The dry season in the Northern Territory has begun and a new rotation of 1,150 US Marines is trickling into Darwin from all over the world. They make up the fourth six-month rotation since former Prime Minister Julia Gillard and US President Barack Obama struck a deal in 2011 as part of the US military's "pivot" to the Asia-Pacific region. The number of marines rotating through Darwin began at a few hundred and is set to gradually increase to 2,500 by 2017.

Four years in, few if any of the initial debates surrounding the agreement and its repercussions have been resolved. This is partially by design. The gradual build-up has been just one element of a careful campaign to acclimatise locals to the US presence that's also involved community-focused regulations and outreach programs.

Last December VICE talked at length with Justin Tutty of Basewatch, a small group with numerous concerns regarding the US military presence, and asked him for his read on local feelings.

"I think most people in Darwin don't realise it's an issue yet. There's been a really tight propaganda campaign around it. And people up here are pretty relaxed to begin with. And I guess the scale and the scope was talked down. The people who are worried are the people who are tuned into past experiences of sexual assaults and the social problems that come associated with other rotations and other visits."

A UNITED States sailor accused of raping a woman in Darwin allegedly admitted the crime and told the victim he attempted suicide in a private message on social media, prosecutors have said. Hugh Patrick Malone, 23, has denied an allegation that he “digitally” raped a woman — within hours of having sex with her friend — during a dodgy night out on Darwin’s party strip in September, 2013. His lawyer Tom Berkley told a the NT Supreme Court jury victim’s claim was a “case of regret, not rape”. He urged the jury to “pay close attention to the relationship the girls and sailors had built up”. Crown prosecutor Matthew Nathan said the accused messaged the woman on facebook after the crime. He apologised and said what he did was wrong. She replied: “You forced yourself on me.” Malone allegedly wrote to the woman: “I tried to rape you, I tried to kill myself.”

The court is closed to the public while the victim gives evidence. The jury heard she and two friends hit the clubs every night Malone’s ship USS Denver was in town to “meet sailors”. The victim reportedly hooked up with another sailor who will give evidence at the trial via video link. Malone and his “liberty buddy” had met the victim and her friends several times at city bars and organised to catch up at Monsoons nightclub, on Mitchell St, on September 4. Malone hired a room at Melaleuca Lodge where he had sex with one of the women. The pair returned to the club before Malone hit on the victim, Mr Nathan said. She said no. Malone allegedly invited the woman to come and “check out of the room” with him as he had to get back to the ship. “Her intention was to move on to spend the night with (her partner) who was staying at the Value Inn,” Mr Nathan said. He said the woman was confused when she saw Malone’s room was empty. He allegedly pulled her inside and shut the door, kissing her “roughly” despite her protests. Mr Nathan said Malone held down the woman on the bed and sexually assaulted her. The jury heard he stopped and apologised when she began to cry. The trial continues.

"This matter is being managed in accordance with Northern Territory and Australian law, and in accordance with the Status of Forces Agreement between Australia and the United States," she said. The ABC reported that the 22-year-old sailor had been charged with sexual intercourse without consent, deprivation of liberty and aggravated assault. He's been released on bail and will appear in court again in January. The defence spokeswoman said the case was now subject to legal proceedings so it would not be appropriate to disclose details of the alleged incident.

"Yet another incident has taken place. In fact, the severity of the incidents is intensifying," declared Okinawa lawmakers in a protest resolution drafted in the wake of the crime. "With overwhelming indignation, we must question the present efforts of the US Forces to prevent such incidents from happening."

I'm surprised that the Government allowed the Japanese to prosecute them. Oh, of course, they're enlisted persons. It's the officers, and above, who come from the 'right' families who get the immunity from any and all crimes.