THE HON ANDREW HASTIE MP
Shadow Minister for Defence
Federal Member for Canning

THE HON LUKE HOWARTH MP
Shadow Minister for Defence Industry, Defence Personnel
Federal Member for Petrie

PHILLIP THOMPSON OAM MP
Shadow Assistant Minister for Defence
Federal Member for Herbert

Monday 15 January 2024

The Albanese Government must immediately clarify how many homes the Department of Defence has acquired in Townsville for the hundreds of Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel forced to relocate under Labor’s botched Army restructure.

Around 500 troops, and their families, will move to the garrison city from as early as next year, yet the Defence Minister cannot point to a single home his Department has acquired since the announcement last September.

The Opposition raised concerns with the Government and the Department about housing availability in October last year. It is troubling that months on, Labor doesn’t have a plan to build or acquire the houses needed.

Soldiers and their families are facing serious disruptions to family life, schooling, local connections, networks and spousal employment – all while the Albanese Government refuses to confirm whether they have adequate housing.

At a time when the ADF is recruiting at less than 75 per cent of our target and shedding people at 11.1 per cent, it is clear that Labor has no plan for our personnel and their families.

Labor must provide clarity to our ADF troops who are preparing to uproot their lives in Adelaide to move to northern Australia amid a housing and rental crisis.

The Opposition warned Labor about this during meetings in Townsville last October.

We need to be investing in Army, and its people. Instead, the Albanese Government is weakening and degrading it.