Australia's richest state could become a military weapons manufacturing hub as it pushes to boost its role in the nation's growing defence industry.
Premier Roger Cook said defence was set to become Western Australia's second-biggest money earner after mining, as he spruiked a plan to create a defence manufacturing hub on Tuesday.
"The world is an uncertain place today, and WA is in a key geopolitical space as part of our overall defence efforts," he told reporters at the Indian Ocean Defence and Security Conference in Perth.
"We can't turn our back on the rest of the world ... it's important that we continue to do what we can to continue to make WA a secure and peaceful place to live."
