the Trust will be allocated to families and individuals to provide immediate aid and to fill the inevitable gaps in support provided by the Defence, Department of Veteran Affairs (DVA), and other key ex-service organisations.

To make a Donation Please Visit: www.ncdt.org.au/donations/ Follow our events and stories on Facebook and Linkedin #navyclearancedivertrust and #unitedand undaunted

To support the transition, health, To support the transition, health, OUR PURPOSE wellbeing, and integration into OUR PURPOSE wellbeing, and integration into society of all participants in past and present operations, and their families, society of all participants in past and present operations, and their families, so that they are valued and can attain happiness after service. so that they are valued and can attain happiness after service.

The Australian Peacekeeper and Peacemaker Veterans’ The Australian Peacekeeper and Peacemaker Veterans’ Association’s purpose is to support the integration into society of Association’s purpose is to support the integration into society of all participants in past and present operations, and their families, all participants in past and present operations, and their families, so that they are valued and can attain happiness after service. so that they are valued and can attain happiness after service.

Our strategic focus is to: Our strategic focus is to: • hold the Department of Veterans’ Affairs and the • hold the Department of Veterans’ Affairs and the Commonwealth accountable to care for every veteran and Commonwealth accountable to care for every veteran and veteran family member, veteran family member, • be the trusted source of information for all veterans and • be the trusted source of information for all veterans and our fastest membership growth is in the 24 to 36 year age our fastest membership growth is in the 24 to 36 year age group, both men and women. group, both men and women.

We care for all Australians who have deployed on Peacekeeping We care for all Australians who have deployed on Peacekeeping operations be they ADF veterans, DFAT personal, AFP or state operations be they ADF veterans, DFAT personal, AFP or state police, AEC and we extend our care to first responders and police, AEC and we extend our care to first responders and anyone who has deployed in the national interest offshore on anyone who has deployed in the national interest offshore on operations or onshore to support humanitarian operations. operations or onshore to support humanitarian operations.

We have fun socially and support families.

We have fun socially and support families.

0414 245 254 0414 245 254 ian.lindgren@peacekeepers.asn.au ian.lindgren@peacekeepers.asn.au www.peacekeepers.asn.au www.peacekeepers.asn.au

COMMENTARY

By Tony Wills,

Chair, Veterans Transition Centre,

&

Marisa Leccese,

Board Member, Veterans Transition Centre.

VETERANS’ AFFAIRS

JARRAHDALE VETERANS TRANSITION CENTRE: GOING FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH The Veterans Transition Centre (VTC) continues to gain momentum, having achieved fantastic results in 2022. Ongoing support from partners, collaborators, members and extensive buy-in from ADF community-based support groups, resulted in the Jarrahdale centre, located in Western Australia, hosting over 1200 patrons. The centre is proving to be a focal point for the ADF community; a safe place for all to engage, collaborate and connect.

The VTC in Jarrahdale is located in a natural bush setting nestled in the Darling Ranges on approximately 42 acres. The state forest is on the eastern border and Medulla Brook runs through the property. The centre is approximately 45 minutes drive from the Perth CBD, and is located close to the South Western Highway. © VTC.

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VETERANS’ AFFAIRS

We are excited that 2023 will see the VTC increase its capacity to extend the level of support offered to the ADF community. Our goal is to work together with other support agencies to provide facilities and support programs to help the veteran community thrive.

Facilities available at the Jarrahdale centre include 20 x one-bedroom selfcontained chalets, 6 x two-bedroom selfcontained cabins, 3 x community halls/ function rooms, and an entertainment area featuring indoor/outdoor BBQ, kitchen and dining hall. A swimming pool, tennis, basketball, volleyball courts, and a children’s playground area are also available for use.

SUPPORT & ADVICE

The closeness to nature is an outstanding feature of the VTC, where Kangaroos and other wildlife live in close proximity. © VTC.

INCREASED DEMAND Set in the foothills of the Darling Range, surrounded by nature with increased support capacity, the centre

“

is an ideal location for the wider ADF community, of both current and formerly serving personnel, to engage across a number of important platforms.

How can you help? The Jarrahdale centre is available for bookings by groups looking for self-contained accommodation in a lovely bush setting close to Perth. Your company or organisation can provide funds (donations are tax deductible); provide goods and services and/or labour, or an employment pathway for former ADF members. Please reach out if you would like to donate your empty cans and bottles through the ‘Containers for Change’ initiative and we can organise a collection bin at your workplace. For more information, simply contact the VTC.

With the capital works program nearing completion, the Jarrahdale property is now 90% operational, with plans to be fully operational by mid-2023.

Early indications on the first quarter figures for 2023 suggest additional resources for accommodation and recreational facilities will assist in meeting the increase in demand.

While the numbers of veterans requiring accommodation continue to increase, strong working relationships with DVA, Open Arms, Incite Solutions and other support agencies have resulted in the VTC being able to provide extended services and we are already seeing positive outcomes.

The biggest increase has been around the wider ADF community taking up the opportunity to utilise the centre in broader community-based options in family accommodation, indoor and outdoor recreational facilities, ADF community-based projects and programs.

We appreciate the support provided by the Department of Defence, RSLWA, Anzac Day Trust, Omni Executive, Defence West, SAS Resources Trust, EBM, the Sovereign Order of St John of Jerusalem Knights Hospitaller, and our sponsors and foundation members for their financial support and ongoing advice. We are also pleased to acknowledge the significant contributions of the following key partners: Austal Australia, Disaster Relief Australia, Connected By, 13th Brigade, Bunnings, Karnet Section 95 team and our VTC family of contributors.

Forward planning and a staged approach to implementing a project of this size are vital, and we congratulate our management team not only for the work they have carried out, but also for their ability to remain operational during our refurbishment process while supporting veterans, serving members and their families. A simple philosophy of ‘veterans helping veterans’ has evolved into the wider ADF community helping ADF members and their families.

How can you help? The Jarrahdale centre is available for bookings by groups looking for self-contained accommodation in a lovely bush setting close to Perth. Your company or organisation can provide funds (donations are tax deductible); provide goods and services and/or labour, or an employment pathway for former ADF members. Please reach out if you would like to donate your empty cans and bottles through the ‘Containers for Change’ initiative and we can organise a collection bin at your workplace. For more information, simply contact the VTC.

EDITION 5 • 2022-23

333

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armyart.org.au armyart.org.au | armyartwa@hotmail.com armyartwa@hotmail.com armyart.org.au ||armyartwa@hotmail.com

GIVING BACK TO THOSE ANIMALS THAT GAVE EVERYTHING - please help us help them.

The Australian War Animal Memorial Organisation Inc. (AWAMO), a registered not-for profit Incorporation is made up of community members from diverse backgrounds that have the like-minded aim to recognize the deeds and sacrifices of all animal species, who have given their lives and their loyalty, serving alongside their human comrades. One of the many AWAMO activities is to support other animal charity with advice, fiscal aid, materiel products and other resources. These charities range from domestic run charities to international animal protection charities. Please help us help them and make a donation today at: http://awamo.org.au/

awamo.org.au

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Intelligent Communications is a bespoke marketing and branding consultancy with specialist expertise in business media, strategic communications and business intelligence support. We offer competitive pricing and services tailored to meet the needs of a variety of clients and industry sectors. No matter what your line of business, IC can be relied upon to provide the support necessary to reach and persuade your designed audience.

Your defence industry partner intelcommunications.com.au

PO Box 6701 East Perth, WA 6892, Australia admin@intelcommunications.com.au

ADVERTISERS’ DIRECTORY

A Point of Contact: Russell Ascott Position: Director Phone: 0413 819 715 Email: russell.ascott@abandh.com.au Website: abandh.com.au

Point of Contact: Member Engagement Centre Phone: 1300 13 23 28 Email: service@australianmilitarybank.com.au Website: australianmilitarybank.com.au ⊲ FIND US ON: p 324.

Point of Contact: Alex Marr Position: Director Phone: 0418 952 115 Email: alex@benaltyhovercrafts.com Website: benaltyhovercrafts.com ⊲ FIND US ON: pp 198-199.

⊲ FIND US ON: p 286.

Point of Contact: Ian Lindgren Position: Chairperson Phone: 0414 245 254 Email: ian.lindgren@peacekeepers.asn.au Website: peacekeepers.asn.au

Point of Contact: Andrew Fawkes Position: Sales Manager Phone: (08) 9459 8600 Email: andrew@bendtechgroup.com.au Website: bendtechgroup.com.au ⊲ FIND US ON: pp 196-197.

⊲ FIND US ON: p 331.

Point of Contact: armyartwa@hotmail.com Website: armyart.org ⊲ FIND US ON: p 334.

Point of Contact: Nigel Allsopp Position: President Email: nballsopp@gmail.com Website: awamo.org Point of Contact: Paul Sparke Position: Head of Marketing and Communications Phone: (08) 9410 1111 Email: paul.sparke@austal.com Website: austal.com ⊲ FIND US ON: pp 126-127.

Point of Contact: Mark MacLennan Position: Principal Phone: (08) 6316 2200 Email: mmaclennan@bennettlaw.com.au Website: bennettlaw.com.au ⊲ FIND US ON: p 235.

⊲ FIND US ON: p 334.

Point of Contact: Tony Routledge Position: Managing Director Phone: (08) 9330 2000 Email: sales@avi.com.au Website: avi.com.au

Point of Contact: BT Sales Support Phone: (08) 6245 2120 Email: sales.support@blacktree.com.au Website: blacktree.com.au ⊲ FIND US ON: p 235.

⊲ FIND US ON: p 246.

Point of Contact: Merrelyn Telfer Position: Association Manager Phone: (03) 6234 7844 Email: secretariat@amma.asn.au Website: amma.asn.au ⊲ FIND US ON: p 253.

B Point of Contact: Lisa Cornell Position: Head of Supply Chain - Maritime Sustainment Phone: (08) 6399 3059 Email: lisa.cornell@baesystems.com Website: baesystems.com/en/home ⊲ FIND US ON: pp 182-191.

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Point of Contact: Mike Deeks CSC Position: Group Managing Director Phone: (08) 6102 6510 Email: info@blueoceanmts.com.au Website: blueoceanmts.com ⊲ FIND US ON: p 69.

ADVERTISERS’ DIRECTORY

Point of Contact: Aaron Turner Position: WA Sales Manager Phone: 0438 254 011 Email: wasales@bluescopesteel.com Website: bluescopedistribution.com.au ⊲ FIND US ON: p 204.

Point of Contact: Economic Development Team Phone: (08) 9528 0333 Email: economicdevelopment@rockingham. wa.gov.au Website: rockingham.wa.gov.au ⊲ FIND US ON: pp 212-213.

Point of Contact: Balaji Pillai Phone: (08) 6595 1500 Email: BZGsales@bzg.com.au Website: bluezonegroup.com.au ⊲ FIND US ON: p 194.

Point of Contact: Lianne Kelly Position: National Sales & Marketing Manager Phone: 0414 817 540 Email: lianne@coreadditive.au Website: coreadditive.au ⊲ FIND US ON: p 166.

D

Point of Contact: Mark Clay Position: General Manager Defence Phone: (08) 9437 6288 Email: Mark.Clay@civmec.com.au Website: civmec.com.au ⊲ FIND US ON: p 31.

C

Point of Contact: Greg Whitehouse Position: WA Director Phone: 0409 684 975 Email: gwgwhitehouse@gmail.com Website: defenceindustrynetworking.com ⊲ FIND US ON: p 328.

Point of Contact: Damian Connelly Position: Principal Consulting Engineer Phone: (08) 9421 9060 Email: info@cdmsengineering.com Website: cdmsengineering.com ⊲ FIND US ON: p 63.

Point of Contact: Dan Hulands Position: Director Phone: 0413 044 189 Email: dan@commercialrov.com.au Website: commercialrov.com.au ⊲ FIND US ON: pp 200-201.

Point of Contact: Ash Boddy Position: Acting Executive Director Phone: (08) 6277 3000 Email: defencewest@jtsi.wa.gov.au Website: wa.gov.au/organisation/ department-of-jobs-tourism-science-andinnovation/defence-west ⊲ FIND US ON: pp 54-55.

Point of Contact: Michael Faulkner Position: Manager – Economic Development & Business Engagement Phone: 0427 880 429 Email: mfaulkner@cockburn.wa.gov.au Website: cockburn.wa.gov.au ⊲ FIND US ON: pp 164-165; pp 192-193.

Point of Contact: Glen Oldfield Position: Managing Director Phone: (08) 6191 0346 Email: glen@compositecomponents.com.au Website: compositecomponents.com.au ⊲ FIND US ON: p 227.

Point of Contact: James Bear Position: Senior Director Phone: (08) 8999 6421 Email: defencesupport.cmc@nt.gov.au Website: defence.nt.gov.au ⊲ FIND US ON: pp 152-153.

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ADVERTISERS’ DIRECTORY

Point of Contact: Cassandra Dunlop Position: Strategic Communications Manager Phone: 0431 323 433 Email: cassandra.dunlop@disasterreliefaus.org Website: disasterreliefaus.org ⊲ FIND US ON: p 259.

Point of Contact: Daniel De Luca Position: Acting National Defence Manager Phone: 0419 727 283 Email: daniel.deluca@duratec.com.au Website: duratec.com.au

G

⊲ FIND US ON: pp 210-211.

E

Point of Contact: Michael Edwards Position: Managing Director Phone: 0417 295 568 Email: m.edwards@gascoynegateway.com.au Website: gascoynegateway.com.au ⊲ FIND US ON: pp 142-143.

Point of Contact: Harry Baxter Position: Head Government Relations & Communications Phone: 0401 516 734 Email: harry.baxter@dmtc.com.au Website: dmtc.com.au ⊲ FIND US ON: p 254.

Point of Contact: Piermatteo Nissotti Position: General Manager Defence Solutions Phone: (08) 6174 4303 Email: eptec@eptec.com.au Website: eptec.com.au ⊲ FIND US ON: p 194.

F Point of Contact: Hiromi Fujisaki Position: Program Director Phone: (08) 6551 5146 Email: wadiwo@dtwd.wa.gov.au Website: jobsandskills.wa.gov.au/defence ⊲ FIND US ON: p 77.

Point of Contact: Adam Falconer-West Position: CEO & Director Phone: (08) 9437 3900 Email: operations@franmarine.com.au Website: franmarine.com.au

Point of Contact: Boris Golja Position: Principal Phone: (08) 6468 0932 Email: mailroom@ghfip.com.au Website: ghfip.com.au ⊲ FIND US ON: p 287.

H Point of Contact: Wayne van Biljon Position: Director Phone: 1300 650 545 Email: info@hrmsgroup.com.au Website: hrmsgroup.com.au ⊲ FIND US ON: pp 270-271.

⊲ FIND US ON: pp 46-47; pp 202-203.

Point of Contact: Bryce Solomon Position: Chief Security Officer Phone: (08) 9287 4100 Email: bryces@dug.com Website: dug.com ⊲ FIND US ON: pp 176-177.

Point of Contact: Terry Gropp Position: Product Manager - Defence Phone: 0415 154 218 Email: terry.gropp@hofmannengineering.com Website: hofmannengineering.com ⊲ FIND US ON: p 41.

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ADVERTISERS’ DIRECTORY

Point of Contact: Justin Norrish Position: General Manager Phone: (08) 9244 1977 Email: sales@hughans.com.au Website: hughans.com.au ⊲ FIND US ON: p 195.

I

Email: investandtrade@jtsi.wa.gov.au Website: investandtrade.wa.gov.au

Point of Contact: Matthew Granger Position: CEO Phone: (08) 9486 4900 Email: ceo@legacywa.com.au Website: legacy.com.au/legacywa

⊲ FIND US ON: p 302.

⊲ FIND US ON: p 325; Insert.

J

Phone: (08) 6595 5960 Email: communications@luerssen.com.au Website: luerssen.com.au ⊲ FIND US ON: p 40.

Point of Contact: Lawrence Christoffelsz Position: Founder Phone: 0433 559 258 Email: lawrence@importexporttv.com Website: importexporttv.com

Point of Contact: Prof. Dr Gerhard Janssen Phone: (08) 9322 8107 Email: lawyers@janssen-maluga.com.au Website: janssen-maluga.com.au

M

⊲ FIND US ON: pp 306-307.

⊲ FIND US ON: p 303.

Point of Contact: Mike von Bertouch Position: Managing Director Phone: (08) 6365 9179 Email: info@innov.aero Website: innov.aero ⊲ FIND US ON: pp 228-229.

Point of Contact: Cathy Falkiner Position: Managing Director Phone: 0448 397 662 Email: c.falkiner@jfdglobal.com Website: jfdglobal.com

⊲ FIND US ON: pp 282-283.

⊲ FIND US ON: p 11.

L Point of Contact: Serge DeSilva-Ranasinghe Position: Managing Director Email: admin@intelcommunications.com.au Website: intelcommunications.com.au ⊲ FIND US ON: p 335.

Point of Contact: Masoud Abshar Position: Managing Director Phone: (08) 9434 6621 Email: sales@magellanpower.com.au Website: magellanpower.com.au

Point of Contact: Deborah Barnett Position: Director, Business Development Phone: 0438 224 439 Email: Deborah.Barnett@L3Harris.com Website: l3harris.com

Points of Contact: Mark Brown & Rohan Green Positions: National Operations Manager & National Commercial Manager Phone: (08) 9437 5011 Email: mtaops@ marinetetchniciansaustralia.com.au Website: marinetechniciansaustralia.com.au ⊲ FIND US ON: p 181.

⊲ FIND US ON: p 30.

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ADVERTISERS’ DIRECTORY

Point of Contact: Gary Holder Position: Managing Director Phone: (08) 9437 2007 Email: admin@mdr.net.au Website: mdr.net.au ⊲ FIND US ON: p 167; Onsert.

Point of Contact: Peter Long Position: Chair Email: mayor@karratha.wa.gov.au Website: northwestdefencealliance.com.au ⊲ FIND US ON: pp 134-135.

Point of Contact: Rebekah Manley Position: Co-Founder and Director of Operations Phone: 0439 733 122 Email: rebekah.manley@onetide.com.au Website: onetide.com.au ⊲ FIND US ON: p 279.

Point of Contact: Dieter von Mollendorf Position: Business Development Account Manager Phone: (08) 9355 3000 Email: dieter@motium.com Website: motium.com

O Point of Contact: Fazl Bolar Soharab Position: Senior Project Manager Phone: (08) 9236 2561 Email: fazl@orontide.com.au Website: orontide.com.au

⊲ FIND US ON: p 247.

N

Point of Contact: Brittany Klein Phone: 1300 677 080 Email: info@ocrt.com.au Website: ocrt.com.au ⊲ FIND US ON: pp 158-159.

Point of Contact: Michael Stove Position: Head of Supply Chain Phone: 0418 171 843 Email: mstove@navantia.com.au Website: navantia.com.au ⊲ FIND US ON: p 205.

Point of Contact: Vanessa Oliver Position: Director Phone: 0409 299 310 Email: vanessa.oliver@oliveragency.com.au Website: oliveragency.com.au ⊲ FIND US ON: Inside back cover.

⊲ FIND US ON: p 63.

P Point of Contact: Navin Vij Position: CEO & Managing Director Phone: (08) 9285 6100 Email: sales@parabellum.com.au Website: parabellum.com.au ⊲ FIND US ON: Inside front cover.

Point of Contact: Denise Goldsworthy AO Position: Chair of Board of Trustees Phone: 0407 429 584 Email: secretary@ncdt.org.au Website: ncdt.org.au ⊲ FIND US ON: p 331.

Point of Contact: Frank Sear Position: Manager – Business Development Phone: 0455 497 849 Email: frank.sear@omniexe.com Website: omniexe.com ⊲ FIND US ON: pp 266-267; Flysheet.

Point of Contact: Mick Lee Position: Director/Operations Manager Phone: (08) 6270 6354 Email: mick@paratus.edu.au Website: paratus.edu.au ⊲ FIND US ON: pp 82-83.

340 EDITION 5 • 2022-23

ADVERTISERS’ DIRECTORY

Q Point of Contact: Warren Puvanendran Position: General Manager Phone: 0428 635 650 Email: warrenp@pertama.com.au ⊲ FIND US ON: p 74.

Point of Contact: PRL Administration Phone: (08) 6250 4900 Email: info@prlgroup.com.au Website: prlgroup.com.au

Point of Contact: Christine Littler Position: Commercial Insurance Broker Phone: 0467 467 049 Email: christine.littler@riskcorpinsurance.com.au Website: riskcorpinsurance.com.au ⊲ FIND US ON: p 75.

Point of Contact: Lynn Stollery Position: General Manager Phone: (08) 9433 9400 Email: questfremantle@questapartments.com.au Website: questfremantle.com.au ⊲ FIND US ON: p 321.

Point of Contact: Serge DeSilva-Ranasinghe Position: Managing Director Email: admin@riskintelsolutions.com.au Website: riskintelsolutions.com.au

⊲ FIND US ON: pp 132-133.

⊲ FIND US ON: p 95.

Point of Contact: Greg Whitehouse Position: Managing Director Phone: 0409 684 975 Email: gw@ptdefence.com Website: ptdefence.com ⊲ FIND US ON: pp 248-249.

Point of Contact: Ajie Wibowo Position: General Manager Phone: (08) 9591 0600 Email: questrockingham@questapartments.com.au Website: questrockingham.com.au ⊲ FIND US ON: p 321.

R

Point of Contact: Rachel Hogan Position: Marketing & Events Manager Phone: (08) 9287 3799 Email: marketing@rslwa.org.au Website: rslwa.org.au ⊲ FIND US ON: p 325.

Pont of Contact: Peter Winter Position: Business Development Management Defence Phone: 0419 812 222 Email: pwinter@prochem.com.au Website: prochem.com.au ⊲ FIND US ON: p 9.

Point of Contact: Colleen Yates Phone: 0407 236 121 Email: eo@rdaperth.org Website: rdaperth.org ⊲ FIND US ON: p 74.

Point of Contact: Jerome Monteiro Position: Director Phone: (08) 6102 0312 Email: contact@profluid.com.au Website: profluid.com.au

Point of Contact: Emily Coates Position: Communications & Marketing Manager Phone: (08) 6552 6990 Email: emily@recwa.org.au Website: recwa.org.au

⊲ FIND US ON: p 5.

⊲ FIND US ON: p 315.

Point of Contact: Tom Huberli Position: Principal Phone: (08) 9432 3104 Email: tom.huberli@rsm.com.au Website: rsm.global/australia ⊲ FIND US ON: pp 298-299.

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ADVERTISERS’ DIRECTORY

S Point of Contact: Roy O’Reilly Position: National Operations Manager Phone: 1300 955 097 Email: roy@sdsaus.com.au Website: sdsaus.com.au

T Point of Contact: Carlo Vittiglia Position: Director Marketing and Communications Phone: 1800 001 001 Email: info@smtafe.wa.edu.au Website: southmetrotafe.wa.edu.au ⊲ FIND US ON: pp 80-81.

⊲ FIND US ON: pp 260-261.

Point of Contact: Larry Kickett Position: Director Phone: 0418 180 665 Email: larry.kickett@tammarcontractors.com.au ⊲ FIND US ON: Front cover; pp 178-179.

Point of Contact: Adam Kiryk Position: Head of Defence Phone: 1300 007 243 Email: info@gotosage.com Website: gotosage.com

Point of Contact: Ram Kuppusamy Position: Founder & CEO Phone: 0400 194 387 Email: ram@spaceangel.io Website: spaceangel.io ⊲ FIND US ON: pp 240-241.

⊲ FIND US ON: p 180.

Point of Contact: Judith Irvine Phone: (08) 6462 3200 Email: judith.irvine@tbhint.com Website: tbhconsultancy.com ⊲ FIND US ON: p 73.

Point of Contact: Natasha Sutherland Position: Partner Phone: 0498 144 411 Email: natasha@sarreibs.com.au Website: sarreibs.com.au ⊲ FIND US ON: p 141.

Point of Contact: Grant Sinnott Position: General Manager Phone: (08) 9353 5588 Email: sales@specialtymetals.com.au Website: specialtymetals.com.au ⊲ FIND US ON: p 3.

Point of Contact: Claudio Del Deo Position: Managing Director Phone: 1300 167 524 Email: info@technauitcs.com.au Website: technautics.com.au ⊲ FIND US ON: Back cover.

Point of Contact: Shaun Williamson Position: Director Phone: 0407 770 670 Email: shaun@shorewatermarine.com.au Website: shorewatermarine.com.au ⊲ FIND US ON: p 76.

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Point of Contact: Ancrum Hubbard Phone: (08) 6143 4484 Email: admin@surepeople.net.au Website: surepeople.com.au ⊲ FIND US ON: p 315.

Position: General Manager Phone: 0426 056 210 Email: jared@financeagency.com.au Website: financeagency.com.au ⊲ FIND US ON: p 255.

ADVERTISERS’ DIRECTORY

Point of Contact: Toff Idrus Position: Managing Director Phone: 0468 934 204

Point of Contact: Tim Poidevin & Rhys Jones Positions: Co-Founder & Director and State Sales Manager (WA/NT) Phone: (08) 9413 7239 Email: wasales@volz.com.au Website: volz.com.au

⊲ FIND US ON: p 69.

⊲ FIND US ON: p 204; p 317.

Point of Contact: Belinda Rennie Position: Operations Manager Phone: (Aus) 1300 411 080 (Int) +61 (08) 6109 6658 Email: info@traumasim.com.au Website: traumasim.com.au

W

⊲ FIND US ON: p 257.

V

Point of Contact: Karyn Hinder Position: Founder Phone: 1300 219 443 Email: enquiries@workingspirit.org.au Website: workingspirit.org.au ⊲ FIND US ON: p 328.

Point of Contact: Dale Whelan & Rebecca Yde Phone: 0467 818 144 | 0417 013 339 Email: dalewhelan@vescient.com | rebeccayde@vescient.com Website: vescient.com

Y

⊲ FIND US ON: p 7.

Point of Contact: Vikram Biala Position: Short Stay Business Manager Phone: (08) 9466 8888 Email: vikram@yaran.com.au Website: yaransuites.com.au Point of Contact: Beth Nguyen Position: Business Manager Phone: 0459 505 075 Email: bnguyen@visins.com.au Website: visins.com.au ⊲ FIND US ON: p 94.

⊲ FIND US ON: pp 214-215.

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Network with defence sector decision‑makers via WA DEFENCE REVIEW’s value‑driven events program Our high-profile events receive consistently high levels of support and sponsorship from industry. Cumulatively, our events have attracted over 1000 senior professionals from across the spectrum of politics,

STRATEGY, DEFENCE & INDUSTRY DIALOGUE KEYNOTE SPEAKER PROGRAM INDUSTRY SITE VISITS VIP & CORPORATE EVENTS INDUSTRY COCKTAIL & NETWORKING FUNCTIONS MEET ‘n’ GREET SOIREE

government, Defence, industry and academia.

EVENTS PROGRAM BENEFITS

Associate your organisation with high‑ profile defence sector events in the west.

High-profile visibility and access to defence sector decision‑makers and professionals.

Value for money branding and networking opportunities to a specialised decision‑ maker audience.

ENGAGE US. To find out how the WA DEFENCE REVIEW Events Program can help your organisation gain exposure in the defence sector, contact us via: events@wadefencereview.com.au

ANNUAL PUBLICATION | EVENTS PROGRAM | POLICY BLOG | PODCAST | VIDEO CHANNEL

Featuring original commentary by defence sector decision‑makers and analysts from Australia and overseas.

Subscribe to our newsletter to keep abreast of the latest defence industry news & events.

wadefencereview.com.au/policy‑blog

ANNUAL PUBLICATION | EVENTS PROGRAM | POLICY BLOG | PODCAST | VIDEO CHANNEL

WA DEFENCE & INNOVATION FORUM is an independent, moderated community for members who are active in, or involved with, the Australian defence, innovation and critical infrastructure sectors. This forum provides a much needed portal for businesses and industry professionals to engage, interact and keep abreast of the latest developments across the spectrum of politics, government, defence, industry and academia.

MEMBER DEMOGRAPHICS

62.5%

Western Australia

37.5%

Eastern states

JOIN THE CONVERSATION To participate in the forum please visit:

Operating as an exclusive hub with all members vetted prior to entry, the WA DEFENCE & INNOVATION FORUM provides updates that include industry events in WA and across Australia, government announcements and general defence and industry news.

/groups/10320957/

ENDORSEMENTS

Hon Kim Beazley AC Governor, Western Australia (2018-2022)

Tamryn Barker Co-founder & Skills Lead, CORE Innovation Hub

Hon Paul Papalia CSC MLA WA Minister for Defence Issues (2017-present)

RADM Philip Spedding DSC AM RAN (Rtd) WA Defence Advocate (2022-present)

The WA DEFENCE & INNOVATION FORUM comes not a moment too soon. With the reorientation of defence industry policy, back to strategic spending critical for self-reliant sustainment, massive new opportunities are opening up to WA’s heavy industry and SMEs, but we are behind in advocacy to ourselves and the Commonwealth. With regard to the latter, they only take seriously those who take themselves seriously. The forum plays a critical support role for state government and industry associations who are now energised to the task and will alert many who are not engaged to the chances that await them.

The WA DEFENCE & INNOVATION FORUM is a driving force of knowledge and connections within the industries that are essential to our security and prosperity. While the forum is a trusted partner to industry leaders and decision-makers in defence, its impact is also felt across the Western Australian innovation ecosystem, where it is forging new links and enabling opportunities in other sectors such as resources, energy and space through insightful information and community.

The WA DEFENCE & INNOVATION FORUM is a much-needed addition to the defence industry discussion. For too long, most of the debate around defence has been led and dominated by voices on the east coast. This portal will assist players across industry and in the broader community with our collective efforts to give a voice to Western Australian defence interests and shape the national debate.

The WA DEFENCE & INNOVATION FORUM provides an effective and highly useful avenue for the exchange of information and the building of community amongst those supporting Defence and defence industry. To ensure that the state fully capitalises on the range of opportunities being presented under the AUKUS initiative and as articulated in the Defence Strategic Review 2023, engagement, information exchange, debate and alignment amongst stakeholders in Western Australia will be more important than ever.

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