Australia-United States Alliance

Senator Allison asked the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 12 February 2008:

Does the Government intend to maintain: (a) its status as a nuclear umbrella state, by providing bases, ports and other infrastructure to the United States of America (US) for its nuclear war-fighting apparatus, thereby lending support to the idea that nuclear weapons bring security; if so, what is the justification for maintaining this status; and (b) the decades-long policy of neither confirming or denying whether and when US nuclear-armed warships enter Australian harbours.

Senator Faulkner - The Minister for Defence has provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question:

1. The Australian Government views the US alliance as a fundamental pillar of Australian defence. It is longstanding Defence policy to rely on the extended umbrella of US nuclear forces to provide a comprehensive deterrent to nuclear attack on Australia. There are no US bases in Australia. However, as part of Australia’s close alliance with the United States and our joint commitment to maintaining global security, Australia hosts joint facilities including the Joint Defence Facility Pine Gap.
2. The Government understands and respects the longstanding US policy to neither confirm nor deny the presence or absence of nuclear weapons at any specific or general location.

close