Big surprise there;
Australia signs up for US missile defence programme, building a system to (theoretically) protect the continental 48 states from
Chinese French al-Qaeda missiles, and (in practice) enrich well-connected defense contractors. Funny, I don't remember reading about a parliamentary debate on the subject. No word on whether the deal involves Cabinet members getting private bunkers somewhere in the Rocky Mountains for their trouble.
My two cents is on this being a front operation for a global 'let's shoot down them martian niggers(*)' operation to keep ET out of our skies. There's no real rush to get it to work against ballistic or cruise missiles just yet.
(*) Used under advice, ref. 'Preacher' Comics, uttered by Sherriff Root.