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AUSTRALIA’S INDIAN OCEAN GATEWAY: WESTERN AUSTRALIA
By the Hon Andrew Hastie MP,
Assistant Minister for Defence, Australian Government
When the Prime Minister spoke in Western Australia on the eve of the G7 summit in Cornwall, he noted that escalating great power strategic competition was the defining issue of our time. Our security, prosperity and way of life depend on whether we can meet this challenge.
OUR NATIONAL INTEREST
Geo-strategic developments in the Indian Ocean region have always shaped the security and prosperity of Australia. Five of our top 15 trading partners – India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand – are Indian Ocean countries. Half of our global trade crosses the Indian Ocean to reach our shores, and more than half of our exports depart from Indian Ocean ports. Half of the world’s container traffic and one-third of bulk cargo traverses the Indian Ocean, and around 40% of the world’s offshore oil production is based there. That’s why freedom of navigation is so important to Australia and our regional neighbours.
The Morrison government is committed to shaping Australia’s strategic environment, deterring actions against our national interests and enabling the Australian Defence Force to respond with credible military force, when required.
As the 2020 Defence Strategic Update makes clear, we have prioritised Defence planning in Australia’s immediate region: ranging from the north-eastern Indian Ocean, through maritime and mainland Southeast Asia, to Papua New Guinea and the Southwest Pacific. GROWING STRATEGIC ROLE
Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States have established an enhanced trilateral security partnership, AUKUS. This is a partnership to address new challenges, but a partnership between the oldest and most trusted of friends.
Ships from the Australian, United States, Japanese and Indian navies sail in formation in the Indian Ocean at the start of phase two of Exercise MALABAR 2020. Exercise MALABAR 2020 is a milestone opportunity to enhance Australia’s maritime capabilities and build interoperability with our close regional partners, India, Japan and the United States. © Department of Defence.
50%
OF THE WORLD’S CONTAINER TRAFFIC......
The historic agreement also delivers major gains for Western Australia – recognising the state’s central role in our strategic future.
The Collins-class submarine intermediate and mid-cycle dockings will continue to be performed at Henderson through to the mid-2040s, giving our industry certainty and supporting hundreds of West Australian jobs.
The Prime Minister also announced that the federal government will invest in a large dry dock at Henderson, which will enable Western Australians to build and maintain both naval and commercial vessels for decades to come.
HMAS Stirling will continue to be one of Australia’s most important strategic Defence establishments and recent announcements cement that.
Western Australia and the Henderson shipyard has already been chosen by the federal government as the home of construction for: • 21 Guardian-class patrol boats, • 10 Arafura-class Offshore Patrol
Vessels, • six Evolved Cape-class vessels, • up to eight new Mine Countermeasure and Military Survey Vessels to replace the Huon-class, • a large salvage and repair vessel, and • an undersea surveillance vessel.
The AUKUS partnership will also give Australia access to cutting edge technology and intellectual property - cyber capabilities, artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, and additional undersea capabilities - creating the jobs of the future.
The acquisition of nuclear-powered submarine technology is a critical strategic decision that will protect our national security interests and keep Australians safe. And as the home of Australia’s submarine fleet, this announcement secures the future of HMAS Stirling for the next century.
As our gateway to the Indian Ocean region, WA is vital. Half of Australia’s navy fleet is based on the west coast – Defence’s future submarines and frigates will be critical assets in safeguarding Australia’s maritime approaches and sea lines of communication.
The west coast also hosts Australian
Army units critical to ADF domestic and global military operations. Perth is home to the Special Air Service Regiment at Swanbourne and the 13th Brigade at
Karrakatta. They will receive significant personnel, equipment and infrastructure investment over the next five years.
Across regional WA, the army’s
Regional Force Surveillance Group supports whole-of-government border security operations, through a persistent presence ranging across the vast areas of north and north-western Australia.
Defence training exercises in the
Indian Ocean region will continue to enhance Australia’s maritime capabilities and build inter-operability with our international partners. Exercise Malabar 2020 demonstrated Australia’s enduring commitment to the security and stability of our region, as did our participation in Exercise La Pérouse 2021. We are also deepening our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership together with India to address evolving security challenges in our region.
As we shift our focus towards Australia’s immediate region, we know that our Indian Ocean Territories – which straddle some of Australia’s vital trade and energy routes - are strategic communities that play an important role in our security. The Morrison government remains focused on developing the Indian Ocean Territories through commitments such as the Cocos (Keeling) Islands airfield upgrade.“
As our gateway to the Indian Ocean region, Western Australia is vital. Half of Australia’s navy fleet is based on our west coast – Defence’s future submarines and frigates will be critical assets in safeguarding Australia’s maritime approaches and sea lines of communication. As we shift our focus towards Australia’s immediate region, we know that our Indian Ocean Territories – which straddle some of Australia’s vital trade and energy routes - are strategic communities that play an important role in our security. The Morrison government remains focused on developing the Indian Ocean Territories through commitments such as the Cocos (Keeling) Islands airfield upgrade.
LONG TERM SECURITY
Our current and future Defence capabilities and assets operating from the Indian Ocean Territories include manned and unmanned maritime surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft, offshore patrol vessels, destroyers, frigates, support vessels, small patrol boats, watercraft, and naval combat helicopters.
We are an island-nation, girt by sea. Our oceans and sea lanes are critical to our future prosperity and security. Australia will continue to work closely with our neighbours to uphold the security of the Indian Ocean region, as we have always done. Habits of cooperation are the basis of strong and secure future for all.
COCOS (KEELING) ISLANDS
(AUSTRALIA)
INDIAN OCEAN PACIFIC OCEAN
