2500 U.S. marines in Darwin could be immune from Australian criminal laws
Lawyer Diana Rickard from Basewatch said she had concerns over the Status of Forces Agreement 
between Australia and the United States, which sets out the legal terms under which the US forces operate while in Australia.
She said the agreement could allow Americans to escape punishment for crimes committed in the course of their duties….
Critics cautious as US marines head to NT, 9 News, 3 April 12, Critics of the US troop build-up in Darwin remain cautious about the move, despite a recent meeting with a senior military official. As many as 250 US Marines are due to arrive in Darwin late on Tuesday, the first of a build-up that will see 2500 American troops in the city by 2017. The troop influx comes after a defence agreement announced by Barack Obama when he visited Darwin in November last year. Continue reading
Australia likely to agree to U.S. drones stationed on Cocos Islands
In 2014 there will be a new Defence White Paper…. The announcement of the intention to station drones on the Cocos Islands (without even consultation with local inhabitants) indicates that the depths of the forced generosity of the Australian people to US war planners are likely to be plumbed further.
US drones for Cocos Islands, Further steps to war, CPA, Bob Briton, 4 April 12, It was left to the US media to tell Australians about the war preparations being made above their heads by the Gillard Government. The Washington Post broke the story last week that US and Australian officials have been discussing the rapid expansion of the US militarypresence in South-East Asia and the Indian Ocean including the stationing of pilotless drones on the Cocos Islands. Continue reading
USA militarisation in Australia; drones might upset our Asian neighbours
There is increasing concern among strategic analysts and defence experts about what the growing US military presence on Australian territory might mean… the strengthening US presence in Australia appears to be drawing us into a potentially dangerous game of Chinese containment.
why [do] we want a big fleet of subs to contain and deter our largest trading partner ?
These Drones Will Irritate The Neighbours. New Matilda, By Ben Eltham, 29 March 12, What’s our priority – trade with China or strategic links to the US? Reports of US surveillance drones in the Cocos Islands are raising some awkward questions about our ties in the region, writes Ben Eltham
First it was US Marines in Darwin. Then it was proposals for more US Navy ships to operate out of the HMAS Stirling naval base in Fremantle — including aircraft carriers and nuclear attack submarines. Now it’s USsurveillance drones in the Cocos Islands. America’s interest in Australia as a base for its south Asian and Indian Ocean operations appears to be growing…….
The object of that strategy, although few are prepared to talk too openly about it, is of course China. Continue reading
Asian countries not so happy, as Australia to be base for US spy drones
US could fly spy drones from Australian territory, Google News, (AFP) 28 March 12, SYDNEY — Australia on Wednesday said it may allow Washington to use its territory to operate long-range spy drones, as part of an increased US presence in the Asia-Pacific that has rankled China.
The United States and Canberra are planning a major expansion of military ties, with the first of a 2,500-strong Marine deployment to northern Australia unveiled last November by President Barack Obama due to arrive next month.
The plan has irked China and worried some Asian countries who see it as a statement by Washington that it intends to stand up for its interests in the region amid concerns of increasing assertiveness by Beijing.
Australian media carried reports Wednesday citing a Washington Post story that the United States was considering using the Cocos Islands, an atoll in the Indian Ocean off northwest Australia, to launch unmanned surveillance aircraft.
They said the Cocos would replace the present US Indian Ocean base of Diego Garcia, which America leases from Britain and is due to be mothballed in 2016.
Aircraft carriers and nuclear-powered attack submarines could also be based in Perth as part of efforts to refocus American defence resources in the region, the reports added. Australian Defence Minister Stephen Smith said the use of the Cocos Islands was a longer-term option for closer Australia-US engagement and its airstrip would need to be upgraded before it could be used….. http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gLfEBJS3cyp9DztcZ-7U6oTHIzJQ?docId=CNG.78ebb96f24b87291c30fc84ff624c48a.381
Western Australia’s Premier complacent about increasing number of nuclear submarines to Perth
Barnett relaxed over nuclear subs 9 News Mar 28 2012 West Australian Premier Colin Barnett says he has no objection to more American nuclear submarine visits to Perth’s Garden Island naval base if US-Australian defence co-operation is boosted.
The two nations are planning an expansion of military ties including the rotation of US Marines through the Northern Territory and more access to HMAS Stirling at Garden Island in Perth’s south. Mr Barnett told ABC radio on Wednesday he would accept a boosted American presence….. Mr Barnett said the ANZUS defence treaty was the centre of Australia’s
defence policy and Garden Island was a strategic base on the Indian
Ocean which was becoming more central to world affairs. … http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=8442686
North Korea’s missile aim will include Australia
North Korea directs missiles towards Australia, SMH, Peter Hartcher March 24, 2012 NORTH KOREA’S forthcoming missile launch will be aimed towards South-East Asia and Australia for the first time, the US has warned.
The warning was delivered in person yesterday to the Foreign Affairs Minister, Bob Carr, by a senior official in the Obama Administration, Kurt Campbell, during a visit to Sydney. Continue reading
Australia’s rhetoric on nuclear weapons – hollow when we sell uranium to India
“India is not a party to the NPT and there is clear legal advice that selling uranium to India would be in conflict with our obligations under the South Pacific Nuclear Weapons Free Zone Treaty.
The Australian Conservation Foundation has welcomed today’s bipartisan motion on nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament and called for real action to match the rhetoric. “The Prime Minister and Opposition Leader have taken an important step in acknowledging the grave threat posed by nuclear weapons and the importance of nuclear disarmament and abolition,” said ACF nuclear free campaigner Dave Sweeney. Continue reading
USA Nuclear submarines a dangerous presence for Garden Island, Western Australia
Greens Senator Scott Ludlam said the Australian Defence Force posture review – an inquiry into Australian defence bases – was off-target with the suggestion that US nuclear submarines should be serviced at Garden Island. “The risks of routinely floating nuclear reactors in and out of Cockburn Sound shouldn’t be underestimated,” he said. “WA police and emergency services personnel are completely under-resourced to cope with even a minor reactor leak.”
Senator Ludlum said offering infrastructure to nuclear submarines from other countries would damage Australia’s standing due to worldwide efforts towards nuclear disarmament…..
Mr Gray said “The recommendations refer to providing facilities for US nuclear-powered submarines and other vessels.
“Preliminary recommendations of the Australian Defence Force posture review are for Defence to develop options to provide improved facilities for US Navy nuclear-powered submarines.
The review’s final report will be submitted to the Government at the end of this month. The Defence white paper is due to be released in the first quarter of 2014. http://www.inmycommunity.com.au/news-and-views/local-news/Conflict-over-idea-for/7616382/
Labor and Liberal in unison – but this time, to reject nuclear submarines for Australia
The Senate recommitted the vote on the nuclear submarines motion. The government requested this as they voted incorrectly, by mistake. The Liberals, in turn, changed their vote.
Greens welcome Labor and Coalition’s about-turn on nuclear subs motion Labor and the Coalition’s about-turn on their support for nuclear submarines is a welcome acknowledgment that they made a mistake yesterday in a Senate vote, Australian Greens leader Senator Bob Brown said today.
Labor and the Coalition yesterday voted against Senator Brown’s motion: That the Senate reject the proposal, backed by the former Minister for Defence, Mr Peter Reith, for Australia to purchase nuclear submarines serviced in the United States of America (US) or at a US base established in Australia.
But today the government asked for the vote to be recommitted and both parties accepted the motion. “What a difference a day makes,” Senator Brown said.
“Australia’s stance should remain strongly against nuclear power and nuclear military hardware, and that includes housing nuclear vessels from other countries in our ports.”
Australian uranium can go to India’s nuclear weapons: Australia doesn’t care
Indian weapons programme will not deter uranium sale: Australia THE HINDU, NARAYAN LAKSHMAN, 25 FEB 12, Commenting on its decision to allow uranium exports to India, the Australian government this week said that if India hypothetically diverted its domestic uranium into weapons uses following such exports that would be “very upsetting and very bad,” but that development nevertheless “would not alter the direction of the Australian government’s policy.”
Responding to a question from The Hindu on whether resistance to nuclear trade with India in certain international institutions was problematic for this policy decision by Australia, the country’s Ambassador to the United States, Kim Beazley, explained that Australian policy in this regard was driven by two considerations.
The first, Ambassador Beazley said during a media interaction organised by the National Press Club’s International Correspondents Committee, was a statement of principle: “Yes, we are prepared to sell uranium to India. Previously our position was [that we were] not prepared to sell uranium to India.”….The Ambassador also supplied details explaining why Australia had shifted its stance on the matter, outlining several broad issues.
First, Mr. Beazley noted, the Gillard administration believed that so long as Australia had a nuclear agreement with India that was similar to what the U.S. had, that relationship would be “roughly within fingertip-touching distance” of the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty.
Second, he said, Australia “went down and signed that agreement with the Indians basically not because we need the sales. We sell enough uranium… So that’s not important to us. What is important to us is the character of the relationship we have with India, that’s why we made the changes.”
India had clearly conveyed to Australia that it “found us selling to the Chinese and us selling to the Russians and not selling to them to be something of an insult and that had to be dealt with.”
The Ambassador said that it had then become evident to their administration that Australia could not have the sort of relationship with India that it desired if it were operating on a basis that the Indians felt insulted by. “That policy had to change,” Mr. Beazley noted. http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/article2931333.ece?homepage=true
Nuclear submarines for Australia? – drawing us further into the American military machine
the Australian fleet could be maintained at a US base in the Pacific Ocean or a US nuclear submarine base could be established in Australia.” That is, the proposal could provide the rationale to construct a new facility on Australian territory jointly operated with the US military.
All these moves would be viewed in China as highly aggressive.
US ambassador suggests nuclear submarine sale to Australia, World Socialist Website, By Oliver Campbell 29 February 2012 A front page article in the Australian Financial Review on February 22 reported that the US ambassador in Canberra, Jeffrey Bleich, has floated the possibility of Washington selling or leasing nuclear submarines to Australia—a first for any country.
While Defence Minister Stephen Smith restated the Labor Party’s position that it would not consider the “nuclear option”, the report is a further indication of Washington’s moves to strengthen military ties with Australia as it aggressively confronts China….. Continue reading
Nuclear subs for Australia – a multi-billion dollar dead-end
Senator Scott Ludlam, 22 Feb 12, The Greens today vowed to oppose any future move to purchase nuclear submarines for the Australian navy. Senator Scott Ludlam said the Greens welcomed Labor’s opposition to purchasing nuclear submarines but were alarmed by the Coalition’s reported plan to ‘consider the nuclear option’.
“Coalition figures have reportedly said Tony Abbott will consider purchasing nuclear submarines if in government. This idea is defective on every point. “We do not have a nuclear industry to support a nuclear submarine fleet, and nor should we. As such the subs would have to be maintained at aUSbase in the Pacific or aUSnuclear submarine base would need to be established in Australia.
“The giant Virginia Class nuclear submarine costs roughly $2.5 billion. We’ve just had the Gonski report recommend an additional five billion dollars for the nation’s schools. The Coalition has rejected the Gonski recommendations, but apparently would be content to blow that amount of money on two nuclear submarines.”
Senator Ludlam said the purchase of nuclear submarines would likely exacerbate any tensions in the Asia-Pacific region and do more damage than good to Australia’s security.
USA wants to sell or lease nuclear submarines to Australia
US offers Australia nuclear subs: report, Business Spectator, 22 Feb 2012 The United 
States has signalled that it is willing to lease or sell a nuclear-powered submarine to Australia, as the local Defence Department searches for a replacement for its Collins class vessels, according to The Australian Financial Review.
US Ambassador to Australia, Jeffrey Bleich, told the newspaper Washington viewed Australia’s
submarine program as crucial to security in the Asia-Pacific region.
While Defence Minister Stephen Smith has previously ruled out the purchase of a nuclear sub, Coalition leader Tony Abbott would be expected to consider the option if he becomes prime minister, the AFR said…..
At anti-submarine warfare forum, Yankee urges Australia to lease US nuclear submarines
Australia urged to lease subs,Canberra Times, DAVID ELLERY, DEFENCE REPORTER, 11 Feb, 2012 Australia would save billions of dollars if it leased used US nuclear submarines to replace the troubled Collins-class fleet, an American naval expert says.
”If you want to utilise the submarine force for long-range missions the nuclear submarine is the queen of the seas,” Sam Tangredi, a former US naval captain turned academic and strategic analyst, told The Canberra Times.
Dr Tangredi, who was in Canberra to speak at an anti-submarine warfare forum at the Australian Defence College, said taking over some of the submarines due to be retired early by the US Navy as part of its defence cuts was almost certainly the cheapest way to build an interim Australian underwater capability….
US nuclear submarines regularly use Australian ports and the defence posture review has suggested upgrading the submarine wharf at HMAS Stirling in Western Australia to make it better able to take American SSNs.
Defence Minister Stephen Smith recently reaffirmed nuclear submarines were off the agenda as far as replacing the Collins was concerned…. ”People can put the [nuclear] argument forward but that’s the only option that’s not on the table.”… http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/national/national/general/australia-urged-to-lease-subs/2451846.aspx
Nuclear submarines in our ports, a new target for terrorism?
NUCLEAR SUBMARINES NOT WELCOME IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA , 1 feb 2012, Plans to host American nuclear submarines at Garden Island should be rejected, Senator for Western Australia Scott Ludlam said. Senator Ludlam said the Australian Defence Force posture review – an inquiry into Australian defence bases – was off target with the suggestion that US nuclear submarines should be serviced at Garden Island. The risks of routinely floating nuclear reactors in and out of Cockburn sound shouldn’t be underestimated. Western Australian police and emergency services personnel are completely under-resourced to cope with even a minor reactor leak.
Call for more US nuclear sub facilities Canberra Times, BY DAVID ELLERY, DEFENCE REPORTER, 31 Jan, 2012 American nuclear submarines could call Australia home if a proposal by two of Australia’s leading Defence experts is included in the 2014 Defence White Paper. Former Defence Department secretaries Allan Hawke and Ric Smith have called for billions of dollars to be spent to protect Australia’s approaches and keep the fast emerging ”energy belt” safe from attack.
One of their suggestions, released in the interim report of the Force Posture Review, is for the submarine facilities at Fleetbase West – Perth’s HMAS Stirling – to be upgraded so they can be used to support US nuclear submarines….
Current Labor policy rules out any consideration of a nuclear option in $36billion replacement of the Collins fleet. Continue reading
1 This month
Chernobyl: The Lost Tapes – A good documentary on Chernobyl on SBS available On Demand for the next 3 weeks– https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/tv-program/chernobyl-the-lost-tapes/235274195556
21 April Webinar: No Nuclear Weapons in Australia
Start: 2026-04-21 18:00:00 UTC Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney (GMT+10:00)
End: 2026-04-21 19:30:00 UTC Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney (GMT+10:00)
Event Type: Virtual
A virtual link will be communicated before the event.
Host Contact Info: australia@icanw.org
of the week – Australians for War Powers Reform (AWPR)
To see nuclear-related stories in greater depth and intensity
Antinuclear 