Scott Ludlam (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 9 August 2012:

(1) Is the Department considering the Defence Force Posture Review suggestion that the Cocos Islands airfield be upgraded to support the new P 8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft likely to be acquired by the Royal Australian Air Force?

(2) Are talks underway at an official level regarding military use by the United States of America (US) of the Cocos Islands; if so: (a) what are the dates and location of such talks; and (b) at what level are the attendees?

(3) Does the scope of discussion with the US include the stationing and training of US personnel, drones, surveillance planes and ships through the Cocos Islands?

(4) When spokespersons for the Minister indicate that the Cocos Islands is a longer-term option for closer Australian US engagement, what time frame is considered longer-term?

(5) Did Australia’s Ambassador to the United Nations (UN) in 1984 give verbal undertakings to UN member states that the Cocos Islands would not be used for military purposes; if so; what were the nature of these undertakings?

Bob Carr (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to 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.