[Australia]: Message to France [SEC=TOP SECRET]

[Owen]

​

MINISTER FOR DEFENCE​

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION: TOP SECRET​

20 May 2007

Dear Minister Fortier, In order to facilitate the movement of the French Armed Forces to their Pacific possessions in order to bolster their security presence within those possessions, the National Security Committee of Cabinet has made the decision to allow the French Armed Forces limited access to Australian Defence Force bases in order to refuel, restock and to use as staging grounds into the Pacific. These include: RAAF Base Amberley (primary air base) RAAF Base Curtin RAAF Base Learmonth RAAF Base Darwin RAAF Base Townsville RAAF Base Cocos Islands HMAS Kuttabul (Fleet Base East) HMAS Cairns HMAS Moreton HMAS Magnetic Shoalwater Bay Military Training Area Cowley Beach Military Training Area The closest Australian airport to New Caledonia is Norfolk Island Airport, which is a civilian airport and has a limited runway length of 6,400ft. You may use this airport in emergency situations/evacuations. Australia also maintains extensive aeromedical evacuation capabilities, both military and civilian, as well as search and rescue capabilities. Australia's search and rescue region extends up to New Caledonia and the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre Australia is available 24/7 and can be alerted on high frequency radiotelephone channels 4125, 6215, 8291, 12290 and 16420 kHz or through the activation of a distress beacon. The closest major tertiary hospitals to New Caledonia are in Brisbane and are available if needed. Yours sincerely, John Faulkner.

Parliament House, CANBERRA, ACT 2600 Telephone: (02) 6277 7700​

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Dutchy