MATTERS OF URGENCY
Senator LAMBIE (Tasmania) (16:56): I move: That, in the opinion of the Senate, the following is a matter of urgency: The need for the Albanese Government to immediately pause the divestment of Defence Estate assets because the plan is based on incomplete and flawed information and will negatively affect the ability of the Australian Defence Force to raise, train and sustain an effective force.
The Australian government is getting rid of 67 Defence sites either fully or partially. This is out of 68 properties identified in an independent audit. I don't have a problem with Defence looking at sites and working out if Defence and therefore the Australian people are getting the best bang for their buck.
But what's become quite clear from the current Senate inquiry is that this decision is based on incomplete and flawed information. I was shocked from Defence—no, actually, I wasn't really shocked at all. Here's what we know.
There are no costings for site remediation. There are no costings to effect removals and transfers. There are failures to appreciate the full usage of the site.
There's even more failure to properly consider the impact on retention by moving personnel north again, and actual terms of leases and conditions seem to have been overlooked. That means that the defence department wants to sell off these assets, but, as usual, they haven't done any of their homework and they don't have any analysis of the risk of divesting estate assets that Defence needs before—before—suitable alternatives have been identified, costed and secured.
My goodness me, the cart is surely before the horse. That includes both of Tasmania's live firing ranges, at Stony Head and Buckland. That'll leave us with none and with reserve bases with no appropriate storage for their equipment, weapons or ammunition.
There is no real understanding of the likely impact on recruiting, and Defence's financial argument is based on incomplete and flawed information. Seriously, it's bloody embarrassing for Defence, and you should be ashamed of yourselves again. Defence also seems to have overlooked the terms and conditions of the leases.
Do your homework! The Senate inquiry is still underway, and Defence is already selling off these properties. Seriously, you have no morals left either.
The Senate inquiry is due to deliver its report on 15 September. I've got a feeling we're going to need an extension for that, because this isn't over by a long shot. The inquiry highlights yet again the ongoing failure of Defence to properly manage Defence estate or pretty much anything else.
On top of this, Defence's strategic review has not considered exposure or obligations to Australia's south. That's Antarctica and the Southern Ocean. That's just gobsmacking in itself.
They're supposed to be in charge of our national security. China established its first permanent Antarctic station in 1985. They're now up to five—five research bases, as they call them.
China claims there is no geopolitical motive—oh jeez, fair dinkum—behind the ongoing expansion of its operations in Antarctica. Open your eyes, Defence. Open your eyes!
That includes newly lodged plans for a seasonal station on the icy continent. China has now submitted a draft environmental evaluation to the secretariat of the Antarctic Treaty for the construction and operation of a new summer research station—they call them research stations—at Marie Byrd Land. So China is increasing its presence, and our Defence Strategic Review didn't even consider Australia's southern approaches.
Yet they're rushing to get 'for sale' signs up across the Defence estate. The Mercury last week had a beautiful two-page spread about more than 120 Army cadets who had gathered in Tasmania for the nation's most demanding military youth challenge—a challenge that pushed these kids to their limit over a gruelling 72-hour wilderness test. The Defence estate asset sale is a slap in the face of those cadets.
We recently heard that there are 220 cadet units across the country. Nine of their sites are being divested, and eight of these are in Tasmania itself. You're wiping out Tasmania; you're wiping us out.
Jesus. I guess cadets won't be happening in Tasmania either, because you've got no forward plan, no forward thinking. What's new for the top of Defence?
And where is the defence minister? Goodness me. The commander of the Australian Army Cadets, Brigadier McCammon, told the Mercury that the challenge was a highlight: Australian Army Cadets offers amazing avenues for youth to build their fitness, skills, resilience and confidence to become Australia's leaders of tomorrow.
But not the young people in Tasmania. They feel betrayed watching as Defence rushes to sell off their venues and move them somewhere—where, they have no idea, because there is no plan. The sale of the Defence estate must be paused to sort out the financials and correct the deficiencies that Defence couldn't do on their own two feet.
They couldn't actually consult with the communities. Don't put it down our throats in Tasmania and think you can come in afterwards and consult. You seriously are shameful.
You are absolutely shameful. Here's a good idea: actually do your job, just for once, Defence—just for once. (Time expired)