Cook heads for UK to bolster AUKUS deal and build more nuclear submarines in WA
West Australian Premier Roger Cook has announced a defence mission to the UK in a bid to bolster the precarious AUKUS agreement and lobby for more nuclear-powered submarines to be built in WA.
The partnership between Australia, the UK and US has been in limbo since President Donald Trump took office and said he plans to review it.
Since the inception of AUKUS in 2021, all three leaders at the time – Scott Morrison, Boris Johnson and Joe Biden – have either lost elections or left politics. Despite this, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his UK counterpart Keir Starmer remain in favour of the deal.
The state government says defence is set to become WA's second-largest industry after mining – surpassing agriculture – and lobbying for UK Astute-class submarines to be built in WA will be a major focus of five-day talks.
'The defence industry is critical to our plans to diversify our economy, and that's why this trip to strengthen AUKUS ties and unlock opportunities for local businesses is so important,' he said.
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'We are working to make more things right here in WA, attract more international investment, and make our State one of the best in the world to do business.'
Defence Industries Minister Paul Papalia will join Cook on the mission, after he travelled to the US for similar talks in April where he said WA was also on the cusp of entering America's Virginia-class submarine manufacturing industry.
'From submarines to frigates, defence is Made in WA, and our local businesses are strongly positioned to support the construction and sustainment of Astute-class submarines,' he said.
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