Andrew Hastie (Canning, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Home Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

Today, I rise to speak as a voice of those who have served and the communities who stand behind them, because right now, across Australia, Defence sites are being labelled by the Albanese government as underutilised, unsustainable or even vacant land. Under the Albanese government, we're going to see a massive fire sale of very historic and important Defence land and property, and I think that's a very short-sighted and foolish decision. But the people who wear the uniform and the people who support them deserve a voice. I've had plenty of feedback from them, and so today I'm going to give them a voice in this chamber and express some of their views whilst protecting their identities.

A reservist in Western Australia has told us plainly that the public narrative about Irwin Barracks is wrong. Irwin is not derelict land waiting for the next housing development; it is home to WA's Army presence. It houses a major headquarters and supports a wide range of capability, and its role matters even more because Western Australia does not have regular battalions like other states. For reservists, Irwin isn't just a workplace; it's where army readiness is built. And that same reservist points out something else: Irwin has received upgrades in recent years. Defence itself has been investing there, so why are we now being told it's disposable?

A former officer commissioned at Fitzroy Barracks has spoken about what it meant to stand on the same ground as generations before him with his family there as they were welcomed into the mess and shown the history by those who understand what the barracks represents. He says those experiences bind families to service. They build pride, tradition and continuity. Once a site like Victoria Barracks is sold, those things cannot be replaced. A long-serving ADF member has described Victoria Barracks, Sydney, as the 'jewel in the crown' of Army heritage, the ceremonial gateway where we welcome dignitaries. It's the home of so much of our Army's tradition. Selling this national site to private developers risks stripping away the army's identity.

Another serving member described the pride of working in a place where Australians have served for nearly two centuries. I don't want to give away their identity, but they took a lot of pride in the buildings, the history, the memorabilia and the culture that engenders. I get a very strong sentiment from that communication. A member from the Royal New South Wales Lancers in Sydney spoke of their shock at learning their barracks may be sold and the heartbreak of knowing he may never again parade there, where generations stood before him. He sees this as severing our generation from the Anzacs who went before them.

And it's not just barracks. A community member from the Western Australian south-west has pointed out that the Coolilup Rifle Range has been listed as having no occupants, which is simply false. It's active most weekends, home to hundreds of members and used by the Army.

These aren't abstract concerns. This fire sale is going to destroy morale and it's going to sever the ADF from its culture and tradition.

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