On July 20, 2026, hundreds of protesters marched on the secretive Pine Gap military base near Alice Springs, in what organizers described as the largest demonstration at the site in decades. The protest was led by Arrernte traditional owners, who delivered a letter to the front gates demanding the return of their ancestral lands.
Pine Gap is a joint US-Australian intelligence facility, operated by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the Australian Signals Directorate. It has been a focal point for protests since its establishment in the 1970s, with activists citing concerns over surveillance and Indigenous land rights.
The protest on July 20, 2026, coincided with the 50th anniversary of the base's opening. Organizers estimated the crowd at over 500 people, though official police figures were not immediately available. The letter delivered to the base called for the land to be returned to the Arrernte people, who have inhabited the area for tens of thousands of years.
Police were present at the scene but reported no arrests or incidents. The protest was peaceful, with participants holding signs and chanting slogans. The event drew attention from national and international media, highlighting ongoing tensions over the base's presence on Indigenous land.
