READ JILL L’ESTRANGE TRANSCRIPT HERE ➞

Jill L’Estrange, HPG President, says the proposed sale of HMAS Penguin threatens the site’s nationally significant heritage, bushland, and public value, warning that the government’s plan to sell most of the site at market value could lead to inappropriate luxury development. She criticises the lack of proper consultation, due diligence, and recognition of the site’s Commonwealth heritage protections, and raises concerns about the effectiveness of heritage safeguards if the land passes into private ownership. The site should remain in Commonwealth ownership or be transferred to the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust.

READ KATE ECCLES TRANSCRIPT HERE ➞

Kate Eccles, President Mosman Parks & Bushland, highlights the long history of successful community campaigns to protect public land around Middle Head, urging the community to again defend Defence lands in particular HMAS Penguin from private development. She describes the Angophora forest as a rare and ecologically significant part of Sydney Harbour and stresses that no financial return could justify its loss.

READ JESS COLLINS TRANSCRIPT HERE ➞

Senator Jess Collins describes the process for the sale of HMAS Penguin as a “wholesale fire sale” of public assets. She says the Senate inquiry had revealed strong opposition from veterans, cadets, and local communities concerned about the loss of historically significant Defence land. She questions how parts of HMAS Penguin could be considered “surplus” without clear Defence planning and argued the site, including the Angophora forest, has important environmental and public value.

READ DAVID SHOEBRIDGE TRANSCRIPT HERE ➞

Senator David Shoebridge thanks the community for gathering to defend public land. He criticises the Federal Government’s proposal to sell Defence land, including parts of HMAS Penguin, arguing the flawed Defence “audit” failed to properly assess operational, heritage, and community impacts. Shoebridge says there are no clear plans for relocating important Defence functions currently based at the site and warned the sell-offs would weaken Defence capability.

READ GUS MCLACHLAN TRANSCRIPT HERE ➞

Maj. Gen. Gus McLachlan (Ret'd) opposes the sale of HMAS Penguin and argues the site has important ongoing public value. He says parts of the land are currently used to support veterans facing mental health and transition challenges and argued that any Defence land no longer required should be returned to the community rather than sold to private developers. He describes the divestment process as flawed and overly focused on financial return.

READ NICK HOLLO TRANSCRIPT HERE ➞

Nick Hollo, formerly Deputy Executive Director Syfney Harbour Federation Trust, highlighted the long history of successful collaboration between governments and the community in protecting Sydney Harbour sites through the Harbour Trust. He says the site of HMAS Penguin is an important part of Sydney Harbour’s network of public open spaces and walking trails, with potential for sensitive adaptive reuse including public pathways, accommodation, cafés, and community facilities integrated into the natural landscape and heritage buildings.

READ ROY BENDALL TRANSCRIPT HERE ➞

Roy Bendall, President Mosman Club and Mosman Councillor acknowledges the traditional custodians of Middle Head and highlights the site’s deep Aboriginal history, including its connection to Bungaree and Aboriginal families. He also pays tribute to veterans and praises community groups working to protect HMAS Penguin. Bendall describes Middle Head as nationally significant for its Aboriginal heritage, historic fortifications, and rare Angophora forest, warning that privatisation or redevelopment could cause permanent damage to these important values.