Western Australia’s (WA) Premier Roger Cook and Defence Industries Minister Paul Papalia have wrapped up a 5-day investment and trade mission to the United Kingdom (UK) and France.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer recently announced in their Strategic Defence Review that the UK would build up to 12 nuclear-powered submarines. This could see WA industry potentially play a pivotal role in speeding up the construction of these platforms.

WA’s internationally sought-after defence sector is set to become the State’s second largest industry, surpassing agriculture and providing a buffer to the cyclical nature of the resources sector. 

• met with Stephen Smith, Australian High Commissioner to the UK and Deputy High Commissioner Elizabeth Bowes;

• met with the UK Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry Rt Hon. Maria Eagle, RADM Chris Shepherd, Director SSN Capability, Defence Nuclear Organisation, and Rt Hon. Lord John Spellar, the UK’s Trade Envoy to Australia, to discuss progress around the AUKUS partnership and opportunities stemming from the WA-UK investment and trade relationship;

• led a roundtable meeting with UK defence officials and industry leaders, including the three Tier 1 AUKUS partners, Babcock International, BAE Systems and Rolls Royce, as well as other important industry representatives, UK trade associations and UK universities; 

• visited His Majesty’s Naval Base Devonport, the largest naval base in Western Europe and home for the short and long-term sustainment/maintenance of all classes of nuclear-powered submarines for the Royal Navy;

• held meetings with UK defence companies BAE Systems, Babcock, Rolls Royce and Sheffield Forgemasters; and 

• held discussions with energy multinationals bp and InterContinental Energy on current and future investment into WA energy transition projects ahead of the Invest and Trade WA-sponsored Australian British Energy Transition & Investment Catalyst 2025.

 

The site visit to HMNB Devonport was hosted by Second Sea Lord VADM Sir Martin Connell and VADM Sir Chris Gardner, CEO of the Submarine Delivery Agency.

As part of a boat tour of the dockyards, in accordance with the 'Making Honors' custom, all crew stationed on the British frigates alongside 'stood to' and saluted the Second Sea Lord, with one frigate announcing, "Welcome to the Second Sea Lord and to the Premier of Western Australia, Roger Cook." 

Before returning to WA, Premier Cook made a stopover in France to meet with Lynette Wood, Australian Ambassador to France, and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), including OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann.

With WA’s key role in AUKUS and the global energy transition set to further strengthen the State’s economic diversification, deliver new jobs and strengthen WA-UK trade and investment ties, the future has never looked brighter for Western Australia.

Published on: 10 July 2025