Pine Gap protest draws hundreds in Alice Springs

newsJul 19, 2026191,107

Hundreds of activists and Arrernte traditional owners have converged in Alice Springs ahead of a planned protest against the joint Australian, US military facility at Pine Gap. More than 500 people gathered at a desert research institute for the Close Pine Gap convergence, which began with a smoking ceremony that lasted about an hour and welcomed attendees onto Arrernte land. Organiser Nathalie Farah said participants were driven by "frustration", "confusion" and "grief" over Pine Gap's expansion, US involvement and the risk that the facility makes Australia a target. Arrernte elder Felicity Hayes cannot visit sacred grounds and rock art sites that lie within Pine Gap's boundaries. Campaigners highlighted Pine Gap's transformation since it was built almost 60 years ago 18 kilometres south-west of Alice Springs from a publicly sold "space base" into a major intelligence and surveillance facility with growing dome capacity. Longstanding protesters Lies and Els Paijmans, who attended the 1983 Women for Survival camp at Pine Gap when about 800 women camped along the road and roughly 100 women were arrested, travelled from regional New South Wales to join this week's actions. The group plans to hold protest actions tomorrow against Pine Gap's secrecy and role in international military operations.

Radical Graffiti

@radicalgraffiti.bsky.social

"Welcome to Genocide Nation. Land Back" Seen in the Northern Territory of so-called Australia where protesters from around the continent are converging to demand the closure of Pine Gap, a US spy base which has operated since 1966.

34146d ago

Senator David Shoebridge

@davidshoebridge.bsky.social

On Arrernte Country in Alice this weekend for the convergence on Pine Gap, calling for land back and the closure of this dangerous US base.

Tents in front of a banner that reads CLOSE PINE GAP

22947d ago

Brenda Nevill 🍉7

Pine Gap occupies a space in my brain and I often worry about it. Especially now that the States have gone rogue. It seems to be a case of "out of sight, out of mind" for most people.

MandyH3

Persistence is a fine attribute and shows dedicated opposition. Standing with ❤️💛🖤

Tom Waltz3

Getting out of AUKUS should be top priority.

💧 Erik Levin 🇦🇺🦘2

Totally supporting you in this. USA is dangerous and not an ally at all.

David Milner

@davemilbo.bsky.social

In the shadow of Pine Gap, I had a great chat with Senator @davidshoebridge.bsky.social about Australian involvement in the US-Israeli warmachine. I'll get that out onto YouTube and Instagram next week, so look out for that (because the algorithm ain't gonna help!).

Two Daves, Shoebridge and Milner, sitting beneath acacia trees on Arrernte land

23946d ago

arthurnorman2.bsky.social19

👏👏👍both of you keep up the good work of uncovering the shitfuckery of Australia's involvement in supporting israel's genocidal practices and ethnic cleansing in the invaded West Bank

Jen G Lambie11

Not gonna lie.... two of my favourite guys! ✨️😉✨️

QuetzalcoatlusWellnessInstitute6

One of the hardest working pollies, and top bloke.

Lady Tart (KJ Colt)3

Peaceful place for a chat. Don’t forget to bring that washing in off the line tho

clowded.bsky.social1

Please try to call these users the USA they aren't "us" and subliminal words have an effect

Wilberry 🪷1

When I saw last night that Senator Shoebridge was there I was hoping you two would get together for a chat. I'm sure it was great and I look forward to watching it, Dave and David ✌️

Quoting this

Kate-Eviva7

Great work. Looking forward to it.

Lizzy Schofield2

Keep a lookout for this. Active hope 🙏🏻 bsky.app/profile/dave...

Lizzy Schofield2

Two of our best David’s always fill me with hope. Anyone who is waking up & finally paying attention cannot miss this talk. Stay tuned for Dave to put it out in our must share universe # AusPol

ABC News Australia

@news.abc.net.au

Hundreds of activists join Arrernte traditional owners ahead of Pine Gap protest

9146d ago

Quoting this

StarKitty 🏳️‍⚧️2

That’s gonna end well :/

Jo Dyer

@instanterudite.bsky.social

The #SundayShot is up! We lost Pine Gap correspondent @davemilbo.bsky.social along the way due to dodgy internet but @nicolechvastek.bsky.social & Jesse Noakes last the distance & a good time was had by all (including a gaggle of curious schoolboys @ Geelong Library). www.youtube.com/channel/UC5Z...

7746d ago

Pepper Qi3

bsky.app/profile/pepp... @davemilbo.bsky.social came up from gardening to ask what happened to communications? Does Mike Burgess know you're out there? I wish I was out protesting with you all #Auspol #alttxt @davidshoebridge.bsky.social have you had issues sending & receiving out near Pine Gap?

Chris Egginton2

Good show Jo and skillfully chaired.

Laki1

I loved the autotext translation Jo "Jillian Seagull's" Jillying Seagulls indeed.

Quoting this

Honor Laois 🦘#DoNoHarm 🦘4

Great show. Nicole is articulate with a Milbo edge (frustration showing) and Jesse's WA intimacy helped too. Thanks guys! I'll keep an eye out for the Milbo-Shoebridge chat this week.

Always ... a Difficult ... Earth Girl🐬🐨🐋🦘🦈2

Great episode today. Good scholarly - & humanitarian - logic & 'on the ground', up to date polit. info re: Papalia's exit from the WA State Gov seat of Secret Harbor & the Aug. 29th by-election with an ex-Woodside revolving door employee running as the Labor Candidate. What could possibly go wrong?

Simon Rosenberg

@simonrosenberg.bsky.social

"Why should we be dragged into [US] wars? ...Pine Gap makes Australia a target." Good to see ABC giving voice to Arrernte traditional owners and other protesters. But another opportunity missed by legacy media to set out the evidence for those claims, and the impact of government secrecy. #auspol

5846d ago

Peter Murphy

@peterwmurphy1.bsky.social

#SundayShot 19/7. @instanterudite.bsky.social & @davemilbo.bsky.social were joined by Jesse Noakes & @nicolechvastek.bsky.social. Intelligent, insightful, engaging discussion re RC into #Antisemitism, Pine Gap protest, #WApol, Pauline Hanson, AI data centres. Superb. #auspol youtu.be/zXc3gE34nTg?...

2546d ago

bystander1.bsky.social

@bystander1.bsky.social

"It was originally sold to the public as a space base, but the joint Australian-US facility has since expanded to become a major intelligence and surveillance base, its large golf-ball-like domes growing in number and capacity."

1246d ago

Dr nick nobody

@nicknobody.bsky.social

I guess failed Labor MP Peter Garrett won't be protesting the US war base at Pine Gap after he reversed his opposition to it in 2004. #auspol www.greenleft.org.au/2009/803/ana...

846d ago

Pepper Qi

@pepperqi.bsky.social

Reports indicate that Pine Gap, the joint US-Australian signals intelligence facility near Alice Springs, utilizes advanced satellite monitoring and ground-based interception systems that can detect and analyze electronic communications, including cellular, satellite, and internet signals. While the facility itself is designed for surveillance rather than causing intentional interference, its operational scope involves monitoring global communications, with specific capabilities to intercept transmissions from foreign satellites and military networks.

346d ago

Solidarity

@solidarity-aus.bsky.social

Great turnout outside Rosebank Engineering in Bayswater Vic today. The rally of about 200 was in solidarity with the Pine Gap convergence. Rosebank is the only company in the world making the release mechanism for the bomb bay on the F-35 jets used by Israel against Gaza. 🇵🇸✊🏽🇵🇸

347d ago

Brenda Nevill 🍉

@brendamagpie.bsky.social

Pine Gap occupies a space in my brain and I often worry about it. Especially now that the States have gone rogue. It seems to be a case of "out of sight, out of mind" for most people.

747d ago

Viktor 🇵🇸🍉🦘🦘🪃

@viktx.bsky.social

@australianlabor.bsky.social @albomp.bsky.social Dismantle Pine Gap and dump Trump the rapist.

445d ago

jeff belli slack

@jeffinsydney.bsky.social

Kiwis and Aussies love the USA. We fought side by side, WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, the Mideast Bush wars. Kegbreath said we are freeloaders! The USA has a secret base at Pine Gap and NZ is part of 5 eyes. And? We are Freeloaders? USA has no idea how these insults have hit the public down here.

546d ago

elfdock.bsky.social

@elfdock.bsky.social

Activism is happening all over atm Sonans. Activists at Pine Gap yesterday, in growing numbers as well. We have reached a stage where we have nothing to lose by all standing up together.

245d ago

2 sources

abc.net.auHundreds gather in Alice Springs ahead of Pine Gap protest nexa.fasulloland.comActivists and Traditional Owners Converge for Pine Gap Protest

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Pine Gap protest draws hundreds in Alice Springs

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