Other formats

    Adobe Portable Document Format file (facsimile images)   TEI XML file   ePub eBook file  

Connect

    mail icontwitter iconBlogspot iconrss icon

Salient. Victoria University Student Newspaper. Vol. 37, No. 10. May 22, 1974

North West Cape

North West Cape

The Harold E. Holt US naval communications station is located just outside the town of Exmouth, 850 miles north of Perth. The establishment of this base was originally meant for the benefit of civil navigation. However, when one considers that over half of the world's nuclear missiles are aboard submerged submarines and that such submarines are dependent on very low frequency (VLF) radio facilities, then a sinister light is thrown upon such so-called "civil navigational aids".

It comes as no surprise to hear that the Harold E, Holt base at North West Cape is regarded as a small but important face's of US nuclear strategy. This communications base together with the proposed Omega Base (to be located within the Lake Pedder National Park, Tasmania) places Australia in a position of aiding and abetting US nuclear warfare. With the above in mind a group of dedicated protesters are making a 6,000 mile trek to North West Cape. On their journey across Australia the protesters are planning to do the usual handing out of leaflets, holding public meetings and performing street theatre. On arriving at the communications base, on the eve of the federal elections, plans have been made to "re-purchase" the 28 miles of aboriginal land on which the base stands. Efforts will also be made to chant out the ail-American evil spirits that dwell within.

Map showing some of the foreign military bases in Australia—

Map showing some of the foreign military bases in Australia

However, things may not be too rosy for the protesters. In a letter to the West Australian newspaper a spokesman for 121 residents of the support town of Exmouth has stated, "We wish it to be clearly understood that we shall allow the freedom of speech to anyone who persists in making the march. We intend to be equally free in withholding any form of hospitality, assistance, or charitable feeling." Apparently, the people of Exmouth feel that protesters who have travelled 6,000 odd miles will not be satisfied with just a token demonstration!

In the mean time the defence of the radio station has been the subject of much controversy. The newly elected Liberal State Government is not keen to defend the base. If the state police do not defend the base then it will be left to the 33 man strong WA division of the Commonwealth police. While the state and federal governments bicker over who is to defend North West Cape, journalists are speculating whether the 300 strong WA special police will be called in, or whether the army will be preferred to the police. No matter what is the final outcome of such negotiations it would appear that the protesters will be left holding the trump cards.