An industrial dispute is brewing at the top secret Pine Gap surveillance facility over a security upgrade at the Northern Territory base. An Australian electrician has refused to undergo a high-level security check at the joint United States-Australian facility, in . . .
An industrial dispute is brewing at the top secret Pine Gap surveillance facility over a security upgrade at the Northern Territory base. An Australian electrician has refused to undergo a high-level security check at the joint United States-Australian facility, in a case that could challenge a foreign government's right to demand such checks, a union official said.

The matter is listed for hearing in the Australian Industrial Relations Commission in Sydney. Electrical Trades Union national secretary Peter Tighe said the dispute involved a maintenance electrician employed by Boeing Constructors Incorporated - which is contracted to provide maintenance at Pine Gap, near Alice Springs.

The man, who has not been named, had worked at the facility for almost 10 years, but did not want to go through the "rigorous" process to be upgraded to Top Secret, Positive Vetting (TSPV) level, he said.

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