Papalia reiterates support for Rockingham technopole

Defence Issues Minister Paul Papalia has reiterated his support for the City of Rockingham’s proposal to establish a technopole with French industry, in a bid to capitalise on the national future submarine project.

The Telegraph broke the news of the local government’s plans earlier this year, with the project now looking closer to being official announced.

Business France, the French Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and French submarine builders DCNS have expressed support for a high-tech hub to be developed at the former Murdoch University Rockingham campus.

A technopole is a dedicated centre of high-tech manufacturing and information-based industry sectors.

Rockingham’s Renaissance Technopole will be used to transfer French intellectual property to Australian industry - a Federal Government requirement when undertaking work for the national shipbuilding plan.

The establishment of the technopole provides a further opportunity to develop a mine counter-measures hub in Western Australia.

This proposal, which Mr Papalia put forward to the Federal Defence Industry Minister Christopher Pyne during his recent trip to Canberra, was also broken in the Telegraph earlier this month.

Mr Papalia said Rockingham was an ideal location to become the centre of WA’s high technology industrial development.

“The McGowan Government is committed to working collaboratively with the City of Rockingham and private business to create a vibrant defence industry and grow jobs,” he said.

“WA boasts an experienced and internationally competitive industry which is ready to participate in Australian and foreign shipbuilding programs.”