Collie proposed as advanced weapons manufacturing hub for military despite promised green future

The State Government this week revealed military missiles could be manufactured in Collie as part of a push to establish an advanced weapons manufacturing hub in the State, sparking outrage. On Tuesday Premier Roger Cook announced WA is seeking formal expressions of interest from global defence giants to set up a large-scale facility which is expected to be in the coal-mining town of Collie. “Western Australia is ready to play a far greater role in strengthening Australia’s sovereign defence capability,” Premier Cook said ahead of the biennial gathering of international naval officers and defence company representatives. “This is a call out to our most forward-thinking businesses. If you have the capability, ambition and an existing global market, we want you helping to build this precinct from the ground up. “This will help diversify our economy, create quality jobs for the next generation, and deliver on our plan to make more things in WA.” Collie Shire President Ian Miffling first heard about the idea six days ago. “We had Minister (Paul) Papalia came to town last Thursday, and he met with the Just Transition Working Group, and he wanted to float his conceptual idea,” he said. “We’re a small community, a small town, and anything that helps for our long-term survival is really good for us”. There was little detail about cost, time-frame or how many jobs the State Government expects the facility to sustain, but Mr Miffling wasn’t worried about the ethics of making weapons instead of digging coal. “I mean, they’ve got to be made somewhere in the world, don’t they,” he said. “Somebody makes them, if it was an opportunity for Collie, why would you not at least look at it?” The proposal sparked backlash from shadow energy minister Dr Steve Thomas who said the move lacked substance for a town in the midst of a transitioning economy, while Greens MLC Sophie McNeill said WA must not become a home for “murderous” global weapons manufacturers. WA Defence Industries Minister Paul Papalia has described the plan as “an opportunity for companies with an international market to establish a presence in WA”. “We want to attract global companies to help shape a sovereign capability that supports our allies and strengthens defence supply chains. “We’re not starting from scratch, WA has the skills, the industrial base and the innovation. This EOI is about bringing it all together and building something bigger.” Dr Thomas said the proposal was still a “million miles” from a firm commitment into new jobs for the Collie community. “The failure of the State Government to deliver a real transition to the Collie coal and power industry has once again seen the Collie community having alternative jobs and industry dangled in front of their eyes with no commitment or guarantee they will eventuate,” he said. “The current transition was announced in 2022 and supported by hundreds of millions of dollars, but it has failed to deliver the jobs and alternative industries that were promised.” Dr Thomas said it was unacceptable to discuss possible future employment for Collie residents while secure jobs in the town continued to face challenges. “Those workers who have lost their jobs to date, and the hundreds more that will follow them out over the next three years, deserve a real and deliverable transition,” he said. “It is not good enough to say, ‘maybe in Collie’ about every possible industrial development thought up by the State Government.” Ms McNeill however said the proposal was a “sickening development” for a town sold a transition plan promising greens jobs. “I am truly astounded that of all the transition options for Collie to move on from coal, this is what the Cook Labor Government has planned,” she said. “The Collie community was sold a transition plan that promised greens jobs as our State became a renewable energy superpower, instead they’re having a missile factory seemingly run by foreign arms dealers forced upon them. “Western Australia must not become a home for murderous global weapons manufacturers like this or a supplier to our genocidal, so-called allies. “We have people sleeping in cars and struggling to put food on the table, our hospitals are overflowing and yet all the Cook Labor Government can think about is tempting these murderous industries to set up shop here — they are completely out of touch.”