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Media Releases
September 16, 2026
SENATOR JAMES PATERSON
SHADOW MINISTER FOR DEFENCE
LIBERAL SENATOR FOR VICTORIA
SENATOR LEAH BLYTH
SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR DEFENCE INFRASTRUCTURE
LIBERAL SENATOR FOR SOUTH AUSTRALIA
SENATOR JESS COLLINS
LIBERAL SENATOR FOR NEW SOUTH WALES
CHAIR OF THE SENATE FOREIGN AFFAIRS, DEFENCE AND TRADE REFERENCES COMMITTEE
JOINT MEDIA RELEASE
SENATE COMMITTEE DEMANDS IMMEDIATE HALT TO LABOR’S DEFENCE ESTATE DIVESTMENT PROGRAM
Wednesday, 16 September 2026
A Senate committee inquiry examining the Albanese Labor Government’s management of defence estate assets has today tabled its interim report recommending an immediate halt to the Government’s planned divestment of 67 property holdings in the Defence estate.
The committee has revealed significant issues with the way this divestment process has been undertaken. The flawed process has been engineered to support a predetermined outcome, and the divestment program will result in a significant deterioration of Australia’s strategic capability.
Amid findings of inadequate public consultation, incomplete due diligence checks and limited regard for the ongoing strategic value of these sites, the committee recommends the Parliament consider new legislative powers for stronger oversight and scrutiny of Labor’s short-sighted defence estate divestments.
The committee warns that estimated financial proceeds of the planned divestments are uncertain, and experts have identified foreseeable impacts of specific divestments on vital capabilities, such as ADF readiness, force posture, mobilisation and domestic counter-terrorism.
All Australians who want to add their voice to our fight can do so by signing the Coalition’s petition to save our defence heritage.
Committee Interim Report: https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Foreign_Affairs_Defence_and_Trade/DefenceEstates/Interim_report
Attributable quotes
Senator James Paterson
“We are calling on the Albanese Government to halt this reckless fire sale to allow proper public consultation and parliamentary scrutiny to occur.”
“We are currently in the most dangerous strategic times since World War II. Assets that appear surplus today may prove critical tomorrow.”
“The Government’s priority should be to ensure Defence is adequately resourced to meet our strategic circumstances, so it does not have to resort to selling off our defence estate as a quick budget fix.”
Senator Leah Blyth
“The sale of assets in our major cities and towns will break the connection a visible defence presence has to our communities.”
“The divestments will particularly adversely affect our reservists and cadets, who will be forced to relocate to community halls or bases several kilometres away. It is clear from the inquiry that the planning for this simply has not been done.”
Senator Jess Collins
“We did the consultations the Government refused to do. And the resounding message we’ve heard is that Labor has this so wrong.”
“This is not something that can be corrected by a future government - once they are lost, we’re not getting them back.Australia’s defence estate does not just belong to the Government of the day, it belongs to the Australian people.”
“Labor have given the diggers, sailors and aviators their eviction notices, but not even the star ranked officers know where they are going in most cases. It is chaos, and it is reckless.”
ENDS
Media Contact – Carson Mumford (Paterson): 0422 484 979