Pine Gap facility, Marine Rotation Force – Darwin mentioned in Canberra amid defence committee bill

A senior coalition member has lashed out at a plan by the Greens to cancel defence contracts and shut down military bases, including the likes of Pine Gap, in a bid to stifle foreign military activity.

Andrew Hastie has accused the Greens of seeking to close down foreign military bases and activities in the Territory, including the Pine Gap facility. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

A senior coalition member has lashed out at a plan by the Greens to cancel defence contracts and shut down military bases, including the likes of Pine Gap, in a bid to stifle foreign military activity.

The accusations were levelled by Opposition spokesman for Defence Andrew Hastie last week when he announced the coalition would advocate for the powerful, new defence committee to be restricted to Labor and Liberal members, in a bid to lockout fringe political figures.

Parliament is currently debating the new-look committee, which would scrutinise operations, procurement and strategy.

The bill currently proposes the committee be made up of seven government members and six non-government members, leaving the door open for crossbenchers – including Greens members.

Speaking to the lower house on Tuesday, Mr Hastie said the arrangement was “contrary to the Australian national interest to potentially allow the Greens onto this committee”.

“I refer to the Greens’ platform online, where they say, ‘the Greens will cancel defence contracts, and cut defence spending’,” he said.

“Then, as you find your way down the manifesto, you see others – the Greens plan includes ‘Renegotiate the US alliance to secure a new relationship focused on making us a better global citizen’ and ‘Close all military bases that foreign militaries have set up in this country’.”

Marines training near Darwin’s Robertson Barracks, where US forces have been stationed for more than a decade. Picture: Cpl. Mandaline Hatch

Mr Hastie’s attention quickly turned to the Territory, with the former army officer claiming this would mean Red Centre and Top End bases would be shut down.

“Of course, that would include Pine Gap, a really critical part of our alliance,” he said.

“It would also include the closure of any defence establishments in Darwin that support the current footprint of the Marine Expeditionary Force, which works so closely with the Australian Defence Force.”

NSW Greens Senator David Shoebridge hit back at Mr Hastie’s address. Picture: AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts

Greens Senator David Shoebridge took to social media to hit back.

“(The) Liberals are trying to stop the Greens from joining a new defence committee because of policies like: be a good global citizen, close foreign bases and Pine Gap, (and renegotiate) the U.S. alliance (and) end AUKUS,” he said.

“Could you imagine if the ALP (and) Liberals had to consider these very popular policies?”

Pine Gap facility is considered one of Australia’s most secret military bases.

Considered one of the most important strategic sites in the southern hemisphere, the Pine Gap facility, located less than half an hour away from Alice Springs, conducts surveillance operations for both Australian and US intelligence agencies.

The secretive facility has drawn criticism in recent months, following accusations the base had provided Israeli forces sensitive information in its war efforts in the Middle East.

In the Top End, Marine Rotation Force – Darwin (MRF-D) has been operating for more than a decade, with thousands of US troops having been posted to the region.

Originally published as Pine Gap facility, Marine Rotation Force – Darwin mentioned in Canberra amid defence committee bill