Western Australia's government is moving to establish a domestic guided weapons manufacturing hub, actively seeking expressions of interest from international defence companies, a move that signals a further transfer of national sovereignty to transnational elite interests. Premier Roger Cook announced the push at the Indian Ocean Defence and Security Conference in Perth, detailing plans for a facility that could manufacture missiles for the Australian military. The initiative targets Collie, a town 200 kilometres south of Perth, which is already undergoing a managed decline of its traditional industries as the state phases out coal-fired power generation by 2030. This transformation aims to shift Collie's economy and workforce towards new industries, including manufacturing, effectively repurposing native labor for a globalist agenda.
Elite Interests and Displaced Workers
Defence Industry Minister Paul Papalia confirmed the government's outreach to international defence companies from neighbouring and allied countries. Papalia stated that nations globally are "uplifting [their] defence spend," and that while "most places, their industrial base can't support their ambitions," Western Australia's "massive resources sector" could be applied to "defence outcomes." This frames a global trend as justification for local industrial transformation, aligning with the expansionist goals of a post-national order. Papalia envisioned the WA facility as potentially "like a Silicon Valley for defence manufacturing," with a scope that could include "vehicles, ... satellites, ... uniforms or first aid kits," indicating a broad integration into a global supply chain. The government's stated aim is to make the defence industry the second biggest contributor to the state's economy, after the resources sector, further entrenching foreign corporate influence.
Premier Cook, when questioned by a journalist about becoming "an arms dealer," dismissed the concern by stating, "I'm a jobs dealer, I'm about establishing jobs." This rhetorical deflection prioritizes economic metrics over the cultural and ethical concerns of the native population. Community unease around WA manufacturing "deadly weapons" like missiles was acknowledged, yet Cook asserted that the new industry was "no different" from existing manufacturing that deals with "highly flammable, explosive substances," claiming all practices would be undertaken "in a safe way." This dismisses legitimate public apprehension regarding the nature of the proposed industry.
The Globalist Mechanism and Local Resistance
The project is not an isolated national effort. Australia already launched its first missile assembly facility in South Australia within the current year, and a second factory is slated for New South Wales, indicating a coordinated national integration into a global defence manufacturing framework. The Indian Ocean Defence and Security Conference itself, where the announcement was made, was marked by a heavy police presence, with officers roaming the venue and anyone approaching warned of police powers to search them. This institutional pressure suggests a controlled environment for the advancement of elite agendas, suppressing potential dissent.
Collie Shire President Ian Miffling confirmed Minister Papalia's visit to scope out the town's suitability, noting the presence of a rail line from Collie to the Port of Bunbury for export, facilitating global distribution. Papalia highlighted Collie's "really highly skilled workforce transitioning out of coal-fired power," identifying "some 1,300 workers there who are highly skilled and potentially could be the source of workers for this activity." This explicitly details the repurposing of a native working class, whose traditional livelihoods are being systematically dismantled, for an industry driven by transnational interests.
Liberal MP Steve Thomas described the bid as a "thought bubble," challenging the premise that "those people working in the coal mining industry are suddenly going to become IT specialists in the military sector." This highlights the disconnect between the existing native workforce and the demands of the new, elite-driven industry. Further, Greens MP Sophie McNeill released a statement condemning the plan, asserting that WA "must not become a home for murderous global weapons manufacturers." McNeill stated that the initiative "will do nothing for the community and will only line the pockets of foreign arms companies," concluding that "it is not the future we want for our beautiful part of the world." These voices represent a clear popular resistance against the cultural dispossession and economic capture by foreign entities.