Pine Gap 4 Trial - Week 2 : Melbourne Indymedia

SHROUD OF SECRECY REMAINS INTACT

The secrecy surrounding Pine Gap was maintained in the Northern Territory Supreme Court
today when Justice Sally Thomas ruled in favour of the Crown's submission for public interest immunity.

The ruling reads in part: “Information as to operations of the Joint Defence Facility at Pine Gap... except in so far as.. may be disclosed by the prosecution brief.. is not relevant to any issue in this case.”

Defendant Jim Dowling asked in response: “So they're allowed to give the information they want without us getting a chance to query that?” Justice Thomas agreed.

On December 9th 2005 Bryan Law of Cairns, Jim Dowling and Adele Goldie of Brisbane and Donna Mulhearn of Sydney entered the heart of Pine Gap to conduct a Citizen's Inspection, with the intention of highlighting the base's – and Australia's - role in the Iraq war.

Previous incursions into the base have resulted in charges of trespass at worst, but Attorney-General Philip Ruddock has charged the group – known as the Pine Gap 4 – under the previously unused Defence (Special Undertakings) Act of 1952. The act carries a sentence of up to seven years imprisonment.

Ms Mulhearn questioned the Deputy Chief of Pine Gap, Mr Michael Burgess, about the severity of the charge during cross-examination this afternoon. She began by asking Mr Burgess if he was aware of the demonstrations of 1987 during which hundreds of people entered the declared 'Prohibited Area'.

“Are you aware how many of them were charged under this act?” she asked Mr Burgess.

“I believe none of them,” Mr Burgess replied.

Mr Dowling and Ms Goldie asked Mr Burgess questions relating to different repair costs quoted and charged by the Raytheon Company, which Mr Burgess was unable to answer. Ms Goldie asked Mr Burgess if he was aware that Raytheon have in the past paid $410 million as settlement for security fraud, and that the US Justice Department have asserted that between 1979-1983 Raytheon routinely overcharged and quoted for work never completed. Mr Burgess said he was not aware.

“Well, maybe you should change your contractor,” replied Ms Goldie, to laughter throughout the courtroom.

Mr Ken Napier, an inspector with the Australian Federal Police, was then called as a witness. He testified to the respect and courtesy shown by the four defendants during demonstrations preceding the Citizens Inspection.

The trial will resume at 10am tomorrow morning (June 5th).

Supporters of the Pine Gap Four will again proceed through Todd St Mall along Shepherd St to the courthouse at 9.40am in a “Celebration and Solidarity” parade.