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Defence minister under fire over barracks

Social Democratic (SPÖ) Defence Minister Norbert Darabos is under fire from the People’s Party (ÖVP) and the Alliance for the Future of Austria (BZÖ) over conditions at army barracks.

Following a critical report about conditions in Austrian barracks by an ombudsman, ÖVP defence spokesman Norbert Kapeller said yesterday (Sun): "Our barracks should not be neglected," adding that a "model barracks" in Güssing, Burgenland did not "compensate for neglect of other barracks."

He called on Darabos, who is also sports minister, to spend less time on sports, for which there had been significant investment in marketing and ad campaigns, and more time on the military.

Kapeller said: "We need to spend that money to ensure reasonable living and working conditions for our soldiers and to supply them with necessary equipment."

BZÖ defence spokesman Kurt List called for "an offensive for renovation of barracks. The defence minister had been informed by military officers about desolate barracks but has done nothing."

Besides sports, the defence ministry had done nothing except to engage in "shadow action" on the military, List claimed.

In response, Darabos said yesterday that the ministry had invested 311 million Euros in barrack renovation during his tenure in office. "That will continue to be a high priority for me," he added, but cautioned that renovation would occur "step by step."

He said: "It is a long-term process that I will lead and bring to fruition" with the goal of "strengthening the military."

Darabos noted that ground-breaking for the 40-million-Euro project for the Güssing model barracks would occur in October this year.

SPÖ ombudsman Peter Kostelka recently reported that living and hygienic standards in many barracks left much to be desired.

He also called for much higher investment in barrack renovation from 2010 through 2014.

Kostelka cited the Benedek barracks in Bruckneudorf, Burgenland, as an example. He said the barracks housing 36 soldiers had no showers and they had to walk to another building 200 metres distant to shower in the basement.

The Austrian Military Officers Association had warned in February 2009 that some barracks were partially in "life-threatening condition" and criticised them as even below "Third World levels."

Austrian Times

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