Date: Tue, 11 Feb, 1997
Queensland, Australia: Joint Military Operation Questioned

BRISBANE, AAP - Conservationists have questioned the need for the joint US-Australian military operation Tandem Thrust to be held off the north Queensland coast following the revelation today smoke grenades were lost overboard from a US supply ship. Queensland Conservation Council coordinator Imogen Zethoven said the council was opposed to the exercise being held in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park area.
"It should not be happening in the Shoalwater Bay area now," she said.
"Dugongs are already under threat in the area and with 17,000 US troops and 5,000 Australian troops moving into the area as well as a nuclear-powered submarine, the threat to the environment is tremendous."

In Federal Parliament today, Environment Minister Senator Robert Hill revealed 50 smoke grenades had been lost overboard from a US ship preparing to take part in the exercises. Australian navy divers had been able to recover only two of the grenades.

Ms Zethoven, who will take part in a protest in Brisbane tomorrow to have gill netting banned from all dugong habitat areas, said Australians should be demanding answers about why their tax dollars were being spent on the exercise.
"Tens of millions of dollars are being spent on this operation," she said.
"Why are we doing it? Who are our enemies that we have to have this sort of operation?"

Queensland Commercial Fishermen's Organisation president Ted Loveday said the grenades could be a problem if they were in an area used by trawlers.
"We would hope that the navy would contact the local fishermen and advise them."

Mr Loveday said that following World War II, a lot of ammunition had been dumped at sea off the Queensland coast.
"Throughout the years we've trawled up bombs and things but the fishermen are usually very careful and stay right away from them," he said.



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