MEDIA RELEASE
RSL Australia welcomes the Government’s decision to keep Victoria Barracks Sydney, Victoria Barracks Melbourne, Fort Queenscliff and RAAF Williams Point Cook in public hands. But with Defence personnel still being moved off these sites, and more than 60 others still earmarked for sale, the job is only half done.
The Returned & Services League of Australia (RSL) says today’s announcement is a partial victory for the Defence and veteran community. The RSL has led the veteran community’s opposition to the divestment since the sites were listed in February.
"This is a partial victory for every veteran, Defence family and Australian who turned up, signed up and spoke up," said RSL Australia National President, Peter Tinley AM.
"Keeping these sites in public hands protects our military heritage. It doesn’t protect our Defence capability."
Under the decision, the four sites will move from Defence to the Department of Finance, with Defence personnel to be relocated, the sites opened to the public, and the Australian War Memorial to help preserve and share their stories.
"The Australian War Memorial’s involvement is welcome. These stories deserve to be told well," Mr Tinley said.
"But retaining Victoria Barracks Sydney has never just been about its history. It’s home to the Headquarters of Forces Command, and Reservists and cadets train there. That’s a story that should kept alive."
"People are Defence’s most important capability. Moving them out before Christmas with nowhere suitable to go is still a hit on morale."
The RSL says a visible Defence presence in strategic locations such as Sydney and Melbourne is critical to attracting and retaining cadets, Reservists and the next generation of ADF personnel.
"Our 40,000-plus cadets are the backbone of ADF recruitment, and our Reservists are an important part of our capability. You don’t grow either by pulling Defence out of the communities they come from," Mr Tinley said.
More than 60 Defence sites remain earmarked for sale, including Lancer Barracks and HMAS Penguin in NSW, Hampstead Barracks in SA, Irwin and Leeuwin Barracks in WA, and numerous sites in Tasmania.
In September, a Senate committee’s interim report recommended halting the divestment program until proper consultation takes place.
The RSL is calling on the Government to halt remaining sales until the Senate inquiry into the Management of Defence Estate Assets has reported, and to set out how it will maintain a Defence presence in our major cities.
"This was never about a number of sites. It’s about a Defence estate that serves the needs of our defence capabilities today and into the future," Mr Tinley said.
"Every remaining site must pass the strategic test, not just the financial one. There’s no undo button. Once a site is sold, it’s gone for good."
"The Government has shown its listening. We’ll keep working constructively to get the rest of this right."