Inquiry Opens On RAAF Sell-Off

Submissions are now open into a federal inquiry examining the sell-off of Defence land across Australia, including the planned full divestment of RAAF Base Point Cook.

The Senate’s Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee is calling for public input as it investigates how Defence land is being planned, managed and sold.

The inquiry is referred on 11 March 2026, with submissions closing on 17 April 2026. A final report is due by 3 June 2026.

It comes as the Albanese Labor Government pushes ahead with its plan to offload dozens of Defence sites nationwide, including RAAF Base Point Cook — a move that has already triggered strong community backlash in Melbourne’s west.

For many locals, it is shaping as fight for their history, with residents and heritage advocates given a narrow window to influence what happens next.

The inquiry is set to examine whether Defence land is being sold in line with military needs, whether the financial assumptions behind the sell-offs stack up, and whether heritage protections and community interests are being properly considered.

The spotlight is firmly on RAAF Base Point Cook, widely recognised as the birthplace of the Royal Australian Air Force. The site spans more than 300 hectares and includes a historic airfield, heritage-listed buildings, cadet facilities and the RAAF Museum.

The decision to fully divest the base draws criticism over the potential loss of Defence presence, the future of historic assets, and concerns the land could ultimately be opened up for private development.

Nearby RAAF Base Laverton is also affected, with partial land sales planned while key Defence operations remain.

Submissions can be made by emailing Fadt.sen@aph.gov.au before 17 April 2026, as the process begins to shape the future of one of Wyndham’s most significant sites.