The Independent and Peaceful Australia Network says the $1.1 billion upgrade of the RAAF Tindal air base will bring Australia closer to war

THE Independent and Peaceful Australia Network says the $1.1 billion upgrade of the RAAF Tindal air base may bring Australia closer to war.

Plans for the upgrades, including this proposed aircraft apron, were revealed on Friday. Picture: Supplied

THE Independent and Peaceful Australia Network says the $1.1 billion upgrade of the RAAF Tindal air base may bring Australia closer to war.

It says: “The majority of the money will be used to extend the runway and build new storage facilities – which will allow the base to accommodate larger aircraft such as Australian refuelling aircraft and US long-range bombers.”

The upgrades were announced by Prime Minister Scott Morrison in Katherine last Friday.

Spokesman Stephen Darley said:” Providing the runway and fuel facilities for United States long range strategic bombers such as the B1’s and B52’s increases the military presence of the US in the NT. Together with the stationing of 2,500 U.S. Marines in Darwin, this is setting up the NT as an Indo-Pacific base for US military operations, drawing Australia further into the war plans of the US aimed at China”

Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price get a close look at an FA-18 during their visit to RAAF base Tindal in Katherine last week. Picture: AAP/Patrina Malone

IPAN is a network of organisations from around Australia, made up of community, faith and peace groups, trade unions, and concerned individuals.

Mr Darley said both the stationing of US troops in Darwin and providing the facilities for US strategic Bombers at Tindal were under-written by the Force Posture Agreement between the US and Australia signed in 2014.

“It facilitates the US military’s unimpeded access to our airfields and ports for their air-force and navy and for the stationing in Australia of their troops, munitions, fuel and spare parts,” the statement said.

IPAN “continues to urge the Australian Government to terminate the Force Posture agreement and regain the sovereignty and security which we have forfeited in signing this military agreement which takes us step by step into yet another disastrous war scenario with the United States.”

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Mr Darley added: “The US strategic long-distance bombers can carry nuclear weapons. The Australian government should tell the Australian people whether it has given permission to the US to bring and store nuclear weapons into Australia.”

“At a time when there is a United Nations effort through its Treaty to ban nuclear weapons, it would be a step back into the nuclear “dark ages” for the Australian government, which is under pressure to sign the Treaty, to allow the US to bring nuclear weapons into Australia or into our airspace.”

A community information session on the upgrades will be held in Katherine this Thursday (February 27).

The session will be held at the Godinymayin Yijard Rivers Arts and Culture Centre between 6pm and 8pm.

A community session will be held in Darwin on Wednesday, March 4 at the Mantra Esplanade Hotel Conference Room between 6pm and 8pm.