Australia’s most secret defence base, Pine Gap, is in the spotlight again after six protesters avoided jail for sneaking in.
The joint Australia-U.S. facility, which marked its 50th anniversary this year, runs mainly surveillance and communications operations.
Its location 20km from Alice Springs was chosen so it would be out of the range of spy ships lurking in international waters off the coast of Australia.
An aerial view of Australia most secret defence base, Pine Gap, marked with its numerous components including 14 antennas
![The 14 dish antennas protected by their widely-recognised golf ball-like randomes](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/04/08/46F70AE700000578-0-image-a-9_1512376946044.jpg)
The 14 dish antennas protected by their widely-recognised golf ball-like randomes
More than 1,000 people work at Pine gap, half of which are Australians including operations staff, Federal Police, and various contractors.
Pine Gap’s main jobs are to intercept signals and control satellites using 14 dish antennas protected by their widely-recognised golf ball-like randomes.
They listen in on telephone conversations and satellite communications across Asia, Oceania, the Middle East, Europe, and Africa.
Antennas also provide early warning of missile strikes, guide anti-aircraft and missile defence systems, and paint targets for Australian and U.S. weapon systems.
The most controversial role is targeting for drone strikes over a third of the world, including in the war against ISIS and the Taliban.
Data from the antennas are analysed by a massive computer system covering 20,000sqm – the size of the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
![The most controversial role is targeting for drone strikes over a third of the world, including in the war against ISIS and the Taliban](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/04/08/46F70B0B00000578-0-image-a-10_1512376951781.jpg)
The most controversial role is targeting for drone strikes over a third of the world, including in the war against ISIS and the Taliban
![The joint Australia-U.S. facility, which marked its 50th anniversary this year, is about 20km from Alice Springs](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/04/08/46F6FAE200000578-0-image-a-11_1512376960634.jpg)
The joint Australia-U.S. facility, which marked its 50th anniversary this year, is about 20km from Alice Springs
Despite numerous protests, like the one that saw the five men and one woman arrested, the Australian government remains committed to the project.
‘[Pine Gap] makes a critical contribution to the security interests of Australia and the United States,’ the Defence White Paper reads.
‘Delivering information on intelligence priorities such as terrorism, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and military and weapons developments, while contributing to the verification of arms control and disarmament agreements.’
Other experts argue Pine Gap’s existence makes Australia a target for attack, with analysis showing a nuclear strike could wipe out Alice Springs.
The base is so secure it was difficult to know how the protesters were about to scale the 1.2m fence and get inside the perimeter before they were caught.
Kristian Laemmle-Ruff, who took award-winning photographs of the facility, said patrols were every 10 minutes and the average person wouldn’t get within one kilometre.
![It listens in on telephone conversations and satellite communications across Asia, Oceania, the Middle East, Europe, and Africa](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/04/09/46F761CB00000578-5142993-image-a-4_1512379623773.jpg)
It listens in on telephone conversations and satellite communications across Asia, Oceania, the Middle East, Europe, and Africa
![Antennas also provide early warning of missile strikes, guide anti-aircraft and missile defence systems, and paint targets for Australian and U.S. weapon systems](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/04/08/46F70B0F00000578-0-image-a-12_1512376968103.jpg)
Antennas also provide early warning of missile strikes, guide anti-aircraft and missile defence systems, and paint targets for Australian and U.S. weapon systems
![Data from the antennas are analysed by a massive computer system covering 20,000sqm - the size of the Melbourne Cricket Ground](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/04/08/46F70B0300000578-0-image-a-13_1512376971397.jpg)
Data from the antennas are analysed by a massive computer system covering 20,000sqm – the size of the Melbourne Cricket Ground
Protestors James Dowling, Franz Dowling, Andy Paine, Tim Webb, Paul Christie and Margaret Pestorius broke in on September 29 last year.
They were spared jail in the NT Supreme Court in Brisbane on Monday, instead convicted and fined after a jury found them guilty.
The six narrowly avoided jail because Justice John Reeves thought instead of being a deterrent, it would make them a ‘martyrs’ to the cause.
James Dowling, 62, said outside court he was simply trying to stop war crimes and the group would not be deterred from further illegal action.
‘Pine Gap is guilty of massive war crimes, drone warfare and other warfare; it’s ongoing and we asked the judge to take our side,’ he said.
‘Unfortunately he took the side of Pine Gap and the war criminals.’
![Some experts argue Pine Gap's existence makes Australia a target for attack, with analysis showing a nuclear strike could wipe out Alice Springs](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/04/08/46F7157900000578-0-image-a-14_1512376977303.jpg)
Some experts argue Pine Gap’s existence makes Australia a target for attack, with analysis showing a nuclear strike could wipe out Alice Springs
![Protestors (L-R) Andy Paine, 31, Franz Dowling, 20, Tim Webb, 23, Jim Dowling, 63, Margaret Pestorius, 53, and Paul Christie 44 broke in on September 29 last year](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/04/08/46DF71E600000578-0-image-a-17_1512376990626.jpg)
Protestors (L-R) Andy Paine, 31, Franz Dowling, 20, Tim Webb, 23, Jim Dowling, 63, Margaret Pestorius, 53, and Paul Christie 44 broke in on September 29 last year
Dowling, who along with his son Franz Dowling, Paine and Webb was found guilty of vandalising a stone cross at Toowong Cemetery earlier this year, said the group would continue on their path of ‘non-violent resistance to war’.
‘Whether he sends us to jail or just fines us we’ll keep going, keep doing what we’re doing and hope others will join us,’ he said.
Justice Reeves said the group trespassed onto the base knowing it was a prohibited area but he did not believe their activities posed any real threat, adding they expected to be arrested shortly after they climbed the fence.
Justice Reeves said he did not agree with the Crown’s assertions the ‘offences struck at the heart of national security, although you were caught before any such harm could occur’.
The court previously heard the group were chanting, praying and playing music on the restricted site.
![The six narrowly avoided jail because Justice John Reeves thought instead of being a deterrent, it would make them a 'martyrs' to the cause](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/04/08/46F5165400000578-0-image-a-15_1512376983283.jpg)
The six narrowly avoided jail because Justice John Reeves thought instead of being a deterrent, it would make them a ‘martyrs’ to the cause
![They were instead convicted and fined after a jury found them guilty](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/04/08/46F518C500000578-0-image-a-16_1512376985529.jpg)
They were instead convicted and fined after a jury found them guilty
Justice Reeves fined the six members of the group differing amounts based on their age, criminal history and personal circumstances.
Christie was fined $2000, while Franz Dowling and Webb were both ordered to pay $1250.
Paine, who had previously been convicted for trespassing on commonwealth land, was fined $2500.
Justice Reeves delivered a stern message to the two oldest members of the group, Pestorius and Dowling, saying they should be setting a good example to younger protesters.
James Dowling was fined $5000, while Pestorius was fined $3500.