Victoria Barracks in Sydney and Melbourne to remain in public hands after partial backtrack on defence property selloff

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Australia’s government reversed plans to sell four heritage-listed defence properties, including Sydney’s Victoria Barracks, after public backlash. The sites will remain in public hands for community use, while 63 other defence properties had been earmarked for sale as part of a plan to recoup A$3 billion.

Four heritage-listed defence properties to be preserved for community use after backlash from veterans and former PMs Get our daily political email, free app or daily news podcast Four heritage-listed defence sites, including Sydney’s Victoria Barracks, will remain in public hands after the Albanese government yielded to public backlash against their sale. The sites, along with 63 others around the country, were identified in an independent audit as being underutilised by defence, not fit for purpose and costly to maintain, and were earmarked for sale to recoup $3bn in the federal budget. Sign up for Guardian Australia’s Politics, really newsletter here Continue reading...