Two of Perth’s largest defence contractors have been given the green light to keep asking workers about their nationality – and in some cases, prevent them from working on projects involving top-secret US military information.

BAE Systems Australia and ASC Shipbuilding, which will eventually be maintaining nuclear-powered submarines at Henderson shipyard, secured a new five-year exemption from anti-discrimination laws in a ruling by the State Administrative Tribunal on June 14.

The Henderson shipyard is one of the locations BAE and ASC staff are employed in WA. Credit: Bradley Darvill

It would normally be unlawful to exclude staff based on race, place of birth or nationality. But the tribunal accepted the companies must comply with strict US defence export laws that block people wit

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