$12bn ‘downpayment’ on WA shipyard to help prepare it for Aukus submarine era

Henderson defence precinct to be used to build surface vessels and maintain submarines

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The federal government is making a $12bn “downpayment” on a shipbuilding facility in Western Australia to prepare it for future nuclear-powered submarines.

The Henderson defence precinct will cost $25bn over a decade and will be used to build surface vessels and to dock and sustain submarines including those to be delivered under the Aukus agreement.