The Albanese government will sell off $3bn worth of underused defence-owned property in what it calls the most significant reform of Australia’s defence estate in the nation’s history.
Defence minister Richard Marles announced the sell-off following a government-commissioned audit of the defence estate.
Marles said Defence is one of the country’s largest property owners, but much of its land and infrastructure is no longer required for operational needs.
He said problems with the defence estate had been known inside Defence for many years, but previous efforts to rationalise holdings had failed due to a lack of political and organisational will.
The audit found maintaining the status quo was not an option.
Marles said the government has agreed, or agreed in principle, to all 20 recommendations in the review.
Of the 68 properties recommended for divestment, just one — the Pittwater annexe in Sydney — will be retained, with three others partly retained. Three properties have already been sold.
Marles said millions of dollars had been spent maintaining unused buildings, including repairing damage from vandalism.
“If we do nothing, we will spend $2bn over the next 25 years on these properties without a single contribution to defence capability,” he said.
“On the flipside, divesting these properties represents an opportunity to return billions of dollars to the government’s purse.”
Among the major sites flagged for sale are the Victoria Barracks in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.
Marles said the heritage-listed sites would be preserved and opened up for public access.
“These properties are protected by law and will exist whatever their future use is, but allowing Australians to see and access them is a tremendous heritage outcome,” he said.
