Gorton Confirms Naval Base Project

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32114, 9 October 1969, Page 17

Gorton Confirms Naval Base Project

(N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright) CANBERRA, Oct 8. Australia would take an increasing interest in the Indian Ocean, and would soon begin preliminary work on a naval base at Cockburn Sound, in Western Australia, the Prime Minister (Mr

John Gorton) said tonight.

Outlining his party’s policy for the General Election in a nation-wide television and radio broadcast, Mr Gorton said that the first step towards the naval base would be the construction of a causeway linking Garden Island with the mainland. “Work will begin in the next financial year, and thereafter naval facilities will be progressively installed over a period,” Mr Gorton said. The Government has already announced that the Learmonth airfield, in Western Australia, will be up-

graded to become an operational base for the Indian Ocean. “We believe that the broad considerations of Australia’s geopolitical position and national development point to the conclusion that naval support, facilities in Western

Australia will also be required in the future,” Mr Gortou said.

'‘Our fleet numbers will increase, and we will have to take an increasing interest in the Indian Ocean as the British withdraw.” Mr Gorton’s announcement comes after weeks of controversy about Russian influence in the Indian Ocean, touched off by a statement by the Minister of External Affairs (Mr Gordon Freeth) that Australia was prepared to look with close interest at any Russian proposals for regional security arrangements.

The Democratic Labour Party has put the construction of a naval base at Cockburn Sound as one of the conditions to be met by the Government before it can expect D.L.P. voting preferences at the election. Mr Gorton said that Australia would continue to support the concept of e regional security pact in Asia, but it would exert all the influence at its command to prevent participation by the Russians in any such arrangement Any. Russian military or naval bases in the Asian area would, he said, threaten Australia’s security, as would any military alliance or arrangement between Russia and any country in the region. On other defence and foreign affairs issues, Mr Gorton promised to retain national service, continue cooperation with the United States on joint bases in Australia, make no unilateral withdrawal from Vietnam, and continue to maintain troops in Malaysia and Singapore.

He announced, too, that Australia would begin building its first nuclear power station within the next three years, at Jervis Bay, New South Wales. The Minister of National Development (Mr David Fairbairn) is expected to give more details of the project during the election campaign.