When will North-West Australia have a permanent naval base?

Australia’s North West Coast continues to be left devoid of any permanent naval bases despite being home to so much of the nation’s natural wealth.

This is a region which has been so important to Australia’s continued economic strength during these years of sustained global economic decline. West Australia’s Pilbara region alone provides the around 60 per cent of Australia’s total exports to China.
This is a region that also holds the key to our future economic strength. Currently there is over $200 billion in liquefied natural gas projects planned in the area.
According to the Bureau of Resources and Energy Economics, this offshore wealth will see Australia soon overtake Qatar as the biggest exporter of LNG in the world.
In spite of this huge natural wealth, Australia’s permanent naval capacity remains concentrated on our east coast. With the coast between Perth and Darwin remaining completely unprotected.
With China beginning to flex its military muscles in the South China Sea, there has never been a clearer example of why continued military investment is necessary. Putting some more permanent infrastructure on our North West littoral is the perfect place to start.