Defence installations such as missiles and large-scale bases should be built in Western Australia's north to protect the region's export industries, according to local leaders.
The state's north generates hundreds of billions of dollars for the national economy, with most of the funds coming from the lucrative resources industry.
North West Defence Alliance (NWDA) chair Peter Long, who is also the Mayor of Karratha, said despite the region's significance to the country, it had long lacked investment and attention from defence.
"We're really quite concerned about the exposure that we have in a world that's increasingly dangerous," he said.
The NWDA is made up of nine local governments in the region, which currently has observational forces such as the Pilbara Regiment.
There are also two unmanned RAAF bases – at Curtin in the Kimberley and Learmonth near Exmouth.
It was revealed on Friday that a high-tech Chinese surveillance ship had been tracked off the WA coast, close to a secretive naval facility at Exmouth that supports American and other allied submarines.
Mr Long said Australia was dealing with an uncertain strategic environment and called for a bigger military presence to deter potential threats from directing aggression at local gas and mining assets.
"We've got hundreds of billions of dollars in infrastructure being built up here, and it's really not being protected at all," he said.
"If something happens, it'll probably happen very quickly and we think we need more of a deterrent.
Ashburton prioritises base
The Ashburton Shire is a member of the NWDA and will lobby for a new defence base at the coastal town of Onslow.
Chief executive Ken Donohoe said advocating for the base was one of the council's key priorities this year.
He said the proposed base would reduce Defence's reliance on the Henderson Naval Base more than 1,000 kilometres south in the Perth suburb Kwinana.
He said the shire wanted a resupply point built at Onslow and claimed it could save Defence $6.1 million a year in fuel, food and human resources costs.
Mr Donohoe said the idea had not been costed and there was no timeline for completion.
"It's an advocacy position, and council is identifying ... the assets that are available," he said.
Onslow unlikely, but region vital
Northern Australia strategic policy expert John Coyne said the region was important to national security and forward planning was required.
He commended the Shire of Ashburton's plan but said it was unlikely to be successful because the pre-existing facilities at Onslow were not appropriate.
Despite this, Dr Coyne said the region was a "connection point" between Australia and the global economy and had strong potential for more defence facilities.
"It's got good strategic geography for both Australia and its allies to be able to operate across the region."
