Army expected to retreat from SA: 7th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment, 1st Armoured Regiment likely to leave Edinburgh

A sweeping shake-up of Australia’s military forces is expected to see as many as 1000 soldiers depart SA. However, they could be partly replaced by a new hi-tech missile brigade.

There should be no overall reduction in army personnel in South Australia as the federal government considers a reshuffle of the military nationwide, according to Premier Peter Malinauskas.

A report in The Australian today claimed SA would lose the 7th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment from Edinburgh as well as the 1st Armoured Regiment, with both being sent to northern Australia. The report said as many as 1000 military personnel would be relocated from Adelaide to Darwin and possibly Townsville.

Members of the 1st Armoured Regiment, 1st Brigade board a C-130J Hercules.

In return, SA would become home to a new 10th Brigade, which would operate sophisticated missile systems.

Mr Malinauskas said he had held discussions with the Defence Department and deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles about the “speculation” surrounding the proposed changes, which are part of the independent Defence Strategic Review.

“What we’re arguing as a state government is there should be no net loss of army personnel in the state of South Australia,’’ Mr Malinauskas told ABC Radio.

“We don’t want to see the army’s position diminish in net or real terms here in South Australia. That’s the position that we’ve been advocating.’’

“At a time that we see a ramp up in the number of people employed in the defence, space and cyber sector, we don’t want to be sending a signal that there are people who are going to be moved out.’’

Defence and Mr Marles have been contacted for comment.

Originally published as Army expected to retreat from SA: 7th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment, 1st Armoured Regiment likely to leave Edinburgh