ANDREW GREENE: Australia’s ridiculous defence secrecy needs to stop

There is an old saying in national security circles: “if you want to know what the Australian military is up to, ask the Americans”.

For decades US officials, and representatives from other western nations, have expressed bemusement at the ridiculous levels of defence secrecy in Canberra.

Ever since Scott Morrison’s declaration of not discussing “on water matters” to hide border protection operations, successive governments both Labor and Liberal have increased secrecy and reduced transparency, keeping the public further in the dark.

During the Afghanistan war, Australians often learnt more about what their men and women in uniform were doing from US sources, rather than their own officials. US military commanders and officials have traditionally enjoyed far greater autonomy in dealing with members of the press, and media outlets even have offices inside the Pentagon building which allows for greater scrutiny and transparency.

In Canberra, journalists are rarely invited inside Defence headquarters, and when they are, the interactions are closely monitored and controlled by the government of the day.

Over the past week the Albanese government’s determination not to speak openly about Australia’s involvement in the Middle East conflict has been in stark view.

Late on Monday The Nightly revealed that an airfield in the United Arab Emirates which hosts Australia’s military had been hit by Iranian strikes last weekend, information the government was apparently hoping would never become public.

Earlier in the day the Defence Minister Richard Marles had told Parliament about the Australian presence at the Al Minhad facility outside Dubai but failed to mention it had just been targeted in a drone attack.

He eventually confirmed the attack when asked about The Nightly’s report the following morning on the Sunrise program.

Similarly, the Albanese government is still refusing to discuss the reasons for this week’s visit to Western Australia by two US P-8 Poseidon aircraft, even days after they flew out of RAAF Base Pearce.

When The Nightly approached the defence minister and his department in Canberra for comment, the questions were referred to the Americans, who in turn said it was up to Australia to provide answers, which never came.

Leading security expert Doctor Elizabeth Buchanan argues that if government values public trust, it must bolster public agency in understanding Australia’s role, or likely role in US foreign policy in the age of Trump.

“It has an opportunity to lead a national discussion around the costs of alternatives to US power, because this recent event much closer to home has revealed national public sentiment is rather at odds with US priorities today.

“Albanese can’t plaster over the deepening divergence with silence.”

After more than a day of avoiding answering whether Australian sailors were on board a US submarine that sank an Iranian warship, the Prime Minister on Friday finally confirmed a Sydney Morning Herald report that had revealed they were.

The reluctant admission however prompted former Defence Minister, and veteran Labor MP Joel Fitzgibbon, to criticise Mr Albanese’s move, suggesting the confirmation could somehow harm Australian personnel.

“I think he’s been pushed and has done what he thought he needed to do but I think it strikes a terrible precedent,” Mr Fitzgibbon told Sky News on Friday.

“You do it once, now people will be saying you told us last time — why can’t you tell us this time. Sharing that information, does put and can put the safety of ADF personnel at risk.”

Officials inside Canberra’s Defence headquarters were no doubt nodding their heads in furious agreement with the former minister, because secrecy and not sharing information is the environment they’ve grown comfortable and accustomed to.