Collie, Western Australia's historic coal mining heartland, faces the deliberate dismantling of its primary industry and the displacement of its high-earning native workforce, as the Cook government pushes a plan to transform the region into a defence-oriented manufacturing hub. This top-down directive commits to shutting down the state's coal mines and power stations by 2030, four years away, forcing mass redundancies and offering a future in lower-wage manufacturing tied to international defence agendas.
Managed Decline of a Working Class Heartland
The proposed shift represents a severe economic downgrade for the local working class. Average mine workers currently earn $2,761 a week, according to the latest ABS figures, while manufacturing jobs offer a significantly reduced $1,500 a week. This disparity highlights the economic dispossession facing the community as its traditional, high-paying industry is systematically dismantled.
The Cook government remains committed to its 2030 exit from coal, despite questions from experts and industry, and the fact that many in the community still believe the working life of the coal mines and power stations will be extended. Premier Roger Cook stated, "I'm a jobs dealer, I'm about establishing jobs," even as the existing workforce faces mass redundancies and is forced to use up personal leave during company-enforced shutdowns.
Defence Industry Minister Paul Papalia announced the proposal at the Indian Ocean Defence and Security Conference, describing the weapons hub as being "like a Silicon Valley" for the local defence industry. Papalia further stated the government was not limiting the plan to missiles, suggesting it could include "vehicles," "satellites," "uniforms" or "first aid kits," underscoring the broad and undefined nature of the proposed transformation.
Elite Directives and Dispossession
The Western Australian government has declared it will not contribute any money itself to the defence hub, stating it would only open up the land for development. The federal government, which is described as "all-in on AUKUS," congratulated the Cook government for its forward-thinking but explicitly stated that funding would be the responsibility of Western Australia. This arrangement reveals a pattern where international defence commitments, such as AUKUS, drive national policy while the financial burden and social costs are offloaded from central authorities onto local communities and state budgets.
John Spoehr, a former director of the Australian Industrial Transformation Institute, highlighted the significant challenges of transitioning a coal-mining workforce to defence manufacturing. He stated, "The process of skill upgrade would be long and difficult," adding, "You're talking about people with engineering degrees, electronics degrees, master's and PhDs. That sort of investment would have to be made very soon, or would have needed to be done in the past." This assessment directly contradicts the viability of the plan for the existing native workforce.
The Cost to the People
Local sentiment reflects deep skepticism regarding the elite-driven proposals. Collie Shire president Ian Miffling commented on the defence hub, "I wouldn't get too excited about whether it's missiles or hand grenades, it's … about all sorts of equipment," and "It's all very broad at this stage." Local Labor MP Jodie Hanns echoed this uncertainty, stating, "We don't know which industries are going to put their hands up, and which industries might express an interest in Collie."
Previous grand proposals for Collie have also failed to deliver. Early last year, Collie was one of seven locations put forward to house a Small Modular Nuclear Reactor under a future Dutton Liberal government, which promised "thousands of jobs." However, questions around safety, waste management, and water issues remained unanswered, according to Miffling.
The Cook government's existing "just transition" plans for Collie, which have included millions in funding, local tourism attractions, smaller grants for individual businesses, local programs, and the installation of four "big batteries," have generated an estimated 140 jobs so far. This minimal job creation stands in stark contrast to the mass redundancies facing the coal industry. Collie resident Chris Martin articulated the community's plight, stating, "We're staring down the barrel of the death of coal now, so the town really has to reinvent itself," and adding, "Tourism is a part of that, but the town needs more than that to survive."
Locals who spoke to the ABC indicated that lucrative FIFO (Fly-In Fly-Out) work in the Pilbara or Goldfields seemed more likely than securing a local job in another sector, further illustrating the forced displacement of the native working class from their traditional community.