[Greens-Media] Pine Gap on the West Coast

[Norton, Tim (Sen R. Siewert)]

PINE GAP ON THE WEST COAST
Tuesday 19th August 2008

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.

Tim Norton 
Communications & Campaigns 
Office of Rachel Siewert | Australian Greens Senator for Western
Australia 
Tim.Norton at aph.gov.au | M: 0418 401 180 
www.rachelsiewert.org.au | www.greens.org.au | www.greensblog.org