The Western Australian Government has announced plans for a proposed large-scale defence manufacturing hub aimed at strengthening sovereign industrial capability and attracting international investment.
The announcement was made yesterday at IODS 2026 by Premier Roger Cook with Minister for Defence Industries Paul Papalia and Manufacturing Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson, and outlined the Government’s call for industry participation in shaping the proposed precinct.
Expressions of interest (EOI) are now open to local, national and international companies to help shape the proposed hub, which would focus on advanced defence manufacturing and supporting technologies.
Areas identified as part of the opportunity include aerospace, autonomous systems, advanced materials, precision manufacturing, energetics and space technologies.
The Western Australian Government said the initiative was intended to support Australia’s sovereign defence capability while contributing to allied supply chains and growing global demand for advanced defence manufacturing.
“This is a call out to our most forward-thinking businesses. If you have the capability, ambition and an existing global market, we want you helping to build this precinct from the ground up,” said Cook.
Defence Industries Minister Paul Papalia said the proposal aimed to attract companies with established international markets to establish a presence in Western Australia and support sovereign capability development.
“We’re not starting from scratch, WA has the skills, the industrial base and the innovation. This EOI is about bringing it all together and building something bigger.”
EOIs close on 8 July.
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