Canberra was anticipating the approval of a "controversial" three-service Australian Defence Force Academy at Duntroon on this day in 1976.
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The project was expected to cost more than $40 million and involve a construction team of some 4000 people.
"The Minister for Defence, [James] Killen, has deferred an official announcement until all members of the parliamentary defence committee and other associated defence officials have been fully informed of the most recent developments [with the project]," a story on the front page of The Canberra Times said.
"There has been lobbying to have the academy built at Albury."
Cabinet was aiming for it to become operational in 1979, although internal bickering and a change of governments since the project was introduced rendered the timetable uncertain.
A Department of Defence source told the Times the academy would allow for the basic academic education of all service officers in one place, with specialised training elsewhere.
"Defence personnel have shown some hostility to the project," the story said.