Military - US/Australia Alliance

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1. Who is Steven Smith and what important role does he play for the Australian Government?
Steven Smith is the Australian defence minister and his role is to stress the importance of the increasing contribution Australia makes to the security of the US.
2. What is the Brookings Institution where Mr. Smith delivered his speech?
The Brookings Institution is a non-profit public policy organisation based in Washington D.C.
3. What role does the Australia/US Alliance play in Australia's 'strategic and security arrangements'?
The Australia/US alliance was indispensable, enduring feature of Australia's strategic and security arrangements and that the value to the US was steadily increasing.
4.What is important about Australia's global location for this alliance?
It was in Australis's interest for the US to be active and engaged in Asia-Pacific, as the region became the world's centre of gravity and is economic, political, military and strategic influence shifted.
5. What contributions has Australia made to this alliance for the last 50 years?
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 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?
He said 9000 Australian companies do buisness with the US. They pay an average wage of $US 70,000 per employee, per annum and include your largest shopping centre owner and 2 of your largest 20 banks.
7. Why does the minister point out this information about this company? What does it highlight about the relationship between Australia and the US?
He said that Australia adds value as an ally and we are not a consumer of US security who imposes tough choices on the US military and US public policy. We add value and we do so from a vantage point of respect, not dependency.
8. What is the country central to Australia's relationships in the region?
The country central to Australia's relationship in the region is China.
9. What is Australia trying to foster with this country?
Australia wants China to emerge into a harmonious environment and Australia is committed to developing strong and positive military and defence relations with China through dialogue and practical activities.
10. Why do you think that this is important to Australia?
I think this is important as Australia needs a large power house to protect them from the rest of the world and the keep Australia safe using one of the worlds biggest military and defence forces.

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1. What is the US planning on locating in Australia? Where? Why?
The US is planning on positioning military equipment on Australian soil including at Woomera in the state's far north. They also will have greater access to Australian training and test ranges, such as Shoalwater Bay in Queensland and Woomera. They also will regularly use Australian bases and ports. This is due to making sure we are postured to be able to respond in a timely and effective way to a range of contingencies that may arise in our region, including humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
2. What implications does this have on the coordination between Australian and American forces?
This will cause it to be easier for the US to coordinate military help to Australia as the base will be here in Australia. It ties them together and helps Australian and US forces become better to work together.