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August 21, 2026
Victorian Premier Ben Carroll must urgently call on his Federal Labor counterparts to abandon plans to sell off Victoria’s defence heritage before it is too late.
The NSW Premier Chris Minns displayed commendable leadership this week in challenging the Albanese Labor government to reverse its decision to sell off Victoria Barracks Sydney, arguing that the historic defence site must stay in Commonwealth hands.
Military sites such as Victoria Barracks Sydney serve as the ancestral home for our Australian Defence Force, and hold deep historical significance for our country and the men and women who have served in uniform for over a century.
Mr Carroll must decide if he will follow the leadership of his NSW Labor counterpart and help save our defence heritage in Victoria, including Victoria Barracks Melbourne, Fort Queenscliff and the RAAF Base Williams, to preserve their strategic importance.
In an increasingly dangerous strategic environment, Australia must remain prepared to respond to regional crises, and military assets that appear surplus today may prove critical in the near future.
The growing opposition to the sale of defence sites across the country demonstrates that this short-sighted move is overwhelmingly condemned by Australians who are being ignored by Federal Labor.
Ben Carroll faces a test. Does he have the same courage as Chris Minns? Or will he show weakness and bow to Richard Marles’s short-sighted military heritage fire sale?
ENDS