text: **G. SLIPWAY.**
  
  Australia, and particularly the north west is impoverished in terms of infrastructure to service 
  
  our marine industries. Some of this has been due to a historical link with our recent industrial 
  
  past. This is now behind us, and Australia has now become a centre of excellence with respect 
  
  to both new building and ship repair, particularly for high tech and specialty vessels. 