These questions were asked by Pat O'Brien, an environmentalist from Rockhampton, and were prepared by both Denis Doherty of the AABCC and Pat.
Will the US Navy or the ADF be using or testing in Australian waters experimental low frequency sonar technology such as the Littoral Warfare Advanced Development (LWAD) Program. We understand that this Program involves the use of technology similar to a type that has previously been linked to the stranding of sperm whales, sea turtles, and other endangered marine species. If not in Australian waters, will they be testing the Program during this exercise, and where? The US will not be conducting experimental low frequency trials.
The month of May has been chosen as the time of the exercise to avoid cyclones, whale migration and bird nesting timings.
Will any unit be using uranium-tipped bullets?
Units will not fire depleted uranium or uranium tipped bullets or shells in SWBTA or the GBRMPA.
Will any vessel or aircraft involved in Tandem Thrust be armed with nuclear weapons in Australian air space or Australian waters?
As this is a training exercise, there will be no nuclear weapons deploying for the exercise.
Will the exercise involve major beach damage such as that which occurred at Freshwater Beach, during the last Tandem Thrust?
During TT 01, an Australian Beachmaster who is fully aware of the sensitive nature of the area, has been instructed to ensure that only one exit point is used by all vehicles that land at Freshwater.
A Combined Environmental Group has been established as a component of the Combined Exercise Control Group. Within this Environmental Group, three separate environmental groups (2 land and one maritime). The land environmental monitoring groups will pay particular attention to both Freshwater and Sabina Pt during the landing operation to ensure that the environmental impact is minimal. As part of the environmental monitoring groups, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) will have a representative present, in addition to the Environmental Advisory Group which will be observing the landings.
We have received a recent letter dated 28th February, from Aldo Borgu, Senior Adviser to the Defence Minister. Mr Borgu stated that "an Australian led environmental group which includes US environmentalists is working, and will continue to do so throughout the exercise, to provide advise and assistance on environmental issues as required." Can you please inform us who these "environmentalists" are, and which organisation do they come from?
The Combined Environmental Management Group will comprise personnel from the Australian and United States Defence Forces, the Defence Estate Organisation, a representative from the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, personnel from Defence Corporate Support Offices in Rockhampton and Brisbane, and a Damage Control engineering group made up of ADF and US engineering personnel to rectify any damage that occurs.
In the event of bad weather, will the exercise be down-sized or cancelled to avoid a repeat of the damage which occurred during the last Tandem Thrust? Bad weather will always ensure the exercise is down-scaled. The Navy, Army and Airforce are determined to ensure the conservation of the area during the exercise and will remmediate any areas as necessary after the exercise. The Exercise Control Group and its Environmental Monitoring Group will be keenly watching the exercise to minimise and influence on SWBTA.
We have strong concerns about the demolition of a vessel off the Queensland coastline. Doesnt the ADF or the US military have a recycling program where this vessel could be dismantled and reused to save scarce resources?
The purpose of the HULK firing is to allow our ships and aircraft to act in a more freeplay scenario than is usually permitted. The firings are conducted under idea conditions to test their effectiveness. In the case of this HULK firing, the ships and aircraft will be given more latitude to test tactics and procedures in a combined live firing scenario.
A rigorous Australian and US certification procedure has cleared the HULK. Environment Australia has confirmed that the HULK is suitable for sinking at sea.
What are the troop numbers of Australian and US? Other forces, eg Singaporean or observers.
|
|
AUSTRALIAN |
|
|
Navy |
 |
1,800 |
|
8,000 |
Army |
|
7,500 |
|
350 |
Air Force |
|
2,500 |
|
600 |
Marines |
|
- |
|
(Fly-In-Echelon) 2,500 (USS ESSEX) 2,000 |
Special Forces |
|
160 |
|
800 |
Control Group
(AS and US) |
|
180 |
|
550 |
Reserves (all Services) |
|
150 |
|
500 |
- |
|
12,290 |
|
15,300 |
Approximately 350 Canadian naval personnel are also involved in the exercise as part of the Opposing Forces. Service attaches from up to 20 other regional countries have also been invited to a Visitors' Day to be held mid-way through the exercise.
What is the scenario? Are you practicing to invade China? North Korea? Indonesia? Other? Why is it a sea borne and airborne assault, when all analysts agree that we do not face such a threat? Will this mean that the ADF will be in a coalition force as in Vietnam for US interests.
Exercise TANDEM THRUST is designed to test the ability of Australian and United States forces to form a combined Task Force to plan for, and then execute, a small-scale military operation. The exercise will be conducted in two phases: a Command Post Exercise (CPX) conducted in USS BLUE RIDGE from 03 - 11 May 01; and a Field Training Exercise (FTX) conducted from 14 - 30 May 01. The FTX phase will be played out in the Coral Sea and the Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA) and adjacent seas, including areas of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (GBRMP). This exercise will further develop the ADF's ability to operate with US forces in a coalition operation.
The scenario for TT 01 is not designed to represent any particular country rather, it is designed around a scenario that enables Australian and US staff to conduct crisis action planning. For Australia to be well defended in the unlikely event of hostile activity, our defence forces need to undertake realistic training. This is similar in nature to the regular 'real life' training situations that emergency services undertake.
What will be repercussions on Australia when China /Nth Korea etc find out we are practicing to invade them.
TT 01 is not designed to represent the invasion of one particular country. The exercising schedule for Australia is not secret and the scenario, aim and objectives of this exercise are unclassified and can be provided if required.
Will Australia's strategic needs be taken into account in the exercise? We need training and exercises in repelling small groups of armed terrorists seeking to cause economic harm eg blowing up ore mines? Peacekeeping? Peace making? Smuggling ?
The latest Defence White Paper has a range of possible scenarios and while peacekeeping/making exercises are important, they are practiced in other Defence exercise schedules.
The exercise itself, what ammunition will be used? Will any DU (depleted uranium) be used? Was it used in the last exercise? As most rounds are extremely toxic what clean up procedure have and will take place in Shoalwater Bay and elsewhere?
As addressed earlier.
Wildlife protection? What procedures are in place re: Dugong? Other birds etc?
The Environmental Management Plan for SWBTA contains flora and fauna protection measures. These are in place all the time, not only during exercises. Range Standing Orders also require that users of the range do not harm wildlife. QPWS will provide resources to monitor all water activity to ensure animals are deterred from the area, and if animals are detected, the activity will be stopped until the animals depart or it is assessed they are no longer at risk.
Other measures include:
Limiting the use of low freq sonars to water depths greater than 40 m inside Capricorn channel and no use of low freq sonars to the West of this limiting line.
Aerial monitoring of SWBTA for protected species as well as sea craft. Written orders to all Commanding Officers of the importance to protect these animals.
What will be the range of the nuclear subs? What is their role? What emergency procedures have you in place for nuclear leaks?
The role of the submarines is to conduct Anti Surface Warfare and Anti Submarine warfare.
There has been extensive consultation with both the Federal and State Govt on the involvement of nuclear submarines and to this end there are comprehensive safety precautions in place to deal with any emergency that may arise.
What steps have been taken to avoid dropping ammunition over the side of boats as happened last time?
Both Australian and US forces have extremely comprehensive safety orders and procedures in place with regard to the handling, transportation and disposal of ammunition. Quite specific and very stringent conditions must exist before ammunition can be dumped at sea. In the case of an emergency or accident, if a shell is dropped overboard then the Environmental Monitoring Group will use whatever resources are necessary to recover the shell and dispose of it correctly. It is understand the shell dropped overboard during the last exercise was a misfire and it was dropped over the side so that the remainder of the ship was not put at risk. Should this happen again, all effort will be taken to recover using the Aust Clearance Diving Team and the Explosive Ordnance Team.
In Status of Forces (SOF) agreement, will US service personnel who break Australian/Queensland law be prosecuted in Australia or will they be exonerated and face an easy court martial in Japan thousands of miles away from Australia.
Under the terms of the SOF, US personnel who commit a serious crime in AS will be committed to stand trial in AS.
How many US personnel will be stationed in Rockhampton and how many offshore?
See table above. There is a transit camp in Rockhampton that will hold up to 2,500 personnel, however, all of these people will not be going ashore in Rockhampton at one time. There will be about 600 permanently in Rockhampton during May.
Where will the nuclear sub have R&R in Australia? Likewise are there any nuke ships, which will dock in Australia? What are the emergency measures there for nuclear leaks?
Nuclear subs will have R&R in Gladstone.
Standard procedures have been developed by the ADF, in consultation with appropriate Federal and State authorities, to allow nuclear powered vessels to visit selected Australian ports. These procedures also cover the measures to be put in place to respond in the very unlikely event of a nuclear related incident or accident. |
