Federal election 2016: Dump ‘dangerous, expensive’ US alliance: Di Natale

Australia’s US alliance is a risk to national security and costs an “enormous” amount of money, Richard Di Natale says.

Greens leader Richard Di Natale in St Kilda yesterday. Picture: David Geraghty

Australia’s alliance with the US is a risk to national security, costs an “enormous” amount of money and must be reconsidered, Greens leader Richard Di Natale says, as he argues the need for the country to develop an “independent” foreign policy.

In a speech to the Lowy Institute today, the Greens leader will outline why he believes Australia should distance itself from its most important defence relationship, which has been the foundation stone for the country’s foreign ­policy since World War II.

Senator Di Natale also argues that global warming is a greater threat to national security than international terrorism, acting as a “threat multiplier” that exacerbates drought, famine, displacement, food and water scarcity, refugees and disease.

Charting his concerns about Australia’s unflinching support for the US alliance, Senator Di Natale says the country has failed to pursue an “independent” foreign policy, while backing the US as it has contributed to global conflict, ­inequality and radicalisation.

“Unfortunately, despite clear evidence about the horrific consequences of US foreign policy, the US-Australia alliance remains the primary influence on the way Australia relates to the world,” a draft copy of Senator Di Natale’s speech says.

“In failing to pursue an independent foreign policy, we renounce our ambition to be a confident 21st-century country and undermine our own national interests.”

He also points to Australia’s support for the US fighting in overseas conflicts and suggests military action directed from Pine Gap in central Australia has res­ulted in deaths of civilians.

“We are their biggest backers, with Australia the only nation to have joined the United States in every major military intervention in the past century: both world wars, Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf War, Afghanistan and Iraq,” he says.

“Our unfailing support means Australia is complicit in the terrible consequences US foreign policy has wrought.

“Our ground stations at places like Pine Gap have supported targeted drone assassinations of suspected terrorist figures, and everyone in their immediate vicinity, in any country in which the US chooses to conduct them.”

The Victorian senator, a former GP, will also tell the Lowy Institute today that the alliance is causing Australia to spend too much on defence and holding the country hostage to a dangerous pro-­nuclear policy.

“Where we could be a world-leading voice in the global nuclear disarmament movement, we are again held back by our relationship with the US,” he says, ­accusing Australia of undermining efforts towards a nuclear ban ­treaty.

“This kind of dangerous position not only undermines Australia’s safety, but that of the entire world.

“Our tight-knit alliance with the US makes us more prone to threat than a non-alliance.”

Arguing that the Greens would not support the war in Syria or the $50 billion new submarine fleet, Senator Di Natale says the country was spending more money despite there being no increase in direct threats to Australia.

“We are throwing enormous sums of money at maintaining this alliance,” he says, arguing that it could instead be directed to health and education.

Senator Di Natale says the Greens approach would lead to an “independent, confident and courageous” Australia.