Year 10: Military - US/Australia Alliance

1.Who is Steven Smith and what important role does he play for the Australian Government?
Steven Smith is the Defence Minister for the Australian Government. This means that he is in charge of all affairs regarding defence.

2. What is the Brookings Institution where Mr. Smith delivered his speech?

The Brookings Institution is a nonprofit public policy organization based in Washington, DC. Our mission is to conduct high-quality, independent research and, based on that research, to provide innovative, practical recommendations that advance three broad goals:

• Strengthen American democracy;
• Foster the economic and social welfare, security and opportunity of all Americans and
• Secure a more open, safe, prosperous and cooperative international system.

Brookings is proud to be consistently ranked as the most influential, most quoted and most trusted think tank.

3. What role does the Australia/US Alliance play in Australia's 'strategic and security arrangements'?
Mr Smith said it was unambiguously in Australia's national interest for the US to be active and engaged in the Asia-Pacific, as the region became the world's centre of gravity and as economic, political, military and strategic influence shifted.

4. What is important about Australia's global location for this alliance?
He said Australia saw greater US focus on the Asia-Pacific as the demands of current operations reduced and the US strategic priority returned to the region.

5. What contributions has Australia made to this alliance for the last 50 years?
"For almost 50 years, through the joint defence facilities in Australia, we have made a significant contribution to US national security by hosting or supporting some of the US's most sensitive and critical strategic capabilities," Mr Smith said. "These include systems related to intelligence collection, ballistic-missile early warning, submarine communications, and satellite-based communications."

6. What did the minister say about the Australian companies who do business with the US?
The minister said 9000 Australian companies did business in the US. "They pay an average wage of $US70,000 ($63,490) per employee per annum and include your largest shopping-centre owner and two of your largest 20 banks," he said.

7. Why does the minister point out this information about this company? What does it highlight about the relationship between Australia and the US?
The minister points out the information to show how much help Australia is giving to the US and that they deserve the US's help if it is needed.

8. What is the country central to Australia's relationships in the region?
China

9. What is Australia trying to foster with this country?
Because China is becoming the new super power of the world, overtaking the US, and Australia wants a piece of the action. So it is in ally with China instead of being seen as a country that could easily be invaded by China.

10. Why do you think that this is important to Australia?
This is important to Australia in terms of security as well as relations with other countries in the region. If Australia does not have a solid relationship with China within the next 10 years there will be a threat of invasion from the new superpower of the world. 


2nd Article


1. What is the US planning on locating in Australia? Where? Why?

AMERICAN military hardware and personnel could be permanently located in Australia.

Defence Minister Stephen Smith in Washington yesterday revealed he was keen to cement formal links so the US could:

POSITION military equipment on Australian soil including at Woomera in the state's Far North.

HAVE greater access to Australian training and test ranges, such as Shoalwater Bay in Queensland and Woomera.

REGULARLY use Australian bases and ports.

2. What implications does this have on the coordination between Australian and American forces?
In addition to bases, the pair discussed worrying delays to the massive Joint Strike Fighter program and ways the US could assist Australia to develop its next generation of conventional submarines.