Government spends $100 million on Fijian Army Training Base

Discussion in 'Australia, NZ, Pacific' started by Bowerbird, Mar 15, 2022.

  1. Bowerbird

    Bowerbird Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 13, 2009
    Messages:
    91,877
    Likes Received:
    73,632
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Gender:
    Female
    The Blackrock Base is primarily to be used for training the Fijian army but as as Interesting concept as this base will double as a centre to provide humanitarian aide

    https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-03...roops-train-blackrock-facility-fiji/100910606

    Still it is a good chunk of money to be sinking into another country’s military
     
    Melb_muser likes this.
  2. Melb_muser

    Melb_muser Well-Known Member Donor

    Joined:
    Aug 13, 2020
    Messages:
    10,342
    Likes Received:
    10,707
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Gender:
    Male
    Sure enough:

    "Australian government ministers have repeatedly denied that they've funded Blackrock purely to block China from gaining a potential military foothold in the region."

    Not purely, but certainly partially ;)
     
    Bowerbird likes this.
  3. Steady Pie

    Steady Pie Well-Known Member Past Donor

    Joined:
    Oct 15, 2012
    Messages:
    24,506
    Likes Received:
    7,247
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Gender:
    Male
    Yeah nah. Defend the homeland, avoid entangling alliances and foreign military excursions. Stay neutral. That is my personal ideal policy.

    Any cent the government is spending abroad on humanitarian causes should be spent here or not at all. Divert it to those indigenous demountables you wanted, I'd be happier with that.
     
  4. kazenatsu

    kazenatsu Well-Known Member Past Donor

    Joined:
    May 15, 2017
    Messages:
    34,637
    Likes Received:
    11,205
    Trophy Points:
    113
    I doubt this is purely altruistic. The Australian defense strategists probably want to minimize the chance that China could seize the islands near Australia as a base to launch attacks, in case any large scale war broke out.

    (So once again, this could be yet another example that brings into question the issue of free trade, when countries like Australia have to spend so much money on defensive measures making sure they could be able to counter China, while at the same time the Australian market is providing funding to China. What in Economics is referred to as "extraneous" costs)
     
    Last edited: Mar 18, 2022
  5. UntilNextTime

    UntilNextTime Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 16, 2022
    Messages:
    7,949
    Likes Received:
    3,064
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Gender:
    Male
    It's funny that it's called "BlackRock". As there is the world's largest investment company called Blackrock. I wonder if they have had a hand in this?
     
  6. Bowerbird

    Bowerbird Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 13, 2009
    Messages:
    91,877
    Likes Received:
    73,632
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Gender:
    Female
    Funny that it is a hugely common name

    I do not put faith in conspiracies
     
  7. UntilNextTime

    UntilNextTime Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 16, 2022
    Messages:
    7,949
    Likes Received:
    3,064
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Gender:
    Male
    You are a treat aren't you? Ohhh, nothing gets past you. Can't make conversation like a normal person. So, we now know your true colours.
     
  8. garry17

    garry17 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2011
    Messages:
    4,126
    Likes Received:
    176
    Trophy Points:
    63
  9. UntilNextTime

    UntilNextTime Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 16, 2022
    Messages:
    7,949
    Likes Received:
    3,064
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Gender:
    Male
    Hmm, just like Dutton signing away $280mil for a company operated from some Kangaroo Island beach shack, to run ops for Asylum seekers, Manus Island. I'm sure all of the dough was well spent.
    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Jul 16, 2022
  10. Steady Pie

    Steady Pie Well-Known Member Past Donor

    Joined:
    Oct 15, 2012
    Messages:
    24,506
    Likes Received:
    7,247
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Gender:
    Male
    The LNP are scum.
     
  11. truthvigilante

    truthvigilante Well-Known Member Past Donor

    Joined:
    May 30, 2012
    Messages:
    4,159
    Likes Received:
    289
    Trophy Points:
    83
    Hi BB,
    I guess if we don’t provide some sort of support then China will, as can be seen in Vanuatu. Is the money provided justified in the greater scheme of western concerns?
     
    Bowerbird likes this.

Share This Page