In response to a question in September from independent MP Rebekha Sharkie about the possible sale of Adelaide’s historic Woodside Barracks, Marles told Parliament: “We need to ensure that all the personnel implications associated with the The in-depth examination of our Defense sector is taken into account. completely worked, and it will take a few months.

“We do not intend to respond to the exam until next year due to the work involved.”

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Greens defense spokesman David Shoebridge urged the government to divest of high-value military properties in city centers.

“I am sure there are forces within Defense that are opposed to the transfer of land for other public purposes,” Shoebridge said.

“What is the purpose of Defense in retaining critical public land like Victoria Barracks in Paddington when there are so many other competing public uses?

Opposition defense spokesman Andrew Hastie said: “Instead of making tough decisions, Labour’s defense estate audit remains unanswered on the Deputy Prime Minister’s desk .

“It took Labor almost a year to consider the recommendations in a report which was completed and delivered in just four months.”

Hastie continued: “If Labor is considering a sell-off of historic and strategic defense bases and barracks, the Albanian government should be honest with the Australian people.

“We will not let them sell our history and our heritage without a fight. »

Although the sale of Defense properties would increase the budgetary bottom line, the government is weighing potential downsides, including hampering the task of recruiting and retaining sufficient military personnel.

Labor MP Matt Thistlethwaite said in May that the government’s response to the audit was due to be submitted to cabinet at the end of June and that a policy announcement would follow soon, according to an email provided to this header by resident Anthony Ryan from Randwick.

Ryan said Thistlethwaite, who was until recently deputy defense minister, told him in a phone call in July that the government’s response had since been delayed until after the federal election, which is due to take place in next May.

“It seems like there are going to be things in there that people won’t like, so they’re waiting until after the election,” said Ryan, who led local opposition to the plan to build apartments at the barracks Sydney Randwick.

Thistlethwaite referred to Marles’ recent remarks when asked for comment.

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Opposition Leader Peter Dutton attacked the prospect of a “fire sale” of Defense properties when this headline reported on the issue in February, accusing Labor of “trashing the history of the forces Australian Defense Forces.

Auditors, former Defense Housing Australia chief executive Jan Mason and Infrastructure Victoria chairman Jim Miller, were asked to focus on whether Defense holdings in high-density urban areas were compliant to current military needs.

After visiting 70 Defense sites across the country, Mason and Miller made recommendations on which assets they believed were ready for consolidation, divestment and elimination because they no longer contributed to the warfighting capability of the army.

Raelene Lockhorst, of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, said she was baffled why it took so long for the government to release the study.

“My question is whether its conclusions will still be valid in 12 to 18 months,” she said.

Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, opinions and expert analysis from Jacqueline Maley. Subscribers can sign up for our weekly Inside Politics newsletter here.