The Western Australian government has signed a memorandum of
understanding (MOU) with US defence giant General Dynamics, signalling a
further deepening of the state’s involvement in the AUKUS security partnership
and Australia’s growing alignment with global defence supply chains.
The MOU, announced this week by WA Defence Industry Minister
Paul Papalia, is part of a broader strategy to attract international investment
to Western Australia’s defence sector, particularly in preparation for the
construction, maintenance, and sustainment of nuclear-powered submarines under
the AUKUS agreement.
General Dynamics, headquartered in Reston, Virginia, is the
fifth-largest arms manufacturer globally by revenue, according to the Stockholm
International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). The company manufactures a wide
range of defence products including submarines, tanks, artillery, missiles, and
aircraft systems. It is a major supplier to the US Department of Defense, with
contracts that span multiple decades and involve the production of advanced
platforms such as the Virginia-class attack submarine, M1 Abrams battle tank,
and Stryker combat vehicle.
General Dynamics' long-standing involvement in global
defence programs has also drawn scrutiny. Human rights organisations, including
Amnesty International and various UN special rapporteurs, have raised concerns
about the company’s provision of weaponry to conflict zones, most notably the
Middle East. In June 2023, UN experts specifically cited General Dynamics among
a group of Western arms manufacturers for its role in supplying weapons used by
the Israeli military in Gaza, warning of potential complicity in violations of
international humanitarian law.
General Dynamics manufactures the PGU-14/B, a 30mm round designed for use in tanks and fighter jets. The round's penetrator is made of depleted uranium, a radioactive by-product of nuclear enrichment. This material is effective for penetrating armour but has been linked to increased cancer risk, particularly for those who inhale the dust it generates on impact.
One of the most controversial munitions associated with the
company is the MK-84 2,000-pound bomb, a high-explosive device capable of
levelling multi-storey buildings. These bombs have been used in repeated
Israeli operations in Gaza. In late 2023, the Biden administration temporarily
suspended a shipment of MK-84s to Israel, citing growing concern about the
impact of such weaponry on civilian populations in densely populated areas.
The WA Greens have sharply criticised the decision to
formalise ties with General Dynamics. In a public statement, state Greens
leader Senator Dorinda Cox described the agreement as “deeply concerning,”
arguing it risks enmeshing Western Australia in geopolitical conflicts far
beyond its borders.
“This MOU reinforces concerns that WA’s defence strategy,
particularly under AUKUS, could deepen ties with foreign weapons companies
operating in regions of ongoing conflict,” Senator Cox said.
The Cook government has defended the deal, saying it is
focused on economic development, skills training, and the growth of a
sustainable defence industrial base in WA. Minister Papalia emphasised the
potential benefits for local businesses and workers, positioning WA as a
critical partner in Australia’s evolving security infrastructure.
Australia’s Strategic Pivot and the AUKUS Framework
The agreement comes at a time of significant change in
Australia’s national defence posture. Under the AUKUS pact, announced in
September 2021 by the leaders of Australia, the United States, and the United
Kingdom, the three nations have committed to closer cooperation on advanced
military technologies, including cybersecurity, artificial intelligence,
hypersonics, and, most notably, nuclear-powered submarines.
The nuclear submarine component—known as Pillar I of
AUKUS—will see Australia acquire a fleet of at least eight nuclear-powered,
conventionally armed submarines, with a mix of US Virginia-class vessels and
future SSN-AUKUS submarines jointly developed with the UK. The program is
expected to cost up to $368 billion over the next three decades, with the first
submarines to arrive from the US in the early 2030s, followed by
Australian-built vessels from the 2040s.
Western Australia is set to play a key role in AUKUS
implementation. The HMAS Stirling naval base on Garden Island, near Perth, will
be the site of a rotational deployment of US and UK nuclear submarines starting
later this decade. Upgrades to port infrastructure, training facilities, and
maintenance capabilities are already underway, with significant federal funding
committed to expanding the local shipbuilding and sustainment workforce.
However, the program is not without its critics.
Environmental groups, anti-nuclear campaigners, and some defence experts have
questioned the economic feasibility, strategic value, and long-term
implications of AUKUS. Concerns have also been raised about the erosion of
Australia’s sovereign defence decision-making and the environmental risks
associated with nuclear technology.
Calls for Transparency and Oversight
The WA Greens have called for the immediate cancellation of
the MOU with General Dynamics, warning that the deal could entrench WA’s role
in a global arms trade that has been linked to human rights violations.
“Rather than anchoring WA’s economy to the international
weapons industry, the state should invest in sustainable industries such as
clean energy, technology, and manufacturing,” Senator Cox said.
Human rights advocates have echoed these concerns, urging
both state and federal governments to increase transparency around foreign
defence partnerships and to conduct rigorous human rights due diligence before
engaging with multinational weapons contractors.
While the WA government maintains the MOU is non-binding and
primarily focused on industrial collaboration, critics argue that such
agreements signal a growing military-industrial alignment that risks
overshadowing ethical considerations in Australia’s foreign policy and defence
strategy.
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