Shadow Defence Minister James Paterson has accused the federal government of being unserious in its reasoning for the sale of Victoria Barracks.

The Senator has told Michael McLaren that no serious government would talk about its military history in the way that Australia has.

“Like it’s some inconvenience, or like it’s some line item on a spreadsheet,” he said.

Senator Paterson has also questioned whether the Assistant Defence Minister Peter Khalil actually believed in the sale of the Victoria Barracks.

“Is he just delivering something on behalf of the government … some of this sounds like it’s being done for the convenience of the Department of Defence,” he added.

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Image: Getty Images/Hilary Wardhaugh