CONSTITUENCY STATEMENTS
Dr SCAMPS (Mackellar) (09:42): In February the government announced plans to divest dozens of Defence sites from around the country, including iconic locations such as Victoria Barracks and part of HMAS Penguin. This would be a devastating loss. These strategic assets are not only rich in history; they are strategically placed.
Since the Minister for Defence announced these divestments, I've been contacted by a multitude of veterans from across Mackellar. Their message to me has been crystal clear: these nationally significant Defence sites should not be sold off. They should remain in Commonwealth hands.
Robert, a member of Dee Why RSL sub-branch, was conscripted to the Australian Army, and his father was one of the rats of Tobruk. He wrote movingly about the layers of history still visible at Victoria Barracks—from Busby's Bore, which supplied 300 to 400 gallons of water to Sydney up to 1902, to the marks in its sandstone left by generations of soldiers. I've heard from many other veterans: Bob from Cromer, who served with the 1st Armoured Regiment in South Vietnam; Andrew from Mona Vale, a member of Pittwater RSL sub-branch, who's served in the Army and Army Reserve since 1987 and performed guard duties at Victoria Barracks; Darren, who served as an operational F/A-18 fighter pilot; Robert and Bob, both members of Forestville RSL sub-branch; and Leigh from the War Veterans Village (Narrabeen) RSL sub-branch.
These veterans have all added their voices to those opposing the sale of Defence assets. We should listen to them. Victoria Barracks is not redundant real estate.
It remains a functioning military precinct. It is home to Forces Command and continues to train defence personnel, including personnel from overseas. It's messes, ceremonial spaces and shared facilities sustain military culture and professional relationships that cannot be simply transplanted into a commercial office tower.
It is also an extraordinary part of our national story. Most of the precinct is heritage listed. Its sandstone walls, Busby Bore shafts and historic racquet courts are irreplaceable.
HMAS Penguin is equally significant. It remains an operational Navy base, delivering critical clearance-diver and underwater-medicine capabilities, and its Commonwealth heritage listed site also contains environmentally important Sydney bushland. Selling these places may produce a modest one-off return; losing them is permanent.
Importantly, the Senate inquiry has heard credible alternatives. The National Trust has argued that historic Defence sites should remain in public ownership and be put to their best community use. Former commodore of the Royal Australian Navy Richard Menhinick has argued that Defence should be retaining and strengthening these strategically important assets and infrastructure, not disposing of sites that may be needed to support the nation's future defence.
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