Defence experts say rethink needed on WA’s coast to bolster infrastructure after Chinese flotilla test

In the wake of the three Chinese warships that stalked the Australian coastline last week, there are growing concerns about Australia’s ability to refuel navy ships when they are on missions in WA’s north.

Lacklustre infrastructure in the State and the fact that the navy’s only two replenishment ships are currently in a NSW workshop have been cited as major problems.

And this has led to calls for more infrastructure and to revisit plans to build port facilities with the capacity for Defence vessels to refuel in Exmouth Gulf.

Euan Graham, from the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, said at-sea refuelling was critical.

“I think the Chinese basically have shown that our capability is threadbare,” he said.

“Here they are 8000km away from home with a state of the line cruiser and frigate able to stay out for a three-ocean circumnavigation of Australia.

“Where we clearly are not in a position to do the opposite under our own steam at the moment.”

Dr Graham said Australia relied on borrowing New Zealand’s replenishment vessel when required and warned if the Chinese continued to venture south, refuelling infrastructure – on land and at sea – needed to be improved.

Currently, Australian vessels generally complete a more than 2000km round-trip back to Rockingham for any monitoring efforts in the State’s northern waters.

Rockingham will be the home of AUKUS nuclear-powered submarines, but experts said the Exmouth Gulf plans needed to be revived as well.

Australian-owned company Gascoyne Gateway has for several years pitched to build a commercial port in the gulf which could sustain Defence needs and also cater to tourist ships.

“We see our project as being crucial,” chief executive Daniel Jackson said.

“With the chances of a Chinese presence in the region something likely that will increase over time, it’s likely greater infrastructure will be needed for Defence.

“We need to be keeping our operation assets in our north-west. It’s a huge State with a massive coastline to protect but reliant on a very slow and vulnerable supply chain.”

The hub has, however, been contentious with the local community due to environmental concerns in the gulf.

Dr Graham said US ships had been based off Exmouth in the 1940s and Australia should consider a worst-case scenario back-up port.

“In some sense, it would take us back to the future - because WA served as a major submarine base for the US in the Second World War,” he said.

“Given HMAS Stirling is going to be a vital hub for submarine operations in future, and it is the second most important Fleet Base after Sydney, then yes, you’re going to need some redundancy.

“You have to have a plan B. So, if your main facilities are knocked out, you’re not reduced to zero.”

In 2023, Australia’s defence strategic review stated that WA’s north was the first line of defence alongside the NT and needed more defence infrastructure.

Maritime security specialist Jennifer Parker said Australia needed to rethink how it used northern WA.

“The north-west has become incredibly important to our economy. We do need to think about our vulnerabilities in that area. There are limited refuelling opportunities,” she said.

“When you look at where Gascoyne Gateway is positioned, that actually was a critical area for the basing of naval assets during World War II. I do think we need to look at our posture there.”

A spokesman for the Defence Department said Australia’s two replenishment vessels would be out of the workshop soon.