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Tasmania’s state government has spoken out against the Defence Estate sale by the federal government.
The Liberal state government in Tasmania has expressed their distaste for the Albanese government’s move to divest a range of defence facilities across the nation.
Within the Defence Estate audit, eight properties in the island state are set to be sold, with leases at seven cadet training sites ending.
Tasmania’s Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Gavin Pearce, said these sales would lead to a decline in recruits, training and the quality of continued efforts and training from Reservists and cadets.
“Tasmania has seen more soldiers per capita fight in world wars than any other state or territory,” Pearce said.
“Even today, we continue to see our island state produce some of the strongest recruitment outcomes in the nation.
“We are an important contributor to our nation’s defence, and I can tell you firsthand, the standard of recruits we see come out of Tasmania is second to none.
“Our government is yet to be properly consulted on the plan proposed by the federal Labor government, and we need to be assured our local defence force personnel and future capacity are not put at risk.”
Deputy Premier Guy Barnett added that the sale will not only impact the future Tasmanian recruitment to the Australian Defence Force but turn away from the history of these sites.
Specifically pointing out the Australian Navy Cadets’ Training Ship Sheean facility, Barnett said that maintaining sites like these display the “respect, honour and admiration of those who served our nation”.
“We must not sit idly by and allow this decision to erode these values our diggers fought so hard for.
“Many of the proposed sites play an important role in our communities, reminding us of the great sacrifice made by service men and women in the past.
“Although we recognise that there may be some sites that are genuinely surplus to needs, the federal government has failed to consult with communities and has sent a poor message about Tasmania’s role in defence with the scale of its proposed sell-off in our state.”
