AUSTRALIAN MILITARY FORCES IN SINGAPORE (Setting up of espionage unit)

Mr Ng Kah Ting asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs whether the Government is aware of the fact that a so-called military electronic espionage unit had been set up by the Australian military forces in Singapore; and what steps the Singapore Government proposes to take to ensure that no such unit may be allowed to be set up here and furthermore that our non-aligned policy is not prejudiced.

Mr Rajaratnam: Mr Speaker, Sir, the Singapore Government does not regard the Australian Radio Intelligence Unit in Singapore as an espionage unit set up by the military services to undermine and/or subvert the security of Singapore and its neighbours. It is a normal practice of military establishments of all countries to maintain radio intelligence units to serve their defence requirements. In view of this, I see no grounds for concern that our non-aligned policy has been prejudiced in any way.