Fed: Labor says no need for US troops to call Australia home
CANBERRA, Aug 5 AAP - There was no need for the United States to base any of its troopson Australian soil, Labor said today.
Opposition defence spokesman Chris Evans said Australia should be responsible for itsown defence and any request by the US to base troops in Australia would have to be justified.
Prime Minister John Howard said today the government would consider any request fromthe US to use Australia as a home base as part of a review of military operations followingthe war on Iraq.
Senator Evans said Labor supported close defence links with the US but basing troopson Australian soil was a different matter.
"Mr Howard is out there again talking up the possibility of US forces on Australiansoil," he told reporters in Canberra.
"I don't see any need for it, there hasn't been an American request and until there'sa proper explanation as to why that would be necessary Labor doesn't believe it's necessary."
AAP kmh/sb/cd/jlw
KEYWORD: HOWARD BASES LABOR
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