Tim James
Shadow Minister for Veterans
Anthony Roberts
Member for Lane Cove
Jacqui Munro
Shadow Minister for Heritage
The NSW Liberals and Nationals have welcomed the Minister for Veterans' decision to finally advocate for the protection of the state's historic Defence sites, including Victoria Barracks, and are calling on the Minns Labor Government to now back legislation to protect their future.
Under questioning at Budget Estimates, Minister David Harris agreed to speak to the NSW Minister for Heritage to advocate for sites to be heritage listed, after conceding he had not done so thus far.
Shadow Minister for Veterans Tim James said the Minister's commitment was welcome but had come after months of inaction.
"Anthony Albanese is selling off these historic Defence sites to prop up his Budget, and Chris Minns has spent months standing by. It has taken sustained pressure from the Liberals and Nationals, veterans and the community to finally force him to act."
"The Minister now needs to follow through and make it clear to his federal Labor colleagues that these sites should not be sold off."
Earlier this month, Member for Lane Cove Anthony Roberts introduced the Environmental Planning and Assessment Amendment (Defence Lands Parliamentary Approval) Bill 2026, which would require the approval of both Houses of NSW Parliament before major planning changes could materially alter the development, use, subdivision, density, scale or intensity of five significant Defence sites.
"Heritage listing is an important step, but these sites are too significant for their future to be decided behind closed doors or through ordinary planning processes alone," Mr Roberts said.
"Given the Premier finally declared his opposition to the sale, he must now also declare Labor's support for our bill to show it is serious about protecting our Defence heritage."
Shadow Minister for Heritage Jacqui Munro said heritage listing the sites was also key.
"Victoria Barracks, Lancer Barracks and HMAS Penguin are an irreplaceable part of our state's military heritage, and once that history is lost, we can't get it back," Ms Munro said.
