More defence resources could be sent to the northern West Australian coast to protect critical assets following a new review of the Australian Defence Force's strategic positions, according to experts.
Representatives from the North West Defence Alliance — made up of five Pilbara and four Kimberley shires — travelled to Canberra last week to meet with Australian defence personnel to advocate for a stronger defence presence on the northern coast.
The trip came a month after the alliance advocated for missiles and large-scale bases to be set up in the Pilbara and Kimberley, including important defence assets like the Curtin RAAF base, the Learmonth Air Base and the Yampi Sound training area.
Shire of Derby West Kimberley president Geoff Haerewa, the deputy chair of the alliance, said the region was vulnerable.
Mr Haerewa said the war in Ukraine and the recent appearance of a high-tech Chinese surveillance ship off the coast of Exmouth had drilled home the importance of protecting the north coast.
Two months ago the ship was spotted close to the Harold E Hold naval station off the tourist town, with then Defence Minister Peter Dutton calling the presence of the ship so far south "unprecedented".
"We've got some significant assets that belong to the defence force," Mr Haerewa said.
"We do feel exposed and vulnerable around the North West, and we obviously have [a large amount] of the country's wealth coming out of the Pilbara.
Mr Haerewa said talks with defence personnel had been positive.
'Critically important' coast
University of Western Australia and Defence Security Institute chair Dr Peter Dean said it was a good time for local shires to advocate for greater security assets on the northern coast.
"During opposition in the election campaign, [the Albanese government] committed to a new Force Posture Review," Dr Dean said.
"Richard Marles, the deputy prime minister and Defence Minister, has noted on a number of occasions that he's following through on that … review."
A Force Posture Review is a comprehensive look on how and where Australian Defence Force assets are positioned around the country to deal with current and future threats to national security and strategy.
The Albanese government has committed to focusing on the Indo-Pacific in its review, and remaining in lockstep with security concerns in the United States.
"My guess is there will be a heavy emphasis on the north west of Western Australia, particularly because that's where an extraordinarily large amount of Australia's exports and commodities come through," Dr Dean said.
"Basically 50 per cent of the GDP, or the national economy basically, is developed in northern Australia.
"It's critically important to our economy and critically important to our security.
"And of course, the international security environment has not gotten any better over the last 10 years since the last review was done."
Councils get involved
Dr Dean said having local shires advocating for more resources was a new and positive step.
"While it's localised, councils are working very positively and very proactively on the defence and security implications of their local area. That has real national implications for Australia," he said.
Mr Haerewa said the alliance would be working on a paper to give to government.
"Our objective is to be in the face of the defence force and the Defence Minister as much as we possibly can. Like I said, navigating through that myriad of command structures is quite a task," he said.
"The Army Navy or Air Force coming into a region or coming to a town can transform those towns quite dramatically."
