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United States espionage in Australia

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United States espionage in Australia refers to confirmed and alleged cases of espionage and political interference carried out in Australia by the United States.

Cold War informants

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A 2021 article by Australian historian C.J. Coventry outlined numerous people who had acted as informants for the US Embassy in Australia throughout the Cold War.[1] People named as informants include:

Bob Carr has also been shown to be a US informant during this time.[2]

Nugan Hand Bank (1970s)

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Main article: Nugan Hand Bank

Between 1973 and 1980, the Nugan Hand Bank operated as a merchant bank in Australia. Founded by ex US Green Beret Michael Jon Hand and Australian lawyer Francis John Nugan. The bank has been repeatedly alleged to have been a CIA front organisation that laundered money and drugs and gave money to Australian politicians favourable to the United States.[3]

Whitlam dismissal (1975)

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Main article: Alleged CIA involvement in the Whitlam dismissal

Numerous sources have alleged that the CIA was involvement in the dismissal of Gough Whitlam. These allegations are often grounded in the idea that Whitlam was going to close Pine Gap, a key US intelligence base. The allegations also centre around Christopher John Boyce, a US citizen and defense industry contractor who worked at Pine Gap in the 1970s. Boyce has claimed that the CIA was involved in the Whitlam dismissal and was interfering in Australian politics. and has claimed that the CIA had infiltrated Australian politics. Supporters of these allegations include journalist John Pilger,[4] William Blum,[3] Joan Coxsedge[5] Jonathan Kwitny[6] and Jordan Shanks.[7] Critical of the allegations include historian Peter Edwards[8] and former chief of ASIO Edward Woodward.[9]

United States diplomatic cables leak (2010)

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Main article: Contents of the United States diplomatic cables leak (Australia)

On 28 November 2010, WikiLeaks began releasing classified diplomatic cables that had been sent to the State Department by consulates, embassies and diplomatic missions from 1966 to 2010. The cables revealed a number of Labor politicians were "protected sources" for the US embassy in Australia.

This has contributed to allegations of US involvement in the 2010 Australian Labor Party leadership spill, which saw the replacement of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd with Julia Gillard. These allegations have been made by YouTuber Jordan Shanks[13] and an article in Jacobin magazine.[14]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Coventry, C. J. (March 2021). "The "Eloquence" of Robert J. Hawke: United States informer, 1973–79". Australian Journal of Politics & History. 67 (1): 67–87. doi:10.1111/ajph.12763. ISSN 0004-9522.
  2. ^ Dorling, Philip (2013-04-08). "Bob Carr: Washington's man in Australia". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2024-09-18.
  3. ^ a b Blum, William (1995). Killing Hope: U.S. Military and CIA Interventions since World War II (1st ed.). Common Courage Press. pp. 244–249. ISBN 1-56751-253-4.
  4. ^ Pilger, John (23 October 2014). "The British-American coup that ended Australian independence". The Guardian. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  5. ^ "Remembering November 11, 1975: Pine Gap, the CIA and the coup to remove Whitlam | Green Left". www.greenleft.org.au. 8 November 2019. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  6. ^ Kwitny 1987.
  7. ^ Why America is Dead to Me, 20 June 2019, retrieved 8 August 2023
  8. ^ Edwards, Peter (22 December 2015). "Arthur Tange, the CIA and the Dismissal". The Strategist. Australian Strategic Policy Institute. Archived from the original on 20 June 2020. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  9. ^ Terrorist threat heightened, former spy boss says, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 7.30 Report, 11 October 2005. Accessed 23 July 2009. Archived 25 July 2009.
  10. ^ a b c Dorling, Philip (2010-12-08). "Arbib revealed as secret US source". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2024-09-18.
  11. ^ "Oz PM's aide 'protected' US source: WikiLeaks". News18. 2010-12-16. Retrieved 2024-09-18.
  12. ^ Stefano, Mark Di (2016-06-04). "This Is What Happened When We Asked A Labor Candidate About Appearing In The WikiLeaks Cables". BuzzFeed. Retrieved 2024-09-18.
  13. ^ friendlyjordies (2024-08-04). Julia. Retrieved 2024-09-18 – via YouTube.
  14. ^ "Australian PM Kevin Rudd Was Toppled by Labor Notables Who Snitched for the US". jacobin.com. Retrieved 2024-09-18.
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