The United States’ espionage chiefs have said “spying on allies is necessary” Is Australia one such alley. It has now surfaced that Australia worked for the US on surveillance operations, during the 2007 UN climate change conference in Bali. The embarrassing revelation has once more heated up tensions between Australia and our neighbor. Indonesia is now demanding an explanation from Australia, for this spying action. All along the US have been busy monitoring communication activities of up to 35 world leaders, including the German Chancellor.
The SMH, has named a number of Asian cities in which Australian embassies have been used for electronic surveillance by a group of intelligence partners known as the "Five Eyes" - the US, the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. The embassies allegedly involved in the spying spree are in Jakarta, Bangkok, Beijing, Hanoi and Kuala Lumpur, among others. The Indonesian foreign minister said it was "not cricket" for Australia to spy on the region along with the US. Relations between Australia and Indonesia have once more become aggravated.
Abbott has refused to comment other than to say that "the thing about every Australian governmental agency is that we all operate in accordance with the law." I’m sure that will satisfy our Asian neighbors.
This action by Australia once more paints us as subservient US lackey. At one time we were seen as the ‘slave’ of the British. Post WWII and our government become the sycophant of US imperialism, in such places as Vietnam, Afghanistan and the Middle East. Australia would swallow all US ‘suggestions’ no matter how ridiculous. After years of pretense that we are a good neighbor to Asia this nonsense comes to light. I had hoped that the “All the way with LBJ.” 1960’s rubbish was a thing of the past, seems not. I wish for a truly independent Australia free from US interference, based on this we have a long way to go to achieve that.

what do you think..'the over the horizon array' really is?
its sure not detecting the boats..yet its listening to everything[bet its even got the nbn cable going past it..to get the info..back home]

just like one off the first nbn connections was to the
the really big..telescope project..in wa.

from 730 report/last night
http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2013/s3883861.htm

What role has Australia had in spying on neighbours?

American whistleblower Edward Snowden claims that Australia and the US are are partners in surveillanc of communications throughout Asia.

Dear Paul,

The United States has always been a major ally of this
country. We've co-operated with them in many areas -
including allowing them to have their operations centres
in this country -
with the hope that if this country was ever under attack
again, or threatened, the US would come to our aid.
We mustn't forget that during the war in the Pacific
during the 1940s we would have been invaded by Japan if
it hadn't been for the US. So in gratitude, Australia
has always co-operated with the US.

japan..never wanted to invade australia
no..invasion-force could hold it..

all..the claptrap usa will rescue us..*if
is too big an..if..to ever reasonably happen
heck..the lines of supply alone..so many bridges

now nz..thats different

Foxy you speak of events of 70 years ago, and fortunately for Australia the interests of the US at that time coincided with our own interests. There is a great deal of truth in what OUG posted. Not withstanding anything you have said, should Australia be eternally grateful for the events of the 1940's. I fail to see how post war a blind faith in the US has worked to our advantage. I believe alignment to the US has been to our detriment during this time, wars in Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, Iraq, Afghanistan, have been costly to us in term of Australian lives and Australia's standing in the world, particularly in Asia. in this time what have we gained from the US, other than this perceived umbrella of protection, is it real, or is it imaginary. A key word in your post is "hope" we place a great deal of faith in that little word hope. Lets hope its not unfounded in the future.