A recent submission to the Senate Inquiry argues the Albanese Government's Defence Estate Audit response — announced on 4 February 2026 — constitutes a strategically reckless and operationally incoherent proposal when applied to Tasmania. 

Of the 64 sites nationally identified for full divestment, Tasmania is losing 15 of its 16 defence sites — roughly one-quarter of the national disposal program falling upon a state representing just 2% of Australia's population. 

This is not rationalisation. It is abandonment. 

The submission addresses three identified connecting failures: 

Physical impossibility of consolidating Tasmania's defence presence into Anglesea Barracks alone.
Systematic degradation of Tasmanian defence capability over three decades. 
Emerging strategic threat to Australia's southern approaches demanding more Tasmanian defence investment, not less.