Defence Estate Sell-Off Must Pass The Strategic Test, Not Just Financial Return
MEDIA RELEASE
The Returned & Services League of Australia (RSL) says the Government's plan to sell 67 Defence properties must be tested against today's strategic environment, demonstrate a genuine financial benefit to Defence, and deliver greater community value through divestment than through retention.
RSL National President, Peter Tinley AM, outlined the leading veteran organisation’s position before the Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee on Monday, 4 May, presenting evidence on behalf of RSL Australia's 153,000 members and 1100 sub-branches.
"I said this to the Government: I see this list as the start of a negotiation, not a fait accompli," Mr Tinley told the Committee.
The nation’s largest ex-service organisation was not consulted
RSL Australia had no input into the audit and no consultation before the Government endorsed its recommendations on 4 February 2026.
"We haven’t had engagement with Defence in relation to these estates," Mr Tinley told the Committee. "The only formal interaction we had was when I was called to the Minister's office for a briefing after the announcement. I offered the full support of the RSL to facilitate community engagement, which was thankfully accepted."
Australia's current and future defence needs were not part of the audit
The audit was a financial exercise, not a strategic assessment. As an example in Tasmania, the audit proposes to reduce Defence's presence from 20 sites to one, leaving the state without a single rifle range, and shifting cadet programs into local schools, despite not being grounded in reality and reportedly, no consultation with education authorities.
“Once the Defence property and land is sold and redeveloped, it is gone forever,” Mr Tinley said. “The veteran community has a direct and recognised connection to many of these sites, and a legitimate say in what happens to them.”
Cadets, reservists and their families are bearing the cost
The audit gave no consideration to what the sell-off means for the ADF's ability to recruit, train and retain its future workforce.
"There are more than 40,000 cadets across Australia. They are the fundamental underpinning of recruitment for the ADF," Mr Tinley said.
Reservists face the same problem. "If we don't have front of mind how we're going to attract, retain and employ the Reserves, then we are actually hollowing out our Defence capability,” Mr Tinley told the Committee.
The $3 billion figure does not withstand scrutiny
The sell-off, potentially the largest change to Australia’s Defence estate in history, is estimated to raise up to three billion dollars, a figure that does not reflect the true cost of the program.
“Set against a $425 billion Defence commitment, three billion dollars is marginal. Selling off bases and training areas sends exactly the wrong message to our military cadets, reservists, and to community members who represent our future recruiting pipeline" Mr Tinley said.
The financial analysis has not been made public. A full, transparent cost-benefit analysis must be completed and published for each site, including realistic sale proceeds, relocation costs, remediation obligations and replacement capability costs.
“The Government must listen to the Defence and veteran community before proceeding with any sale. Anything less risks eroding trust and undermining the very foundations of our future defence capability.”
Read the full RSL Australia submission to the Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee Inquiry into the Management of Defence Assets.