By ANNA USHER

Mosman Councillor Michael Randall is organising a Convoy to Canberra, urging locals to take the fight to save HMAS Penguin and its Angophora forest straight to Parliament House.

Cr Randall is running the convoy as a resident and not on behalf of Council, where he has served since 2021.

“We are driving our message to Canberra,” Cr Randall told Mosman Collective.

“I’m organising this convoy to build on the community’s advocacy and take our call to keep defence land in public hands directly to the federal decision makers in Canberra,” he said.

Cr Randall wants the community to converge on the nation’s capital at 11:30 am on November 23, where Zali Steggall MP, Allegra Spender MP, Senator Jess Collins and Dr Sophie Scamps MP are confirmed to speak.

“From HMAS Penguin and the Angophora forest to Victoria Barracks, we’re calling for Australia’s defence lands to stay in public hands,” Cr Randall said.

“Protect our bushland, wildlife and heritage for future generations.”

He stressed the event is “non-partisan” and a way for people to support “ongoing advocacy demanding defence lands remain in public hands.”

“This is Commonwealth land. Its future requires a federal decision,” Cr Randall said.

“We’re taking our community’s case directly to the ministers and parliamentarians who can act.”

The Albanese government wants to sell part of the 16.64 hectare naval base at Middle Head, as Mosman Collective revealed in February.

Campaigners, including Mosman Parks & Bushland, say the local land marked for sale includes remnant Angophora costata – Sydney red gum – growing on Hawkesbury sandstone above Balmoral. It is one of the last intact stands of its kind on the harbour, and it links the bushland at Middle Head and Georges Heights to Sydney Harbour National Park.

The convoy follows the Save HMAS Penguin community rally at Balmoral on 11 October, which attracted thousands of protesters, including Senator David Shoebridge, Major General Gus McLachlan (Retd), and the Hon. Peter Garrett AM.

Mosman Mayor Ann Marie Kimber has already written to the Prime Minister, asking Anthony Albanese to walk back the sale.

Mr Albanese, then Opposition Leader, warned Parliament on 1 June 2021 against selling harbour foreshore land, saying “if we get it wrong once, it disappears forever”, words now printed on the convoy website.

The campaign is also backing the fight for Victoria Barracks in Paddington and Lancer Barracks, under the banner “Keep defence lands in public hands”.

You can join the convoy campaign HERE.

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