Australia has put dozens of historic military sites up for sale, aiming to raise billions of dollars for its army, Defence Minister Richard Marles announced on Wednesday. Marles stated that the decision to sell 64 sites in full and 3 sites partially was based on a 2023 audit, which revealed that Australia's defence is 'constrained by the burden of the past in property management'. Among the assets slated for sale are artillery positions, islands, and golf courses, as well as barracks in prime locations in Sydney and Melbourne. Three sites have already been sold since the audit began. At a press conference, Defence Secretary Peter Khalil noted that 'hundreds of millions of dollars' are spent on maintaining unused and vacant facilities, describing it as a 'shocking waste of taxpayers' money'. He added: 'On the other hand, there are some defence sites with exceptional beauty, some of which feature grass tennis courts to rival Wimbledon, meticulously designed gardens, and vast golf courses, yet they fail to meet the operational requirements and capabilities of the Australian Defence Force'. The audit also indicated that 'after accounting for employee relocation costs and other initial expenses, the net proceeds from the sale of these assets could reach approximately A$1.8 billion (around $1.26 billion USD)'. Additionally, the Defence Department is expected to save about $100 million annually in maintenance costs. Marles said: 'For the Australian Defence Force to protect our nation and safeguard Australians, it must have defence properties that meet its operational needs and military capabilities'.
