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Federal Defence Industry Minister Linda Reynolds pushes for WA to become naval hub for Indo-Pacific allies

Sarah MartinThe West Australian
Ships from Australia’s allies could use WA ports.
Camera IconShips from Australia’s allies could use WA ports. Credit: AP

Federal Defence Industry Minister Linda Reynolds wants new military ports built along the WA coast, positioning the State to become a key defence and industrial hub for Australia’s allies in the Indo-Pacific.

Speaking as a “passionate advocate” for the State’s defence industry, Senator Reynolds, from WA, said while it was not Government policy, she believed more dual-use port facilities should be built along the coast, listing Derby, Broome and Exmouth as possible locations.

“In terms of the vision, WA could and should become the hub and the base for operations for all of our allies in the Indian Ocean,” she said. “We need dual-use facilities right up the coast.”

Senator Reynolds said two satellite facilities of the Henderson-based Australian Marine Complex in the State’s north-west could mean the fleets of Australia’s Five Eyes defence partners, including Britain and the US, would dock more regularly.

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The new naval bases would support allied fleets which use the remote Diego Garcia atoll in the Indian Ocean and Guam in the Pacific.

“This is not Government policy, but as a WA senator I think this is the next move,” she said.

Senator Reynolds said while there had been much focus on China’s military build-up in the South China Sea, attention was turning to the strategic importance of the Indian Ocean.

“Geopolitically, we are probably in the most challenging strategic environment since the Second World War in terms of the rise of a number of superpowers, and the breakdown of the rules-based order globally more generally,” she said.

“While the focus is still to our immediate north, there is also a growing awareness of what is happening in the Indian Ocean realm.”

India has become increasingly concerned about China’s activities in the area, with more submarine patrols and the construction of deepwater ports in Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Pakistan as part of China’s controversial Belt and Road initiative.

Australia will next month hold joint naval exercises with India, involving anti-submarine warfare.

Senator Reynolds said Australia needed to juggle its “deep relationship” with China, which was also the destination for much of the country’s mineral exports.

“Yes, it is a multi-layered complex relationship, but we have always worked through challenges and difficulties,” she said.

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