By Denis Hay
Description
US military bases in Australia endanger our environment and security. Discover the damage they cause and how Australians can push for their removal.
Introduction
Picture this: A farmer in Williamtown, NSW, watches helplessly as his once-fertile land becomes toxic. His water source is contaminated, his livestock is sick, and his family’s health is deteriorating. The culprit? The nearby U.S. military base is leaking toxic PFAS chemicals into the environment.
Australians have long been told that hosting U.S. military bases makes the country safer, but at what cost? The presence of these bases has led to severe environmental degradation and heightened national security risks. This article explores the damage caused by U.S. military installations in Australia and how citizens can push for their removal.
The Environmental Destruction Caused by U.S. Military Bases in Australia
PFAS Contamination – Poisoning Our Water and Soil
Families in towns like Williamtown and Oakey are forced to buy bottled water because their groundwater is contaminated with per and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). These toxic chemicals, used in firefighting foams on U.S. military bases, have been linked to cancer, liver damage, and immune system disorders.
Environmental reports indicate that PFAS contamination from military bases has made land unusable and driven down property values. This is not an isolated issue—similar contamination has been reported in the U.S. and other host countries.
Real-World Example: Residents of Oakey filed a class-action lawsuit seeking compensation for the damage caused by PFAS contamination, highlighting the devastating impact on their health and livelihoods.
Land Degradation and Destruction of Ecosystems
Military exercises have wreaked havoc on Australian ecosystems. Take Puckapunyal, where years of heavy military training have led to severe soil erosion, deforestation, and destruction of native habitats. The Australian Defence Force (ADF) has had to implement large-scale rehabilitation projects to restore these lands, but the damage is still significant.
Additionally, invasive species such as fire ants have spread due to poor biosecurity measures on military bases, further threatening Australia’s fragile biodiversity.
Historical Context: During World War II, military use of Australian land led to long-term damage, including unexploded ordnance in training zones, which is still an issue today.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions – A Major Polluter
The ADF is one of Australia’s largest carbon emitters, generating over 1.7 million tonnes of CO₂ annually. The U.S. military is even worse – if it were a country, it would rank as the world’s 47th largest carbon emitter. Hosting U.S. military operations means Australia bears part of that environmental burden, contradicting national climate goals.
Expert Opinion: Environmental scientists have called for stricter regulations on military emissions, arguing that they undermine Australia’s commitment to reducing its carbon footprint.
The National Security Threat of Hosting U.S. Military Bases
U.S. Military Presence Makes Australia a Target
Imagine a future conflict between the U.S. and China. Australia automatically becomes a military target with Darwin, Pine Gap, and Tindal bases. A Chinese missile strike on these bases would devastate Australian communities, dragging us into wars we did not choose.
Experts warn that hosting U.S. bases places Australia in a dangerous position, increasing the likelihood of conflict instead of deterring it.
Military Analysis: Former Australian Defence officials have voiced concerns that U.S. bases undermine our national security by making Australia an extension of American military strategy.
Imagine a future conflict between the U.S. and China. Australia automatically becomes a military target with Darwin, Pine Gap, and Tindal bases. A Chinese missile strike on these bases would devastate Australian communities, dragging us into wars we did not choose.
Experts warn that hosting U.S. bases places Australia in a dangerous position, increasing the likelihood of conflict instead of deterring it.
Military Analysis: Former Australian Defence officials have voiced concerns that U.S. bases undermine our national security by making Australia an extension of American military strategy.
Loss of Sovereignty – Who Controls Our Defence Policy?
Successive Australian governments have signed defence agreements with the U.S. without public consultation. AUKUS, the latest military deal, commits Australia to long-term U.S. military priorities, undermining our independence.
When Australia allows U.S. forces to operate freely on its soil, it loses control over its military decisions. This compromises Australian sovereigntyand prioritises American interests over national security.
Political Insight: Documents leaked in 2023 revealed that U.S. military officials exert considerable influence over Australian defence planning, reinforcing concerns about eroded sovereignty.
How Australian Citizens Can Demand the Removal of U.S. Military Bases
Raising Public Awareness
The first step is education. Many Australians are unaware of U.S. bases’ environmental and security risks. Sharing this information through independent media, social movements, and community discussions can build momentum for change.
Pressuring Politicians to Take a Stand
• Demand transparency in defence agreements.
• Call for national referendums on foreign military bases.
• Support politicians who prioritise Australian sovereignty over U.S. interests.
Protesting and Direct Action
• Organise mass demonstrations against U.S. military expansion.
• Boycott defence contractors profiting from war.
• Push for divestment from institutions supporting militarism.
Historical Success: The Philippines removed U.S. bases in the 1990s after public outcry and political pressure, proving that citizen activism can lead to change.
Conclusion – Time for an Independent Australia
For decades, Australia has allowed foreign military bases to dictate its defence policies. These bases have contaminated our environment, threatened our sovereignty, and increased our risk of war.
The time for action is now. Australians must demand accountability, advocate for policy changes, and work towards a truly independent national defence strategy.
Call to Action
If you found this article insightful, explore political reform and Australia’s sovereignty on Social Justice Australia.
Share this article with your community to help drive the conversation toward a more just and independent Australia.
Click on our “Reader Feedback” menu. Please let us know how our content has inspired you. Submit your testimonial and help shape the conversation today!
Additionally, leave a comment about this article below.
Support Social Justice Australia – Help Keep This Platform Running
Social Justice Australia is committed to delivering independent, in-depth analysis of critical issues affecting Australians. Unlike corporate-backed media, we rely on our readers to sustain this platform.
If you find value in our content, consider making a small donation to help cover the costs of hosting, maintenance, and continued research. No matter how small, every contribution makes a real difference in keeping this site accessible and ad-free.
💡 Your support helps:
✅ Keep this website running without corporate influence
✅ Fund research and publishing of articles that challenge the status quo
✅ Expand awareness of policies that affect everyday Australians
💰 A one-time or monthly donation ensures Social Justice Australia stays a strong, independent voice.
Thank you for being part of this movement for change. Your support is truly appreciated!
This article was originally published on Social Justice Australia
Dear reader, we need your support
Independent sites such as The AIMN provide a platform for public interest journalists. From its humble beginning in January 2013, The AIMN has grown into one of the most trusted and popular independent media organisations.
One of the reasons we have succeeded has been due to the support we receive from our readers through their financial contributions.
With increasing costs to maintain The AIMN, we need this continued support.
Your donation – large or small – to help with the running costs of this site will be greatly appreciated.
You can donate through PayPal or credit card via the button below, or donate via bank transfer: BSB: 062500; A/c no: 10495969
Now that the US joined the muSScovite empire, all their personnel should be treated as enemy aliens and either incarcerated (as the Japanese and Germans were) or at least deported.
Please provide a list of the current US military (army, navy, airforce and intelligence) bases and installations located within Australian territory.
If memory serves me correctly, I think that Gough Whitlam wanted to remove Pine Gap. When the CIA became aware of this, the Whitlam Government was removed. This is highlighted in the movie “The Falcon and The Snowman”.
Denis, I think you need to do a bit of fact checking. The Williamtown facility is a RAAF base, they have never hosted American aircraft over any extended timeframe, and it is not a U.S. military base. Thus, the contamination by PFAS chemicals is a function of Australian service personnel. Ditto Oakey, it’s an ADF Army Air Wing facility, and has not hosted USAF personnel or aircraft.
I’m all for sinking the boot into America when the opportunities arise, but facts matter, as always.
Base Nation: How U.S. Military Bases Abroad Harm America and the World
by David Vine
From Italy to the Indian Ocean, from Japan to Honduras, the far-reaching story of the perils of U.S. military bases overseas — and what these bases say about America today….
American military bases encircle the globe. More than two decades after the end of the Cold War and nearly three-quarters of a century after the last battles of World War II, the United States still stations troops at some eight hundred locations in foreign lands.
https://www.basenation.us/
Maps
https://www.basenation.us/maps.html
John Pilger wrote about the Whitlam government takedown, too:
https://newmatilda.com/2020/06/02/john-pilger-on-the-forgotten-coup-against-the-most-loyal-ally/
Peter,
This is the research I can find.
As of March 2025, the United States keeps several military and intelligence installations within Australian territory:
Joint Defence Facility Pine Gap
Location: Near Alice Springs, Northern Territory
Function: A joint Australian-U.S. satellite surveillance base supporting global intelligence activities and military operations.
Naval Communication Station Harold E. Holt
Location: Exmouth, Western Australia
Function: Provides low frequency (VLF) radio transmissions to submarines in the western Pacific and eastern Indian Oceans.
Marine Rotational Force – Darwin
Location: Robertson Barracks and RAAF Base Darwin, Northern Territory
Function: A rotational deployment of U.S. Marines conducting joint training and exercises with the Australian Defence Force.
U.S. Air Force Presence in Northern Territory
Location: RAAF Base Tindal, Northern Territory
Function: Hosting U.S. Air Force assets, including B-52 bombers, as part of enhanced defence cooperation.
These installations underscore the robust defence collaboration between Australia and the United States, enhancing regional security and stability.
Canguro,
On further research the comment about RAAF Base Williamtown and the Oakey Army Aviation Centre is mainly correct:
RAAF Base Williamtown:
Ownership and Operation: The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) owns and runs this base.
US Aircraft Presence: While primarily an Australian facility, RAAF Base Williamtown has occasionally hosted U.S. military aircraft for short-term training exercises. For example, in August 2024, six F-22 Raptor aircraft from the United States Air Force’s 19th Fighter Squadron were hosted for two weeks.
Similarly, in 2024, four F-35C aircraft from the U.S. Navy’s Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 9 (VX-9) deployed to Williamtown to exercise with RAAF F-35A aircraft.
However, these instances are temporary and do not constitute permanent basing.
PFAS Contamination: The contamination by per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) at Williamtown is attributed to the extended use of firefighting foams by Australian personnel.
Oakey Army Aviation Centre:
Ownership and Operation: The Australian Army runs this facility, which serves as a training centre for Army aviation.
International Presence: Since 1996, the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) has continuously kept training aircraft at Oakey under a Defence Cooperation Agreement.
No evidence suggests that U.S. Air Force personnel or aircraft have been based at Oakey.
PFAS Contamination: Similar to Williamtown, Oakey’s PFAS contamination has been linked to Australian service personnel’s historical use of firefighting foams.
In summary, RAAF Base Williamtown and Oakey Army Aviation Centre are Australian-operated facilities. While Williamtown has occasionally hosted U.S. aircraft for training exercises, there is no indication that such visits have contributed to PFAS contamination at either site.