Overview

• The Strategic Shipbuilding Agreement with Austal Defence Shipbuilding Australia formalizes a continuous pipeline of naval vessel projects after decades of boom-bust cycles.
• It mandates delivery of 18 Landing Craft Medium, two Evolved Cape class patrol boats and, subject to approvals, eight Landing Craft Heavy over the coming decades.
• The deal underpins tens of billions of dollars in Western Australian investment and supports the establishment of the Commonwealth Defence Precinct at Henderson.
• Construction and sustainment activities are projected to create about 1,100 direct jobs and over 2,000 indirect positions.
• Austal will collaborate with local suppliers and the Cook Labor Government to develop infrastructure, skills and a sovereign defence supply chain under the Future Made in Australia agenda.