<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The federal government plans to sell $1.8 billion in </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/australian-defence-force" rel="" target="_blank" title="historic defence real estate"><span>historic defence real estate</span></a><span> as part of a mammoth overhaul of its asset portfolio.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Dozens of underused or vacant Australian Defence Force (ADF) sites, including the Victoria Barracks in Sydney, </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/melbourne" rel="" target="_blank" title="Melbourne"><span>Melbourne</span></a><span> and Brisbane, have been eyed for a nearly two billion-dollar fire sale to fund military equipment and infrastructure upgrades.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Around 35,00 hectares of defence property and land will go under the hammer, with islands, rifle ranges, offices, golf courses and high-profile barracks set to be divested.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>EXCLUSIVE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/not-so-grey-nomads-south-australian-couple-allan-mercer-jess-smith-ditched-mortgage-and-rentals-for-life-on-the-road/c46712f9-d91b-4600-80ae-621757bfed51" target="_blank"><strong><span>The extraordinary lengths young Aussies are going to after being forced out of home ownership</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/new-zealand-commentator-sparks-debate-over-plea-to-make-country-australian-state/b24e44f2-2dd8-4171-bcff-83df839d4de2" rel="" target="_blank" title="Top Kiwi calls for New Zealand to become an Australian state"><strong><span>Top Kiwi calls for New Zealand to become an Australian state</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Defence Minister Richard Marles said the government was headed for the "most significant reform to Australia's defence estate in our nation's history".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The heritage of these properties does not belong to the Australian Army or, for that matter, the Australian Defence Force. It belongs to the Australian people," Marles said.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/australian-defence-force-to-sell-historic-victoria-barracks-major-assets/a10082a9-97a9-4507-9f36-155bc48ead50" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Right now, the Australian people are prevented from seeing these properties.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"They exist behind a defence wall."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The mass sell-off is a response to the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/defence-review-to-overhaul-australian-military-forces/77365efc-f1c8-446a-9d9b-a0d384ccb9b0" rel="" target="_blank" title="federal government's 2023 Defence Strategic Review"><span>federal government's 2023 Defence Strategic Review</span></a><span>, which assessed whether the ADF's real estate portfolio was fit-for-purpose to meet today's military threats.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The audit earmarked 68 sites for divestment.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>EPSTEIN FILES:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/bill-gates-epstein-files-melinda-gates-responds-to-latest-mentions/3d89f996-5943-42d6-a0be-12e57c1e8cb0" target="_blank"><span>Melinda Gates says ex-husband Bill Gates 'needs to answer questions'</span></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>WATCH:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/ebike-sydney-harbour-bridge-footage/8eb12ffa-25bc-4d5a-8b35-d404e142e0ba" target="_blank"><span>Dozens of e-bike 'hoons' ride over Sydney Harbour Bridge</span></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/heat-rule-australian-council-of-trade-unions-leads-push-for-tradies-to-stop-work-in-extreme-heat/7c21be95-9e1d-4e0a-aab2-bd8eec99867d" target="_blank"><span>What some tradies are calling for work to stop when it hits 29C</span></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Assistant Minister for Defence Peter Khalil said some unused ADF assets set to be auctioned off have fallen into disrepair.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He said the cost of maintaining the vacated Penrith training depot site has been a staggering waste of taxpayer dollars.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I was absolutely shocked at what I saw," Khalil told media in Canberra today.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I saw abandoned buildings, every window broken, glass strewn everywhere, vandalism and it got worse when I walked in."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/matila-bee-playground-proposal-memorial-for-bondi-beach-terror-attack/71e9e655-bc55-423c-b744-47cc9745d139" target="_blank"><strong><span>Thousands back push to memorialise Bondi victim Matilda at playground</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Khalil said there are 14 sites listed in the audit which are not being used and that cost hundreds of millions of dollars to maintain.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The government said it expects to save $100 million per year by reducing maintenance costs.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Sites will be sold to interested parties on a "case-by-case" basis.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I mean, there are some prime locations. I imagine there will be a lot of interest and a lot of views about what it can be used for," Finance Minister Katy Gallagher said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Gallagher said she hoped some of it would be used for housing but that no decision had been made yet.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank" title=""><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>ticking this box here</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Sign up to</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></em></strong></a></li></ul></div></div>