This week I’ve been in Australia as part of a delegation making links with our counterparts on AUKUS – the defence and security partnership with Australia and the US that is so important to our area. This is part of the work I have been doing to ensure that we maximise the benefits of this partnership locally.
I want to improve collaboration and build economic and community links with the communities in Osborne, Australia where they will build Australia’s AUKUS boats, and Perth where they will maintain them in future years. I was accompanied by Barrow Mayor, councillor Fred Chatfield, two of our BAE apprentices, former submariner and Team Barrow member Jim Perks and Alison Tooby from Love Barrow Families.
We’ve been speaking of the immense pride we have for our BAE Systems shipyard and discussing how we can further benefit our respective towns under the AUKUS agreement.
The world is watching how this collaboration develops, because it’s crucial to our common security with global stability shifting.
We see rising tensions, new technologies changing the nature of defence, and increasing pressure on the rules that have helped to keep peace between nations.
Against that backdrop, strong partnerships between trusted allies are essential.
When nations that share values and outlooks work closely together by pooling expertise, sharing technology and supporting one another, it strengthens stability for everyone, we’re stronger together.
In the coming years this will play such a pivotal role in the AUKUS pact between ourselves, Australia and the United States.
I’ve been welcomed by the Australians, and in one address I reminded the audience of the strong historical ties between our nations and of how those bonds can grow stronger under this alliance.
They were interested to hear that Barrow has been delivering world-class submarines for the Royal Navy for more than a century, with shipbuilding being part of our DNA. It shapes our local identity, gives us a sense of pride and purpose, and is the backbone of our local economy.
We packed in meetings with technology colleges, universities and businesses. We have spent time with representatives at the manufacturing site at Osborne, Sterling and Henderson, and had productive meetings with the Governor of South Australia, MPs from both State and Federal Government, Australia’s new High Commissioner to the UK, and the Australian Submarine Agency. I was proud to join Barrow-built Astute-class submarine HMS Anson as it made its historic visit to Australia. My focus throughout has been on building the links and ensuring that we are getting the investment needed so that south Cumbria is benefiting as much as possible from the AUKUS partnership and increased UK defence investment.
The future for our area holds so much promise with the Prime Minister calling Barrow the blueprint for the rest of the country. All eyes are on us, both nationally and internationally and we now need to ensure that the £200 million transformation fund is maximised to attract a much larger investment into our town.
Like many industrial areas, we’ve lived through economic shifts and fluctuating global demands, but our story is one of resilience; repeatedly Barrow has adapted and reinvented itself. We are now set for period of sustained growth and investment that will transform our communities and deliver good, well-paid, jobs in many sectors, not just defence.
Today we’re focused on the future: investing in skills, supporting innovation, improving transport links, and making sure the next generation can seize the opportunities ahead.
We want our young people not only to inherit Barrow’s proud legacy, but to shape its next chapter.
We will still do fierce battle with the Aussies on the rugby field, or try to skittle them out on the cricket pitch, but our rapidly developing defence alliance is as cordial and as solid as they come.
