Defence Portfolio
Ms MASCARENHAS (Swan) (17:56): We are living through a period of genuine global uncertainty. The conflict in the Middle East has disrupted global fuel supply chains. The pace of military change in our region is unlike anything we've seen in recent times.
As a trading nation surrounded by oceans, Australia's security is inseparable from our ability to keep sea lanes open and supply chains stable. This budget meets that moment. The 2026 National Defence Strategy sets out what is required: a more self-reliant Australia, a stronger sovereign defence industrial base, better national preparedness and deeper cooperation with allies and partners.
The total funding in the defence portfolio reaches $887 billion through to 2035-36. This is not just expenditure. It's investment in jobs, the industries and the capabilities that will underpin Australia's security for decades.
But what does that monumental investment look like on the ground? My home of Western Australia is a great example. Henderson is the centrepiece of Australia's naval shipbuilding future in the west.
The $12 billion committed to the Henderson defence precinct is a significant down payment on what will be continuous naval shipbuilding capability in Western Australia for generations to come. That funding underpins the construction of the army's landing craft, the domestic build of Australia's future general purpose frigates subject to the successful consolidation of facilities for surface combat sustainment, contingency docking for our future nuclear-powered submarine fleet from the early 2030s and depot level maintenance including graving docks.
Over the next two decades, tens of billions of dollars will flow into defence capabilities in Western Australia, supporting 10,000 well-paid, high skilled jobs, and the work being done at Henderson is not just about submarines. It's also about the foundation for the next generation of Australia's surface fleet. The Australian Albanese government has selected the Japanese upgrade of Mogami class frigates as the preferred platform for the Navy's future fleet of 11 general purpose frigates.
The first three vessels will be built in Japan, but the remaining frigates will be built in Western Australia once the successful consolidation of Henderson is complete. These ships will help secure our maritime trade routes and Australia's northern approaches. Now to AUKUS and what it means for Western Australian workers.
Up to $8 billion is being invested to upgrade HMAS Stirling and the support of the implementation of the Submarine Rotational Force-West, creating around 3,000 direct jobs. It's great to hear that the member for Sturt has visited the HMAS Stirling very recently. The upgrades include wharf upgrades, operational maintenance and infrastructure support to increase port visits by the UK and the US.
The jobs for subs program is recruiting and upskilling over 200 new entry level positions for graduates, apprentices and trainees in engineering and fabrication trades through the Australian Submarine Corporation. Australian businesses are already entering the global supply chain. The government has announced a pilot program with Huntington Ingalls Industries, the largest military shipbuilder in the United States, to help Australian companies qualify for the Virginia class submarine supply chain.
Less than six months later, 2022 Australian companies have progressed in the accreditation pipeline. Eight have already been fully qualified to supply components into that supply chain. More than 4,000 Commonwealth supported places have been allocated across 16 universities for the Nuclear-Powered Submarine Student Pathways program from 2024 to 2027.
In my electorate of Swan, we have Curtin University, which has 320 places, with a further 56 at the University of Western Australia and another 50 at Murdoch University. For those that want to build their skills through a trade, the Shipbuilding Employment Pathways program offers a four-year paid apprenticeship. This is a direct pathway for the nuclear-powered submarines and naval shipbuilding workforce that has a nationally recognised qualification at the end of it, because the best way to build a skilled workforce is to build those people right now.
This is the biggest diversification in WA's economy for a very long time.