Andrew Wilkie (Clark, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Defence. Minister, the rationalisation of the Defence estate was long overdue, and I am supportive in principle. However, media reporting today appears to be silent on the future of Anglesea Barracks in Hobart. Can you assure my community that the barracks will indeed remain a key part of the Defence estate and receive necessary funding for upgrades?

Richard Marles (Corio, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for his very good and considered question. The question is noteworthy in one respect, it being asked at 3.30 in question time as the first non-government question on the Defence estate review—inasmuch as it highlights the dog over here who hasn't barked. I mean, we have the biggest reform to the Defence estate in our country's history, and we have not heard from the shadow minister.

Hon. Members:

Honourable members interjecting—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Everyone resume their seats. I'll deal with this. Deputy Prime Minister, it was completely unacceptable to refer to someone in those terms. You will withdraw that comment, apologise and get back to the question.

Richard Marles (Corio, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I withdraw, Mr Speaker.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

And apologise.

Richard Marles (Corio, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

And I apologise, Mr Speaker. What has characterised the shadow minister in his time in the shadow defence portfolio has been his absolute determination to leave it. Over the last nine months, you wouldn't so much say that the shadow minister has been in defence, rather he's been on the attack, and his target is sitting right there. What we've had is absolute—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The Deputy Prime Minister wasn't asked about any of the subjects that he's talking about. I want him to return to the member for Clark's question. I don't want him to refer to shadow ministers or anyone else. He wasn't asked about that, and, if he continues with that, he'll be sat down. The minister will return to the question.

Richard Marles (Corio, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I do thank the member for his question, and the short answer is yes. Anglesea Barracks remains a critical part of the Defence estate. It is right that, in the member's home state of Tasmania, there has been significant reform as part of the Defence estate review. What that will see is a rationalisation of a number of Defence properties within Tasmania, which will, for example, see the opening of a tri-service cadet facility in Launceston. It will also see consolidation in the north-west of the state for a facility which will deal with both reserves and cadets. But that work includes Hobart and Anglesea Barracks, where, again, there will be a consolidation of the Defence footprint around the Hobart region in the Anglesea Barracks. As a result of that, the government is committing to a $20.8 million increase in investment into the Anglesea Barracks to make sure that it is not only able to undertake the functions that it has had up until now, which are very important, but also able to undertake those functions going forward as, really, the consolidated centre for Defence's footprint in Hobart.