Port Kembla identified as preferred AUKUS base in secret report

Port Kembla Named Preferred Site for AUKUS Nuclear Submarine Base in Secret NSW Documents

Secret documents prepared by the former New South Wales government have identified Port Kembla, a port city 75 kilometres south of Sydney, as the preferred east coast location for Australia’s proposed nuclear-powered submarine base under the AUKUS agreement. The papers, tabled in the NSW parliament on Friday, warn that the base could turn the area into a “target for Australian military adversaries” and face strong public resistance.

The documents, drawn up by the NSW cabinet office and the premier’s department, were released under a parliamentary order obtained by Greens MLC Abigail Boyd. They state that Port Kembla is the preferred site among shortlisted locations that also included Newcastle and Brisbane. No final decision has been announced, but the documents provide the clearest indication yet of the state government’s thinking.

According to the analysis, the East Coast Base (ECNB) would harbour submarines with nuclear reactors fuelled by highly enriched uranium. In the event of military conflict, the base could be a target for adversaries. The report also notes that residents may perceive the base similarly to a nuclear power station, as a source of environmental disaster risk.

“Residents are likely to perceive the east coast nuclear base as a source of risk due to there being nuclear reactors on board the submarines and the military base being a potential military target,” the documents say.

The release has drawn a sharp response from the South Coast Labour Council (SCLC), which represents unions in the region. Its secretary, Arthur Rorris, said the base would “place a massive target on our backs” and warned of “political fallout” if the project proceeds. Rorris noted that schools are within walking distance of the proposed site and that the project would have significant effects on health services, roads and house prices.

“The admission by the government’s own reports that our transport, health, security, industrial land capacity and housing will all suffer tells you why the government kept it secret from our people,” he said.

Rorris also expressed doubt about the timeline of the AUKUS submarine program, noting that US submarine building is falling years behind schedule and that Australia’s spending on the pact is blowing out. He said it was becoming clearer that Australian-built nuclear submarines may not materialise, and Port Kembla could instead become “a base for US subs that we are paying for.”

The federal government announced in March 2022 its intention to build an east coast base for the nuclear-powered, conventionally armed submarines it plans to acquire under AUKUS. The submarines are expected to be stationed initially in South Australia and Western Australia, with an east coast base to follow. The documents suggest the base could be operational by 2040.

New South Wales Planning Minister Paul Scully, who represents the Wollongong area, has distanced the current state Labor government from the report, stating that it was prepared under the previous Liberal government. “This was all work that was done by the Perrottet government, there is no work that is going on by the current government,” he told reporters in Port Kembla on Monday.

Community opposition is already significant. In September, more than 40 organisations signed the Port Kembla Declaration, insisting their community should not be the site of a nuclear base, arguing it would endanger their community.

The documents also include a cost analysis comparing Port Kembla and Newcastle, examining housing prices, impacts on other industries, and suitability for freight expansion. Port Kembla was deemed the most cost-effective option.

The debate over the base’s location is likely to intensify as the federal government moves closer to a final decision. The AUKUS pact, signed with the UK and US, is a cornerstone of Australia’s defence strategy, but its implementation has faced delays and cost overruns. The release of the secret documents has brought the local implications of the program into sharp focus, pitting national security interests against community concerns.

As the parliamentary inquiry and public scrutiny continue, the people of Port Kembla and surrounding areas will be watching closely to see whether their home becomes the site of a major military installation. For now, the documents have confirmed what many suspected: Port Kembla is at the top of the list, and the debate is far from over.