Pine Gap on the West Coast

The Australian Greens today voiced their opposition to plans for a new US military facility outside Geraldton, Western Australia.
 
"Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett has confirmed that negotiations are well underway to install a US military facility - despite there being no consultation with the state or local governments, or the local community," Senator Scott Ludlam said.
 
"The mid-west coast of Western Australia is fast becoming a significant military installation, with facilities that will enable the US military and its allies to coordinate air strikes and military manoeuvres in the Middle East and Asia being built near the existing Australian Defence Signals Directorate."
 
"This will make Geraldton the west coasts' Pine Gap," said Senator Ludlam.
 
"As a result, the local community has an increased risk of attack, yet they are not being given the opportunity to voice their opinion on the proposal."
 
The Australian Defence Department has advised that the meteorological satellite ground station "would provide United States forces and other users with information on weather patterns across the globe".
 
"Resources such as this could be much better targeted at collecting valuable data used in the fight against climate change rather than to fight other nations. Instead, this military application is similar to the facilities used to determine the times and routes of air strikes against Iraqi targets, the organisation of aerial refuelling operations, the planning of ground operations and in programming the orbits of US photo surveillance satellites," said Senator Ludlam.
 
"The people of Geraldton, Western Australia and the whole country deserve to be brought into the conversation about US military bases in their backyard," Senator Ludlam concluded.
 
For comment contact Scott Ludlam on 0417 174 302

MEDIA OPPORTUNITY
Thursday 21 August from 3.30pm:
 
Senator Scott Ludlam will be in Geraldton with Dee Margetts, the former Greens member and current candidate for the Agricultural Region and will be available for comment.