Environmental

Movements in Australia

 Key Knowledge

To understand the foundation and role of an
environmental movement in changing
relationships with outdoor environments.
Foundation
Role
How the movement changed peoples
relationships with the outdoor environment
 The Wilderness
Society

Established in 1976 in Tasmania and was
originally call, The Tasmanian Wilderness
Society.
Was initially formed as a protest group to
campaign against the Tasmanian Hydro-
Electric Commission who had plans to build
Dams across Tasmania.
Following the success of the Franklin Dam
campaign, The Wilderness Society went
interstate, forming The Wilderness Society as
apposed to just the Tasmanian Wilderness
Society.
 Continued

Funding for this organisation is made by
members contribution, in which there are
40,000 people involved.
Members of this organisation includes;
Volunteers
150 staff members
Committees of management
 Role of Foundation

It is a community based, not for profit
organisation.
Aim to work together with people from all
walks of live to protect some of our most
precious - and most threatened - wild places
from destruction.
The vision of TWS is to transform Australia into
a society that protects, respects ad connects
with the natural world that sustains us.
The Franklin Blockade

 The Franklin Dam

The Franklin Dam project was a proposed Dam on
the Gordon River in Western Tasmania as part of the
governments Hydro-Electric Scheme in 1978.
70% of the Tasmanian population was for the
damming of the river.
Immediately after plans were announced, TWS and
Australian Conservation Foundation began a
publicity program to raise awareness of the
environment.
June 1980, 10,000 people march Hobart demanding
an end to the project.



Many proposals for an alternative to the original
dam were thrown out by the environmental groups.
1982, a pro dam government was elected, putting
an end to debate, the new premiere declaring
construction to proceed.
Australian federal parliament question their
responsibility to preserve the natural values of this
region.
November 1982, Bob Brown, head of TWS
announces a blockade of the dam construction by
peaceful protest.

2500 people attend from around Australia and the
world, of which 1200 are arrested including Bob
Brown, who spent 19 days in jail.
A new National leader was voted in, in Bob Hawke
who vowed to stop the dam.
His first act was to create a new legislation to create
a new World Heritage area that would cover the
disputed region.
Tasmanian government ignored legislation,
threatening to secede (withdraw themselves) from
Australia if forced to stop the dam.

The issue was taken to the High Court of
Australia. In 1983, they ruled that the federal
government was in its rights to protect the
Franklin environment.
Dam construction ended, giving victory to
environmental groups and bringing to an end
large scale dam construction in Australia.

https://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=vE1-kuZzhjM
 Role in changing
relationships

Greater awareness to protect, and the
importance of, natural environments
Environmental issues a part of politics Eg.
Australian Greens
Rise of tourism and adventure tourism in
remote areas