The federal government has reversed its plans to sell off several prominent heritage-listed defence properties, ensuring that historic sites such as Victoria Barracks in Sydney and Melbourne will stay in public hands.
The decision follows significant public backlash from veterans and former prime ministers regarding the proposed divestment. The properties had originally been identified for sale alongside 63 other sites nationwide following an independent audit. That audit concluded the locations were underutilised by the defence sector, ill-suited for modern purposes, and expensive to maintain, with their sales initially targeted to help recoup $3bn in the federal budget.
Following the policy reversal, the preserved sites will instead be maintained for community use.
