In 1970 the US military opened the Pine Gap satellite tracking facility in Alice Springs. The facility employs 800 people and is used to control US spy satellites over the Pacific region. In 2013 Edward Snowden revealed documents which showed Pine Gap being used in the controversial PRISM surveillance program. The program collects personal data from major internet companies.
Response rates from 87.3k Australia voters.
59% Yes |
41% No |
36% Yes |
39% No |
20% Yes, but only if it is a joint Australia/U.S. base |
2% No, and we should establish more neutrality in our international affairs |
3% Yes, but only if they are jointly owned and operated |
1% No, this provides no benefit to Australia |
0% No, we should pursue military alliances with China instead |
Trend of support over time for each answer from 87.3k Australia voters.
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Trend of how important this issue is for 87.3k Australia voters.
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Unique answers from Australia voters whose views went beyond the provided options.
@4V2QVZX5yrs5Y
No. During World War 2 the US military just buried bombs near their base/s in rural Qld and left them there for 60 years. They needed to ask for US clearance to remove them- giving US control over parts of Australia.
@4T4D4FK5yrs5Y
No as this is actually Treason
@B57NYYH2mos2MO
Yes; the alliance between Australia and the United States of America (USA) is pivotal to our national security, and thus military cooperation; shared intelligence and jointly owned/operated bases, is welcomed.
@B56FX4Q2mos2MO
Yes only if joint and any asset in Australia is under our control and can be used in time of war even if us turned on us
@B4B9G5P3mos3MO
No, given that the U.S. under Trump can no longer be trusted to help anyone, but reduce them gradually without allowing new bases.
@B45LXSB4mos4MO
We should seek to diversify our allegiances with other countries in the Pacific (as long as they also increase efforts to militarise so Australia and New Zealand aren't stretched too thin), strengthening our relationship with like minded nations with Canada, the UK and those in the EU. Trump seems to hold his allies in contempt and might not care if Australia were to be invaded unless he could get something out of it.
But it's still worth keeping for now, unless something happens.
@B2WGS2X5mos5MO
No. The U.S. military can have a presence in Australia, as they are an ally, but no foreign power should be allowed to establish their own bases in our territory. All international, joint military bases on our soil should be owned by the Australian military, and our allies permitted the use of only the joint, international resources of these specific bases.
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