Brief Prepared By Divestment Branch For February 2026 Additional Estimates

Written by Claude Haiku 4.5 from the extracted text on 16 May 2026. It can miss or misread redacted and scanned pages. Check the source before relying on it.

Finance is leading a major divestment program of 58 surplus Defence properties identified through the Defence Estate Audit, with the Government accepting all 20 audit recommendations released February 2026. Of 68 properties identified for divestment, 3 have already been divested, 6 are under Defence divestment, and 1 must be retained. Finance established a Divestment Branch to manage the process due to its expertise in large-scale divestment programs. The department will undertake due diligence to identify properties suitable for early divestment, with options potentially supporting the Government's housing agenda. Divestment timelines vary due to complexities including heritage considerations, remediation requirements, and personnel relocation needs. Finance is consulting First Nations communities on cultural heritage obligations and will ensure Traditional Owner engagement throughout. Divestment proceeds will cover process costs, with net proceeds reinvested in Defence priorities. Finance is finalizing procurement for a strategic industry partner to conduct environmental, heritage, and contamination assessments, valuations, and sales support.