East Timor Not The Reason For The Sale Of Parkland

East Timor Not The Reason For The Sale Of Parkland

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SENATOR THE HON. ERIC ABETZ

Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence

Liberal Senator for Tasmania

Wednesday, 20 October 1999 PARLSEC 316/99

EAST TIMOR NOT THE REASON FOR THE SALE OF MENTONE PARKLAND

It is absurd to suggest that the East Timor deployment costs will be met by a wholesale disposal of defence property, such as the Mentone parkland leased by the Kingston Council, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence, Senator Abetz said today.

Senator Abetz said Defence has for several years had a program in place for sale of properties that are no longer required, and returning these funds to the Defence budget.

"This program of property disposal was accelerated as part of the 1997 Defence Reform Program," Senator Abetz said. "It makes good sense for the government to continue to maximise the effective use of Defence property.

"It is disingenuous for the Federal Member for Issacs, Greg Wilton, to suggest East Timor is the catalyst for the decision," Senator Abetz said. "He knows, or should know, this assertion is without foundation.

"As Mr Wilton knows such action would have detrimental long term consequence for Defence's operational effectiveness far beyond the timeframe for the peace enforcement mission in East Timor," Senator Abetz said.

Senator Abetz has responsibility for Defence property and facilities (with the Minister of Defence retaining control over decisions concerning the location of Defence facilities and disposals over $10 million).

Ends 20.10.1999

Email: senator.abetz@aph.gov.au Website: http://www.defence.gov.au

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