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The Albanese and Malinauskas Governments are working together to fast-track more housing for South Australians, through the redevelopment of two key Defence sites near the Adelaide CBD.

Hampstead Barracks was recently identified as a property for divestment, as part of the Australian Government’s response to the independent Defence Estate Audit. The Audit identified sites surplus to Defence’s need, with no clear or ongoing link to capabilities or keeping Australians safe.

Today, the Albanese and Malinauskas Governments announce they are entering into formal negotiations to advance this work, with a view to divesting Hampstead Barracks to the State Government, which would allow the delivery of new housing and community facilities.

In addition, Defence expects to vacate Keswick Barracks two years ahead of schedule.

The Malinauskas Government’s $500 million Housing Fast-Track Fund is available to support the acquisition of strategically located land that can help deliver more homes sooner for South Australians.

Early planning indicates the Hampstead Barracks site could support about 400 homes, including a mix of apartment buildings alongside two and three-storey townhouses centred around a large public park.

Defence has begun looking at options for Australian Defence Force personnel currently based at Hampstead Barracks, including administration staff, cadets and Australian Defence Force Reservists, who currently use the site. No personnel will be required to relocate until suitable alternatives are identified in consultation with the affected workforce.

Any divestment to the State Government will be subject to achieving market value and mutually acceptable terms, including ensuring there is appropriate investment in infrastructure to support future development.

The Federal and South Australian Governments are also progressing plans to develop housing at the 12.81 hectare Keswick Barracks, located just outside the Adelaide CBD.

Defence expects to vacate Keswick Barracks by as early as 2030, two years earlier than previously planned at which point Renewal SA will take control.

This process will be managed in a staged and sensible way in close consultation with the Defence workforce, the Department of Finance, local community, and First Nations people.

Renewal SA took ownership of Keswick in late 2023 under a land exchange agreement with the Commonwealth to help deliver AUKUS at the Osborne shipyard. Under the agreement, the land was leased back to the Commonwealth for up to eight years.

The South Australian Government has since begun considering the future development and master planning of the site.

Keswick Barracks represents a longer-term urban renewal opportunity. Renewal SA has begun assessing the site’s housing potential, with detailed heritage investigations of historic buildings on the site underway, alongside investigations into infrastructure and services.

The Keswick Barracks will form part of a new connected inner-south precinct with the Forestville development at the old Le Cornu site and a development at the Adelaide Showgrounds on Rose Terrace.

The South Australian Government has committed that at least 15 per cent of dwellings at any future development at Keswick will be reserved for affordable housing.

The site boasts ample connections to public transport, and key amenities such as Adelaide Showground and Ashford Hospital.

ADF personnel and Defence services will gradually relocate to alternative facilities over the coming years. As with Hampstead Barracks, this will be done in close consultation with the workforce, local community, and First Nations people.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese:

“We’re making sure Defence has the facilities it actually needs, and making better use of this land, delivering more homes for Australians.

“Every dollar raised through these divestments will be reinvested in Defence.

“When it comes to housing, my government leaves no stone unturned to help Australians – whether it’s a first home buyer, or a renter in need of affordable housing.

“I’m proud of the work my Government is doing, in partnership with Premier Malinauskas, to deliver for South Australians.”

Premier of South Australia Peter Malinauskas: 

“We need more homes, and we need to build them where people want to live.

“Hampstead and Keswick Barracks are close to the city, close to jobs and close to public transport. That makes them prime sites for housing developments.

“The Albanese Government has made a sensible decision about land Defence no longer needs, and we’re working together to put that land to good use.

“We’re using every lever available to us to get more homes built, in the right places. That means more choice for families, more affordable housing and better-connected communities.”

The Albanese and Carroll Labor Governments are getting on with building Melbourne Airport Rail Stage 2, with work set to begin in the coming weeks.

It will include a new 7.4-kilometre rail line from Albion toward the Airport precinct via a brand-new Keilor East station, as part of the $12 billion joint commitment from the Albanese and Carroll Labor Governments.

The line will connect directly to the Metro Tunnel and feature the same high-capacity signalling to enable frequent services.

Built alongside the Jacana freight corridor, the new line will feature 1.1 kilometres of elevated rail and cross the Maribyrnong River.

Site investigations, procurement and development works will begin in the coming weeks with community engagement and early designs to follow next year.

Major construction on Stage 2 will start in 2028 and finish in 2031, when trains will take passengers to Keilor East for the first time.

The Melbourne Airport Rail Steering Committee is continuing to work through options for the final stage of Airport Rail, Stage 3 which will include an above ground station at the Airport precinct.

Once complete, Keilor East station will connect an estimated 5,200 passengers a day to the city. Another 6,600 passengers and airport workers are expected to use the new line every hour.

The project will be delivered alongside the $4.1 billion Sunshine Superhub project – the first stage of Melbourne Airport Rail.

The project will transform Sunshine Station into a six-platform superhub and untangle six kilometres of track between West Footscray and Albion, creating capacity for 1,000 trains a day.

Due for completion in 2030, Stage 1 will deliver more trains, more often on the Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo lines, and pave the way for the electrification of the Melton Line.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese

“We’re building Victoria’s future, unlocking capacity to run more trains, more often, and ensuring we have a train line to Melbourne Airport.”

Victorian Premier and State Member for Niddrie Ben Carroll

“Melbourne needs a direct rail link to the airport, that’s why we’re getting on and delivering it.

“A new Keilor East Station will give locals direct access to the city via the Metro Tunnel.

“Only Labor will fast-track a train line to Melbourne Airport, delivering more frequent services for Melbourne’s west and brand-new stations at Tottenham, Albion and Keilor East.”

Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King

“This is important progress that is getting us a step closer to a long-awaited rail connection to Melbourne’s airport. Only Labor Governments at a State and Federal level are working to deliver it.”

Victorian Minister for Public Transport Vicki Ward

“This investment takes us closer to a train line to the airport and lays the groundwork for more trains across Melbourne’s west.”

Member for Fraser Dr Daniel Mullino

“Melbourne’s west is growing and previous Liberal Governments didn’t invest in the infrastructure our communities needed. This new line and accompanying stations won’t just give us a valuable link to the airport, but a direct line to the city for thousands of people in the west.

Member for Maribyrnong Jo Briskey

“The heart of this project is people. Connecting workers to jobs; people to services; and every day providing 5,200 members of my community with access to the city through the new Keilor East Station.”

State Member for Laverton Sarah Connolly

“Construction on Melbourne Airport Rail is already underway, with works ramping up to untangle six kilometres of track and to rebuild Sunshine Station – unlocking capacity for 1,000 trains a day.”

State Member for Footscray Katie Hall

“We are delivering a new and accessible Tottenham Station, giving locals safer connections across the west.”

The Albanese and Rockliff Governments are securing the future of Bell Bay Aluminium smelter, supporting the facility’s 550 workers, their families and the 1,000 workers indirectly employed across Northern Tasmania. 

We want to see Australia make more things here.

This investment will boost jobs in the region while strengthening our national sovereignty.

The Bell Bay smelter is a major contributor to Tasmania’s industrial and manufacturing sectors and is vital to the Northern Tasmanian regional economy.

The $200 million investment over five years will help secure Australia’s ongoing aluminium production capability and ensures all Australians share in the benefits – while a future regional industrial strategy is developed.

The Tasmanian Government’s Northern Economic Plan identifies Bell Bay as uniquely positioned to support the next phase of Northern Tasmania’s economic development.

As the region’s leading industrial and clean energy precinct, Bell Bay can attract the investment, infrastructure and skilled workforce needed to establish a new generation of high-value businesses that complement Northern Tasmania’s traditional strengths in manufacturing, resources and export-focused industries.

BBA is Australia’s oldest and greenest aluminium smelter, owned and operated by Rio Tinto, and uses more than 25 per cent of Tasmania’s electricity.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese

“We want Australia to make more things here and support good well-paid jobs for Tasmania.

“That’s why we’re backing Bell Bay Aluminium – supporting hundreds of workers, their families and the region while boosting Australia’s national sovereignty.”

Premier of Tasmania, Jeremy Rockliff

“We have worked closely with the Federal Government and Rio to support hundreds of jobs at BBA, hundreds of associated supply chain jobs, support our economy and back Tasmanians.

“This investment also provides certainty for the supply chain, with many Tasmanian businesses having the confidence to invest, grow and do business.

“Our Northern Economic Plan highlights the central role the Bell Bay precinct will play in Northern Tasmania’s future growth, leveraging renewable energy, advanced manufacturing, export capability and strategic industrial land to attract investment and create jobs.”

Minister for Industry and Innovation and Minister for Science Tim Ayres

“The Albanese Government is backing Australian industry, Australian workers and Australian manufacturing by securing Bell Bay Aluminium smelter while a future plan for the Bell Bay region is worked through.

“This joint investment secures hundreds of local jobs in regional Tasmania and provides certainty for the workers, their families and the businesses that rely on its ongoing operations.

“The Bell Bay region has been facing difficult industrial circumstances, and the Commonwealth is backing in the Tasmanian Government and Rio Tinto as they work through the future of the facility and the region.”

Minister for Energy and Renewables, Nick Duigan

“This support package is in addition to the power deal, which has been locked in for the next five years.

“We have delivered a globally competitive and lowest possible electricity price for Bell Bay Aluminium through Hydro Tas. Together with this joint package, we have secured 550 direct jobs in the region and $5 billion of economic activity over the next five years.

“With its deep-water port, advanced manufacturing capability and skilled workforce, the Bell Bay region has the foundations to remain a major industrial and economic powerhouse.”