Fact Sheet 1 - Militarisation of Australia

The Howard Government is pouring billions of dollars into military spending as part of long-term preparations for ongoing conflict, recklessly tying Australia to Uncle Sam's coattails in endless US terror wars.

On November 20, 2003, Defence Minister Robert Hill was in Washington signing agreements for "seamless interoperability" between the US and Australian military. WA peace activists call interoperability "shorthand for the gradual fusion of the Australian Defence Force into a de-facto arm of the United States military".

Missile defence

The Howard Government's decision to involve Australia in research and development for the US missile defence program ties our country to the Bush administration's new concept of taking warfare into the heavens.

With its commitment to missile defence, Canberra is dragging us into a massively expensive, controversial and still-experimental system which has the potential to provoke a new arms race, seriously destabilise our region and undermine the global strategic balance.

With an Australian military budget already well over $43 million a day and with Medicare and education in desperate need of funding, the decision is irresponsible.

Theatre missile defence

The Defence Capability Review gave the green light for Australia to join the US missile defence program with three new RAN warships, something the US has been demanding for some time.

On November 7, the Defence Minister announced that the three radar detection and missile ships for theatre missile defence will be built.

Darwin

Despite Government denials, it is clear that a US tank unit will based at Darwin. The unit, along with other unspecified US forces, will most likely be transferred from Okinawa where there has been a long campaign by the local government and the community against the huge US base there. This dovetails with current Pentagon thinking, where the emphasis is turning towards a network of small bases or 'transit points' dispersed around the Asia Pacific region.

Okinawa's Governor says the US bases on his island brought a major increase in the crime rate. It has increased levels of prostitution, drugs, alcoholism, rape, sexually transmitted diseases, abuse of women and children and other social problems.

There are also dangers of pollution from repairs and maintenance programs.

Defence Minister Hill has announced a billion-dollar purchase of tanks from the US plus 100 Joint Strike Fighters and the new multi-purpose vessels that also carry troops and helicopters.

Sea swap

In Western Australia during 2003 sea swaps of US Navy crews were trialled in Fremantle. Sea swaps involve the swapping of complete crews from the US while in foreign ports to save the US money and time.

The trial is designed to save fuel, money and time, keeping the ships on station for longer and reducing the amount of time taken returning to the US. It has been predicted that each swap will save the US Navy roughly US$9 million in fuel and overheads.

Environmental concerns range from accidents involving nuclear weapons or reactors to other toxic chemicals in munitions, fuel, paint and thinners, greases, heavy metals, acids, PCBs, oils and solvents. There is not a US military base in the world that does not have some soil and/or ground water contamination.

The social implications include an increase in violence, drug and alcohol abuse, prostitution, crime and sexual related illness, plus an increased threat of terrorist attack.

The US Navy has also been offered the use of the shipbuilding and repair facilities at the Australian Marine Complex at Cockburn Sound. This will probably require dredging the Sound to accommodate larger US ships, causing unknown environmental problems.

Pine Gap

Add these preparations to the role of the US spy base at Pine Gap and it becomes clear that Australia is being turned into a major military base to serve US interests.

Independent policy

Far from making Australia safe, the military build up and the sacrifice of the nation's sovereignty and independence to US global aspirations will place our country in increased danger.

Australia needs an independent, non-aligned foreign policy that genuinely serves the defence of our country and the need for peace and stability in the region.

By Dr Hannah Middleton
Co-Convenor, Sydney Peace and Justice Coalition

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