Australia to sell 67 defence properties including heritage Victoria Barracks Sydney
The government will sell 67 defence properties, including the 166-year-old Victoria Barracks. The sales will raise $1.8 billion after cleanup costs.
Defence Minister Richard Marles says Australia must shift defence resources from south and east to north and west. Tasmania is losing both of its live fire training ranges.
Tasmania has the largest number of base closures outside Victoria. Victoria Barracks Sydney is a heritage sandstone building opened 166 years ago.
It houses about 350 Defence personnel and the headquarters of Forces Command. The wider sale includes unused properties across Victoria, NSW, Tasmania and the ACT.
Coalition senators, the Greens, teal independents and One Nation have criticized the plan. Former Prime Minister John Howard said the government did not care about national and military history.
About 1.8 billion dollars will be raised after cleanup costs. Some Coalition figures concede that surplus southern land could be sold to fund northern bases in the current security environment.
- 67 defence properties
- Properties to be sold
- 1.8 billion dollars
- Revenue after cleanup
- 166 years old
- Victoria Barracks age
- About 350
- Defence personnel at Victoria Barracks
Why it mattersAustralia's military footprint will shift away from heritage-rich southeastern bases where most people live, creating operational and political tensions.
