Premier Roger Cook insists it is full steam ahead with AUKUS in WA despite Trump review of nuclear pact

Roger Cook has conceded “elements” of AUKUS might be “varied” but was confident the nuclear pact — and the WA jobs depending on it — will survive a Trump review. WA is counting on AUKUS to deliver a multi-billion dollar investment in ship building and maintenance at Henderson and HMAS Stirling, with a rotating force of nuclear-powered submarines due to be anchored off Perth from 2027, years before the purchase of Australia’s own fleet. “Whether there’s elements of this which are varied as a result of this particular review, the fact of the matter will remain the US and UK will need to have deployed their subs to Western Australia,” Mr Cook told reporters on Thursday. “For the purposes of light maintenance and sustainment, they will need to continue to come here for depot maintenance as well so we are confident of that. “We also know that the Federal Government will undertake its frigate construction and other surface vessel construction at Henderson, so that is where the big part for WA comes from in relation to jobs.” The Pentagon confirmed a review of AUKUS on Thursday as “part of ensuring that this initiative of the previous Administration is aligned with the President’s America First agenda”. Former Trump national security advisor John Bolton has warned downsizing the deal or “potentially total cancellation” would be “catastrophic”, while Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen said the uncertainty would be “met with cheers” from Beijing. But Australia’s Defence Minister, Richard Marles, said a recent UK review “reaffirmed” support for AUKUS and the WA Premier was confident a US review would do the same. “We are confident the principles will remain in place,” Mr Cook said. “There’s going to be a review, that was anticipated and not unexpected, but we expect the principles will remain in place. “They still need the Henderson facility for surface vessel construction and U.K. and the U.S. have signalled that they want to see a big uplift in their submarine construction capacity. They can’t do that without the supply chains that Australia offers. “So we will be hardwired into their global supply chain in relation to nuclear sub construction.” The $368 billion AUKUS pact was signed by Scott Morrison, Joe Biden and Boris Johnson in 2021, to share nuclear technology. Australia plans to build five SSN-AUKUS submarines and is due to buy 3 Virginia Class nuclear-powered subs from the United States in the 2030’s, but production in the U.S is not keeping up with its own demands. AUKUS was the trigger for a major redevelopment of the shipyard at Henderson, with the Albanese Government investing $127 million into planning for a new defence precinct expected to create up to 10,000 jobs.