SYDNEY HARBOUR FEDERATION TRUST AND ALBANESE SUPPORT
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has previously conveyed his personal support for the principle of retaining former military land in public ownership.
First, in his speech to the House of Representatives on 27 February 2001, during the reading of the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust Bill 2000 —
Read the speech here >
“Strong protection is needed here because at some point in the future governments under financial constraints will be under pressure to sell land. We have seen on a number of issues relating to Sydney that people who perhaps do not understand the importance of this green space are put under pressure from bureaucrats in the departments of treasury, finance and others to find funds.”
“The vision that Niel Nielsen had and Tom Uren shares and still pursues is still possible, as long as the Defence lands on the shores of Sydney Harbour remain in public hands.”
Anthony Albanese acknowledged the historic significance of preserving the Sydney Harbour foreshore lands:
He emphasised that open green spaces make Sydney a more equal city, noting that whether you are a "millionaire or a pensioner," everyone gets to enjoy the same magnificent views.
He felt the legislation represented a "lost opportunity," arguing that parliament could have secured a total ban on private sales if the government had stuck to its pre-1998 election commitments.
He noted the natural grandeur of Sydney Harbour versus the industrialised electorate of Grayndler and the Cooks River, which underlined why accessible public harbour lands are vital for everyday working-class families who travel across the city to use them.
Second, his speech to Parliament on 1 June 2021 during the reading of the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust Amendment Bill 2021 —
Read the speech here >
“Whilst it’s true that very few people can afford to live with harbour views, the truth is everyone can enjoy harbour views and can enjoy the amenity around Sydney Harbour because of that access, which is why it’s so important that this national parliament continue to do what previous generations have done, which is to protect harbour foreshores.”
“If we get it wrong once, it disappears forever.”
Albanese strongly supported transitioning the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust into a permanent entity to guarantee long-term public ownership, protection, and maintenance of these iconic sites.
He reiterated his decade-long opposition to over-commercialisation, endorsing the bill's legislative cap on leases at 35 years, a critical safeguard against stealth privatisation.
He pushed for the Trust to place greater legislative recognition on the First Nations cultural history embedded across the Sydney Harbour sites, ensuring indigenous heritage is preserved alongside environmental assets.