Senator the Hon Simon Birmingham

Progress continues to be made on Western Australia’s Centre for National Resilience, with global construction company Multiplex today selected to deliver the project.

Following the finalisation of various independent feasibility studies and negotiations, the centre will be built at a site on Commonwealth-owned land within the Bullsbrook Training Area.

It will be constructed and owned by the Commonwealth, but will be operated by the Western Australian Government for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Finance Minister Simon Birmingham said the facility would initially enhance our ability to continue to safely return travellers into Australia and be available for use in future natural disasters or future health crises.

“This centre will be there to help us respond to ongoing curveballs that COVID-19 may continue to throw our way,” Minister Birmingham said.

“Whilst it will be used for any ongoing quarantine requirements during the COVID-19 pandemic, it will also be available in the years to come for other important uses such as supporting responses to natural disasters or other emergencies.

“Whilst a number of sites around Perth were considered, the Bullsbrook site provides the best option for the centre to be delivered quickly and cost effectively, so that more international travel can be safely facilitated sooner.

“Multiplex is making strong progress in its work to deliver the Centre for National Resilience in Victoria, and I am pleased that we will be able to draw on their experience and expertise to deliver this centre in WA.”

Minister for Defence Industry and Member for Durack Melissa Price welcomed the Government’s commitment to the Bullsbrook facility.

“This new facility, once completed, will go a long way to ensuring West Australians and Australians can safely return home to their families when quarantining is necessary,” Minister Price said.

“I am looking forward to working with the City of Swan to maximise the opportunities for businesses in this new part of my electorate.

“This support from the Morrison Government will help to ensure that WA and indeed Australia can open so that we can get the local and national economy firing on all cylinders.”

Multiplex is an established global construction company founded in Perth that has delivered over 1,000 projects across the world and has an outstanding track record of successfully delivering complex projects in Australia.

Multiplex will engage several modular construction companies to provide modular buildings for the facility. We are continuing to work towards the first 500 beds being operational in the first quarter of next year.