Defence: Pine Gap

Mr Melham asked the Minister Assisting the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 29 November 2004:

1. How many personnel currently work at the Joint Defence Facility Pine Gap.
2. How many Joint Defence Facility personnel are (a) Australian Government employees, (b) US Government employees, (c) employees of Australian contractors, and (d) US contractors.
3. Are any of the personnel employed at the Joint Defence Facility members of the (a) Australian Defence Force, and (b) the US armed services; if so, (i) how many are there in total, and how many belong to the (ii) Army, (iii) Navy, (iv) Air Force, and (v) Marines.
4. Which US Department of Defense agencies are involved in the operation of the Joint Defence Facility.
5. Which Australian and US private contractors provide personnel at the Joint Defence Facility.
6. What is the current annual cost to the Australian Government of running the Joint Defence Facility.
7. Since May 2002, have any Federal and State Members of Parliament (a) visited the Joint Defence Facility, and (b) received classified briefings on the functions of the facility; if so, which Members, and when did the visits and briefings take place.
8. Since May 2002, have Members of the US Congress or congressional staff visited the Joint Defence Facility; if so, which Members and staff and when did the visits take place.
9. Who is the current (a) Chief of the Joint Defence Facility, and (b) senior Australian officer at the Joint Defence Facility and when did these officers commence duty in their current roles.
10. How many radomes and satellite antenna are located at the Joint Defence Facility.
11. How many radomes and antenna located at the Joint Defence Facility are associated with the Satellite Relay Ground Station which relays data received from the US Defense Support Program satellites.

Mrs Kelly - The answer to the honourable member's question is as follows:

1. Approximately 900 personnel are employed at the Joint Defence Facility Pine Gap (the Facility).
2. Of the employees, approximately 10 per cent are Australian Government employees, 20 per cent are United States (US) Government employees, 40 per cent Australian contractors, and 30 per cent US contractors. A more precise breakdown of the workforce structure is classified.
3. Members of both the Australian Defence Force and US armed forces are integrated into operational aspects of the Facility. Specific details are classified.
4. Under the terms of the Pine Gap Treaty (Australian Treaty Series 1966, No 17, amended by Australian Treaty Series 1988 No 36), the US cooperating partner is the US Department of Defense. Details of the participating US agencies are classified.
5. Raytheon, Boeing Constructors Inc, Northrop Grumman and Hewlett-Packard are the prime contractors at the Facility.
6. In 2003-04, the annual cost to the Australian Government was approximately $8 million.
7. (a) and (b) Since May 2002, the following Australian Federal Members of Parliament visited and received classified briefings at the Facility:
• Senator the Hon Robert Hill on 16 August 2002;
• Mr Mark Latham MP, Leader of the Opposition, on 23 February 2004;
• Senator Kevin Rudd, Opposition Foreign Affairs Spokesman, on 23 February 2004; and
• Senator Chris Evans, Opposition Defence spokesman, on 28 July 2003.

Members of the Defence Sub-Committee of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs Defence and Trade, on 21 July 2004:
• the Hon Bruce Scott MP;
• Hon Roger Price MP;
• Hon Kim Beazley MP;
• Hon Laurie Brereton MP;
• Hon Graham Edwards MP;
• Hon Warren Snowdon MP;
• Senator Steve Hutchins; and
• Senator Alan Ferguson.


Mr Stewart McArthur MP of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, Australian Secret Intelligence Service, and Defence Signals Directorate also visited the Facility on 21 July 2004

No State Members of Parliament visited the Facility.
8. Four separate US Congressional visits took place since May 2002:
   Seven Members of the US House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, on 3 July 2002:
   • Jim Hensler;
   • Chris Ford;
   • Linda Taylor;
   • Chris Jackson;
   • Pete Dorn;
   • Randy Bookout; and
   • Matt Pollard.
   
   Senator Barbara Mikulski, Member of the US Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, and staff member Ken Johnson, on 8 August 2002.
   
   Eight members of the US House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, on 16 August 2003:
   • Rep Porter Goss, Chairman;
   • Rep Douglas Bereuter;
   • Rep Richard Burr;
   • Rep Jane Harman;
   • Rep Alice Hastings;
   • Rep Sylvester Reyes; and
   • Rep Rush Holt.
   
   They were accompanied by ten staff:
   • Merrell Moorehead;
   • Patrick Kelly;
   • John Stopher;
   • Mike Ennis;
   • Barbara Bennett;
   • Beth Larson;
   • Wyndee Parker;
   • Ilene Romack;
   • Margaret Peterline; and
   • Michael Kostiw.
   
   Lindsay Fair, staff member of the US Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, on 28 to 29 June 2004.
9.  
   1. Mr David Shields, commenced duty on 14 July 2002.
   2. Ms Elizabeth Milne, commenced duty on 20 January 2003.
10. There are 26 satellite antennas at the Facility. 14 have environmental radome covers.
11. The Defence Support Program Relay Ground Station has four satellite antennas.

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