Veterans warn ADF property selloff will take a decade and cost billions

Veterans and veteran organisations have warned the government’s plan to sell more than 60 defence properties will take at least a decade and cost billions, urging caution to avoid repeating the problems of past divestment drives. A multi-year review recommended 68 sites for disposal, with the sales expected to raise as much as $1.8bn from properties judged to have no strategic value.

The defence minister, Richard Marles, said all funds from the sale of about $3bn in property holdings would be returned to defence and that the government had a “laser focus” on value for money. Sites flagged for sale include Victoria Barracks in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, prime land on Sydney Harbour, a major munitions site at Maribyrnong, HMAS Penguin, Spectacle Island and RAAF Williams at Point Cook.

The RSL’s national president, Peter Tinley, warned heritage concerns and remediation costs could change the financial picture, while the opposition called the plan a “fire sale”.

adf, defence properties, veteran organisations, richard marles, victoria barracks, sydney harbour, maribyrnong munitions site, hmas penguin, peter tinley, heritage concerns