Bob Carr (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

The Minister for Defence has provided the following answer to the honourable senator’s question:

(1)   Yes. As stated by the Prime Minister and the Minister for Defence on 3 May 2012, the ADF Posture Review forms part of the security and strategic considerations feeding into the 2013 Defence White Paper. Decisions on Australian Defence Force Posture Review recommendations (including the recommendation that Defence upgrade the Cocos (Keeling) Islands airfield facilities to support unrestricted P-8 operations) will be made as part of the 2013 Defence White Paper process.

(2)   

(a & b)   No.

(3)   No

(4)   United States use of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands for military purposes is not currently under active consideration.

(5)   The Australian Government’s publicly stated position at the time of the Cocos’ association with Australia and the position conveyed by Australia’s diplomatic representatives was that it had no intention of making the Cocos Island a strategic military base.