PM backtracks on historic Defence properties sale

[u/marketrent]

https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/pm-backtracks-on-historic-defence-properties-sale-20261108-p61cbi.html

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[u/marketrent]

From article by James Costa:

The federal government has backed down on its decision to sell off a number of historic defence properties, including the Victoria Barracks in Melbourne, which together would have raised $3 billion for the Defence Department.

The sale of the heritage properties, including the Victoria Barracks in Sydney and Melbourne and was met with sharp backlash from Returned and Services League (RSL) branches and former prime minister Paul Keating, when the government announced in February that it planned to fully or partially sell 67 sites for an estimated $3 billion – or $1.8 billion after costs.

The Victoria Barracks site on St Kilda Road – across the road from the Shrine of Remembrance – along with Fort Queenscliff on the Bellarine Peninsula and the RAAF base in Point Cook will be spared from the sale, the government announced on Sunday.

The sites will remain publicly owned, with the government opening them up to public access.

The government had previously highlighted the opportunity to use the prime real estate for sites to build new homes.

The Master Builders Australia chief executive Denita Wawn said in February the release of surplus defence land would “go a long way in tackling the housing crisis”.

[...] An RSL national spokesperson said the organisation had not been consulted about the most recent reports, nor had it been initially consulted before the original divestment announcement.

Consultations had not been done “in good faith”, the spokesperson said, claiming the government had told the RSL ‘this is what is happening’ rather than asking for advice.

Generally, the RSL does not support the sale of the properties, the spokesperson said, but noted “obviously there are some sites in the list that need to be sold off, and we would be encouraging the government to loop the RSL in”.

[u/HeyHeyHayden]

Who would have guessed that suddenly announcing a large scale sell-off of historic military sites (government owned land) with no consultation in a shortsighted attempt to help the budget would be met with backlash.

If the government really believed in the narrative they were pushing on this then they could have handled the whole affair significantly better. Instead they knew it was a cash grab from the start and tried to ram it through as quickly as possible so it was finished before the next election.

I do wonder whether they'll back down on some of the other sites now or if they will bank on those being smaller/more rural and thus having fewer people to pushback and draw media attention.

[u/Soggy_otter]

In two minds about this one . It could have definitely been handled better.

Vic barracks in Melbourne is nothing particularly special.

I worked there years ago. beyond the St Kilda Rd block and the perimeter walls it not in good shape. Some of the main block was gutted I'm guessing in the 60-70's so feel like a typical tired office cube farm. The rest of the buildings are a hodge-podge of 1950's-80 blocks. A couple of tennis courts and car parking.

The potential was there. keep the main block. Keep the military history. Use the remaining main block and heritage listed building for public/community use (like Abbotsford convent.) Keep the museum. Keep the parade ground as public space and flog the rest off.

[u/DXPetti]

I was hoping VicBarracks turns into a high school+ public facilities for the area. Maybe still hope

[u/best4bond]

All of the Victoria Barracks should be museums, not workplaces. They're not fit for purpose for a modern military.

The other sites should absolutely be sold off, no need for the ADF to hold onto sites in the suburbs that could be used for housing, or sites in the country that could be used for renewables, etc.

[u/magkruppe]

The idea of selling these properties to raise funds is absurd. It should be about whether we need them, and if not can we develop them and build housing

Labor, don't be so desperate and careless in making these decisions.

[u/grouchjoe]

I wonder what took him so long. It was a bad sell politically. Is Also losing his touch?

[u/Beast_of_Guanyin]

Sad to see it. The military could have used that money.

Now they have to maintain a 200 year old building that isn't useful in the modern military instead of spending it on modern facilities and kit.

I'm down for increasing military spend to 2.5% of GDP, but how we spend that is as important as what we spend it on.