The Australian government plans to put dozens of military installations up for sale, including iconic bases in the country's largest cities. Australia's ABC television channel reported that this decision is intended to partially compensate for the lack of defense capabilities. According to journalists, 67 items on the balance sheet of the Australian Department of Defense will be put up for auction, many of which are practically unused or in a state of disrepair. These include Victoria Barracks in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne, Spectacle Island and HMAS Penguins in New South Wales. The Australian government plans to mobilize up to A$1.8 billion from this deal, which will continue to be used to fill “critical gaps” in the country's northern and defense bases, as well as build infrastructure in the AUKUS bloc (a trilateral military alliance including Australia, Britain and the United States). Previously, The New York Times wrote that Australia was considering refusing to strengthen its defense alliance with the US due to President Donald Trump's unpredictable policies.
