John Howard leads cross-party rally against Victoria Barracks sale

Former PM calls ‘precious, irreplaceable’ defence site a national asset not for sale as hundreds protest federal government plan

By LineZotpaper AI staff

Published25 October 2026

Read Time3 min

Sources2 outlets

A diverse crowd of several hundred protesters, including former prime minister John Howard, state and federal politicians from all major parties, and serving defence personnel, gathered at Moore Park on Sunday to oppose the federal government's plan to sell Sydney's Victoria Barracks. The rally united figures from the Liberals, Labor, the Greens and One Nation against the sale, which the government says is part of a wider disposal of 67 Australian Defence Force properties expected to generate up to $3 billion.

Former prime minister John Howard told the crowd he remained pro-development but not “at the expense of our history and soul as a country”. He described Victoria Barracks as “a precious, irreplaceable, not-for-sale national asset”.

An army officer living at the barracks, who was not authorised to speak publicly, said she would move out next month. “We’re just so sad and angry,” she told this masthead, adding that moving personnel to a CBD office block would not foster the same “esprit de corps”. Troops gathered at the barracks before the Boer War more than 120 years ago.

Former head of the army Ken Gillespie rejected the characterisation of the site as “surplus real estate”. “It is a working base of national significance,” he said. “The burden of proof rests with those who want to sell it. And they have not met that burden.”

The rally was organised by state Labor MP Marjorie O’Neill and Liberal senator Jess Collins. Federal Opposition Leader Angus Taylor called the sale a “rotten decision”, while Greens leader David Shoebridge and independent MPs Allegra Spender and Alex Greenwich also spoke against it. NSW Minister for Veteran Affairs David Harris said Premier Chris Minns had changed his mind after meeting war veterans, but conceded blocking the Commonwealth sale was “a difficult proposition” given federal constitutional powers over the site.

Appearing at a Senate inquiry last week, acting deputy secretary of Defence’s Security and Estate Group, Peter West, acknowledged that public sentiment “has not been overwhelmingly positive”. He said the barracks’ heritage made it “a challenge to effectively use the site, particularly for modern warfare where we need secure spaces and secure systems.”

The federal government plans to relocate up to 600 personnel from Victoria Barracks, mostly to Randwick Barracks and temporarily to a commercial office tower under a 10-year, $231 million lease. The rally drew strong reactions to the acknowledgment of country, but speakers returned to themes of history, fallen soldiers and the irreplaceable nature of the sandstone walls.

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Analysis

Why This Matters

The Victoria Barracks sale is one of 67 ADF properties the government plans to divest; the outcome could set a precedent for other contested sites.
The relocation of 600 personnel, including defence families with young children, raises morale and operational concerns for the military.
The cross-party opposition, including from state Labor and federal Liberals, suggests the sale could become a political flashpoint ahead of the next election.

Background

Victoria Barracks in Paddington has been a working defence facility since the mid-19th century, housing troops, command staff and defence families. The federal government argues the site is under-used and its heritage status makes modernisation difficult. The estimated $3 billion from the property sell-off is intended to fund defence capability upgrades. Under the current plan, Forces Command will move primarily to Randwick Barracks, with some staff temporarily based in Defence Plaza Sydney, a commercial tower leased from a Singaporean real estate trust.

Key Perspectives

John Howard (former prime minister): Called the barracks a “precious, irreplaceable, not-for-sale national asset” and warned against development “at the expense of our history and soul as a country”. Ken Gillespie (former head of the army): Said the burden of proof rests with those who want to sell the site and that they have not met it, describing the barracks as a “working base of national significance”. Army officer (anonymous, living at the barracks): Expressed sadness and anger at the forced move, saying the new location would not “achieve that same esprit de corps”. Peter West (acting deputy secretary, Defence Security and Estate Group): Acknowledged public sentiment had not been “overwhelmingly positive” but argued the site’s heritage made it challenging to secure for modern warfare. Angus Taylor (federal Opposition Leader): Characterised the decision as “rotten”. David Harris (NSW Minister for Veteran Affairs): Said the Premier changed his mind but noted the Commonwealth’s constitutional powers make blocking the sale difficult, and urged Prime Minister Albanese to intervene, saying “it is never the wrong thing to say you got it wrong”.

What to Watch

The Senate inquiry into the sale continues; its findings could influence whether the government pauses or revises the plan.
The deadline for the first wave of personnel relocations from the barracks next month may bring further protests or legal challenges.
Any constitutional or legal action by the NSW state government to prevent the Commonwealth from proceeding.

Sources

Checked

12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 9 supported.

Show each claim

Partly supportedJohn Howard led the cross-party rally against the sale.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “The rally was a Labor-Liberal co-production, organised by state Labor member for Coogee Marjorie O’Neill and Liberal senator Jess Collins.”
SupportedHoward called Victoria Barracks a “precious, irreplaceable” national asset that was not for sale.Brisbane Times - Latest News: ““We think it is a precious, irreplaceable, not-for-sale national asset,” Howard said of the barracks.”
SupportedSeveral hundred people gathered at Moore Park on Sunday to oppose the sale.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “there were at least several hundred gathered in the corner of Moore Park in the city’s inner-east”
Partly supportedThe crowd included politicians from the Liberals, Labor, the Greens and One Nation.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “There were Greens supporters, a large One Nation contingent ... plenty of Liberal blue bloods ... sitting state Labor MPs”
SupportedThe federal government’s sale plan covers 67 ADF properties and is expected to generate up to $3 billion.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “The federal government has identified Victoria Barracks as one of 67 Australian Defence Force properties to be sold, generating up to $3 billion in revenue.”
SupportedHoward said he was pro-development but not “at the expense of our history and soul as a country”.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “Former prime minister John Howard took to the stage, declaring himself pro-development but not “at the expense of our history and soul as a country”.”
SupportedAn army officer living and working at the barracks said she was due to move out next month and was “so sad and angry”.Brisbane Times - Latest News: ““We’re just so sad and angry,” one army officer, who lives and works in the barracks, told this masthead shortly before the speeches began. Not authorised to speak publicly, she revealed she was due to move out next month”
SupportedThe officer said a CBD office block would not foster the same esprit de corps.Brisbane Times - Latest News: ““It doesn’t achieve that same esprit de corps,” the army officer said.”
SupportedTroops gathered at the barracks before the Boer War more than 120 years ago.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “leaving behind a facility where troops had gathered before the Boer War more than 120 years ago”
SupportedThe rally was organised by Marjorie O’Neill and Jess Collins.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “The rally was a Labor-Liberal co-production, organised by state Labor member for Coogee Marjorie O’Neill and Liberal senator Jess Collins.”
Partly supportedThe government plans to relocate up to 600 personnel from Victoria Barracks, mostly to Randwick Barracks and temporarily to a commercial office tower.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “The shift will impact up to 600 occupants including active personnel, up to a dozen defence families including those with young children, along with public servants, reservists and cadets. Under the relocation plan, Forces Command personnel will primarily move to Randwick Barracks. Some staff will temporarily relocate to Defence Plaza Sydney”
SupportedActing deputy secretary Peter West said public sentiment had “not been overwhelmingly positive” and that the site’s heritage made it challenging to use for modern warfare.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “Peter West, acting deputy secretary of Defence’s Security and Estate Group, told the Senate that the overall public sentiment “has not been overwhelmingly positive”. ... the barracks’ heritage made it “a challenge to effectively use the site, particularly for modern warfare where we need secure spaces and secure systems.””

Correction

25 October 2026An earlier version of this story said the barracks has been used as a staging ground since the Boer War. The source says troops gathered there before the war and does not establish continuous use as a staging ground since then.