1. PART II: THE ATTEMPTED DAMMING OF THE FRANKLIN RIVER 1983 Attitudes to the Environment

2. ACF in the 1970s At the 1972 Annual General Meeting chaired by ACF’s President Prince Philip a revolt was organised against the “establishment” leadership. A group of activist members of the ACF including Milo Dunphy, Dr Dick Jones, the communist leader of the BLF Jack Mundey and Dr Ian Bayley pushed out the elitist ACF council who according to Jones “had feet in other camps” due to many having connections to mining and oil companies. This new leadership group became quite prominent in the campaign to save the Franklin – becoming involved in many actions and continuing to fund the various campaign efforts.

3. Tasmanian Wilderness Society In 1976, at a meeting at Brown’s house in Liffey, a number of conservationists active in the South West Tasmania Action Committee decided on a new name for their organisation: The Tasmanian Wilderness Society. Kevin Kiernan, another Pedder campaigner, became director. Over the next couple of years, the TWS took up the fight for Tasmanian forests, campaigned on mining, airstrips, and roads, and monitored unfolding HEC plans for the Franklin. Kienan was replaced by Norm Sanders (the first “green parliamentarian) and then by Bob Brown who would lead the TWS in their fight to save the Franklin River.

4. Tasmanian Environmental Support Groups He was not alone. In Sydney the South-West Tasmania Committee worked for the protection of Tasmania’s wilderness, while in Melbourne a group of activists from the Pedder days were also meeting and in 1979 they expanded their activities and opened an office, paying $5 a week rent. Then, what all conservationists feared, happened. In October 1979 the HEC released concrete proposals to build a dam on the Gordon River below its confluence with the Franklin. The Australian Conservation Foundation became alarmed by the contemplated destruction and appointed campaigner Peter Thompson to work on the Franklin campaign in Hobart with the TWS.

5. TWS Expansion Over the next several months dozens of TWS volunteers built a campaign featuring public meetings, slide shows, pamphlets, colour publications, guide-books, and river trips down the Franklin - including trips for influential politicians, such as the Legislative Council’s Harry Braid. They wrote letters and articles for the press, appeared on television, and spoke to politicians. Volunteers opened a wilderness shop in Hobart followed by Melbourne and Sydney. TWS membership grew from 200 to 1000 in twelve months. Ten new branches formed and 10,000 people rallied in Hobart to save the Franklin. More and more people in Tasmania and in the other states became aware of the threat. More and more people spoke out against the dam, calling on the state government to protect the river.

6. HEC Plans for the Franklin In October 1979 the HEC, which wielded great political influence, unveiled plans for a three stage, billion dollar, integrated hydro-electric scheme on the Lower Gordon, Franklin and King rivers. The new Premier, Doug Lowe (who replaced Eric Reece in 1977) remained neutral, preferring to consider alternatives. Finally in April 1980 Cabinet opted for a smaller hydro scheme above the Olga river, rejecting a Legislative Council Select Committee's report that supported the HEC scheme.

7. Politics and the Environment In December 1980 a deadlock was reached in the Tasmanian parliament, the Legislative Council preferring the three Stage HEC scheme to dam the Franklin and Lower Gordon Rivers. The deadlock remained through 1981. The federal House of Representatives Standing Committee on Environment and Conservation advised in August 1980 that any proposals likely to have impact on South West Tasmania were of national concern, warranting a federal inquiry to fully examine the alternatives.

8. Federal Politics and the Environment The Committee also recommended that advice should be sought as to whether the Environment Protection (Impact of Proposals) Act 1974 could be invoked so that an examination of the national implications could be made. The Federal government in November 1981, at the request of Doug Lowe and the Tasmanian Labor government, officially nominated S W Tasmania for world heritage listing.

9. Tasmanian Politics and the Franklin Meanwhile, unable to resolve the deadlock over the hydro schemes, Doug Lowe was defeated in Caucus and resigned as premier in November 1981. Under the Tasmanian Labor government's new leadership (Harry Holgate as Premier), a state referendum was held in December on the issue of the hydro schemes. The ballot paper offered voters a choice of the Gordon above Olga scheme or the Gordon below Franklin scheme. Voters had no choice but to vote yes" for one or other dam proposal and there was no "No Dams" option.

10. Referendum on the Dam The Tasmanian Wilderness Society encouraged voters to write "No Dams" on the referendum paper in protest. The results were: 33% wrote"No Dams" on the ballot paper 45% of the votes were disallowed (includes “No Dams” votes) 47% voted for the Gordon below Franklin scheme 8% voted for the Gordon above Olga scheme.

11. State and Federal Politics In May 1982, the newly elected Liberal government of Tasmania led by Robin Gray immediately passed the Gordon River Power Hydro Electric Development Bill. Preparatory work on the Gordon-below-Franklin dam began in July. In October 1982, the Federal parliament received the Rose Report, which stated that the Federal government had the power to stop the construction of the dam under its obligation to the provisions of the UNESCO Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (1972), to which Australia had become a signatory in 1974.

12. Early Federal Involvement On 23 November 1982, a Senate Select Committee urged a three-year delay on the construction of the Franklin dam so that a full investigation into Tasmania's power needs could be made. The federal Labor Party in November announced that the government and the opposition were obliged, because of the nomination for the world heritage listing, to prevent the construction of the dam. Significantly, the Cabinet of Malcolm Fraser's Federal government announced in December that it would not prevent the Franklin dam being built despite having the power to do so.

13. December 14, 1982 Commencement of the blockade to stop the construction of the dam. On that first day 53 people were arrested (overall 1,272 were jailed during the campaign). Two days later Bob Brown was arrested for trespassing. The Democrats anti-dam bill was passed in the Senate. The Tasmanian south-west was approved for World Heritage listing.

14. Tasmanian Wilderness Society The lack of action from Fraser solidified the Tasmanian Wilderness Society's resolve to fight the construction of the dam and was also proved significant in the election of the Hawke Labor government in March 1983. On 14 December 1982, the South West Tasmania area was added to the World Heritage list. Despite this, construction of the dam continued at full speed. The TWS, having galvanised environmentalists world wide to 'save the Franklin', began a blockade on the construction of the dam, aided by hundreds of environmentally concerned citizens.

15. Federal Intervention Also on 14 December, Labor and Democrat senators joined forces in the Senate and passed the private members World Heritage Properties Protection Bill. In March 1983, the newly elected Federal Labor government made the World Heritage (Western Tasmania Wilderness) regulations under the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1975 for the purpose of immediately preventing further construction of the dam. These regulations were subsequently deemed illegal by the High Court, but afforded the Hawke government time in which to draft legislation to stop the Franklin dam.

16. Saving the Franklin New legislation was introduced into the House of Representatives as the World Heritage Properties Conservation Bill, which became law on 22 May 1983. This legislation effectively stopped construction of the dam under the federal government's (and Australia's) obligation to UNESCO. The Tasmanian Liberal government immediately challenged the Act in the High Court and lost. The Franklin River project was abandoned and the promise of compensation to Tasmania, made in the 1983/84 budget speech, was debated in Federal Parliament until November 1983. Tasmania was granted a number of financial packages – in 1983, $27m and in 1984, $62.9m, with provision for further ongoing assistance.

17. Attitudes: ACF Had a more activist role in saving the Franklin. Worked closely with the TWS. Was deeply involved in the blockade. Funded a number of media campaigns including the famous scenic Franklin photograph that celebrated its natural beauty with a title that read “Could you vote for a party that will destroy this?” Framed in the bottom left corner with a warning sign that states, “Vote for the Franklin”. Funded letter drops in households of 13 marginal electorate seats. Funded full colour advertisements in major daily newspapers in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.

18. Attitudes: Tasmanian Wilderness Society (TWS) Deeply motivated by the loss of Lake Pedder. Just before construction was attempted Bob Brown stated, “we will do all we peaceably can to stop the dam”. They knew that the state government (Lib or Labor) would support the dam so they sought federal intervention through the Environmental Protection Act of 1975. Wanted to seek and hold onto national support for the saving of the Franklin River. Protesters focused on mainland states especially those in marginal seats. Organised a huge protest in Feb 1983 where 20,000 rallied in Hobart.

19. Attitudes: TWS Followed a more sophisticated and well planned strategy. Started a blockade early so as to directly challenge any form of construction. Protesters were well-trained in non-violent direct action. Bob Brown always wore suits and was quite cordial with police. Used the media well – to maintain national interest. Focused on the mainland as they knew that the majority of the Tasmanian public were in favour of the dam. Furthermore federal politicians were more willing to listen than their Tasmanian counterparts.

20. Attitudes: TWS Wanted to move towards defending the wilderness for its intrinsic value rather than for utilitarian/recreational purposes. They sought to change the way people saw the environment. Kevin Kiernan - 'We have to try to sell not the wilderness experience – that is, wilderness as a recreational resource – but the right of wilderness to exist‘ TWS campaign message: ‘Work. Consume. Be Silent. Die: It’s Costing the Earth’

21. Attitudes: HEC Pushed for the Franklin dam as according to them it had many economic advantages in creating low-cost clean energy and attract more industries – hence create more jobs. Roger Green describes HEC as “secretive”, “hostile to review and unresponsive to changing needs”. They also argued that it provided renewable energy, controlled flooding and would have minimal effect on animal habitats, sacred surrounding sites and rare vegetation.

22. Attitudes: HEC In the week leading up to the federal election HEC sent a letter to all its employees advising them that 1000 jobs would be lost if Labor won the election. Following the loss in the Franklin River the HEC received compensation from the federal government and promptly went on to build dams in the King and Henty-Anthony Rivers.

23. Attitudes: Tasmanian Government Premier Gray argued that, “Tasmania reserves the right to mine and log the state’s wilderness area”. Premier Gray stated that conservationists who use blockades are “like guerrillas in third world countries”, “extremists” and an “exclusive little colonies of dropouts.” The Franklin was “nothing but a brown ditch, leech- ridden, unattractive to the majority of the people.” Introduced the Police Offences Act that would fine or even imprison blockaders.

24. Premier Gray According to Robin Gray anyone who rafted down the Franklin must be either ‘superbly fit or mentally ill’. He was willing to use ‘ruthless and roughshod methods to get his way’. Bob Brown described Gray as having a ‘feeling of invincibility and macho feeling that might is right and nothing can stop you’.

25. Attitudes: Fraser Government The Fraser government attempted to save the Franklin dam through non-confrontational politicking. Firstly offering a subsidised coal-fire plant as an alternative to the Franklin dam. The government also pursued the Franklin river’s nomination as World Heritage listing. However Fraser also said that even with the World Heritage listing it did not mean that the dam could go ahead. Offered Premier Gray $500m to build a thermal plant instead of damming the Franklin river.

26. Attitudes: Hawke Government In the 1983 election Bob Hawke campaigned on a no-dams policy. He was publicly supported by the TWS. Hawke was also attacking a antagonistic sitting Liberal premier. March 5 on election night declares his intentions of saving the Franklin River. After winning the High Court decision Hawke offered this olive branch, “Tasmania can look forward to cooperation from Canberra on job protection and power needs”.

27. Attitudes: Tasmanian Media Were largely in favour of the dam supporting the government and HEC while being hostile to environmentalists and what they saw as an interventionist federal government. Published polls that demonstrated that the people of Tasmania were in support of the dam. 'The facts are – however unpalatable to the greenies – that the Gordon below Franklin scheme is the most exhaustively investigated power scheme in Tasmania and probably in Australia,‘ 25 November 1982.

28. Hobart Mercury Quotes 'It will not destroy a large part of the South-West, many of the scenes being shown in conservationist propaganda, or the last wild river‘ 1982 'The Premier, Mr Gray, has quite rightly rejected yesterday’s attempt by the Tasmanian Wilderness Society to "do a deal" on the planned blockade by conservationists in the South-West…‘ December 7. 'What these misguided protesters apparently fail to realise is that they have been overtaken by a change in public mood. The issue is no longer one of whether or not a dam should be built, but whether Tasmanians have the right to determine their own destiny, free of unwarranted outside interference…' January 19, 1983

29. “Wilderness” Media scholar Libby Lester has undertaken an exhaustive analysis of The Age and The Mercury in regards to their editorials and their more subtle bias through their choice of words. During the Franklin River blockade The Age regularly used the word “wilderness” to describe the Franklin and the surrounding areas whilst The Mercury avoided it almost completely. According to Lester “wilderness” became a loaded word that evoked romantic emotions, essentially creating a “provocative, powerful political and marketing tool”. Therefore The Age regularly used “wilderness” whilst the The Mercury avoided it.

30. The Use of “Wilderness” Hobart MercuryDec ‘82Jan ‘83FebMarTotal Total Stories64562425169 Use of “wilderness”21205 Percentage3.1%1.8%8.3%0%3% The AgeDec ‘82Jan ‘83FebMarTotal Total Stories44492023136 Use of “wilderness”21163242 Percentage47.7%32.7%15%8.7%30.9%

31. Attitudes: Mainland Media “The Fraser Government is in a dilemma. It will suffer in Tasmania if it intervenes to stop the dam; it will suffer in the rest of Australia if it doesn’t intervene. And it has little time left to choose...” Editorial, The Age, 7 January 1983 For three years we have argued against the dam, and called on the Federal Government to intervene if necessary to stop it being built…it is too important for future generations to be thus destroyed. Mankind needs more than just cheap electricity. Editorial, The Age, 7 January 1983 The Wilderness justifies itself!... A Labor Government would be duty-bound to prevent the dam. Editorial, The Canberra Times, 1 February, 1983

32. Attitudes: Tasmanian Unions The unions were in favour of the construction as it would create many jobs for their members. Hydro-Electric workers formed the Hydro Employees Action Team (HEAT) to “push for the implementation of the Gordon-below-Franklin scheme.” They acted as the “mouthpiece” of the HEC. Following the High Court decision a group of construction workers chain-sawed and burnt a 3,000 year old Huon pine before they left camp – symbolically and literally demonstrating their attitudes to the preservation of the environment (Toyne).

33. Attitudes Tasmanian Public Polarised on the Franklin dam issue. Concerned with job losses without the dam. Many did not like national intervention into their state. Another organisation called Organisation for Tasmanian Development (OTD) which was made up largely residents of the Tasmanian west coast which advocated for development as the only means for Tasmanian economic progress. They developed a counter environmental movement holding rallies, publishing pamphlets and speaking out against the conservationist blockaders. Premier Gray regularly attended OTD rallies and even at one Queenstown demonstration wore boxing gloves to reinforce the image of him as fighter for Tasmanian progress.

34. Attitudes: Tasmanian Public Polling from the Hobart Mercury showed that 69% approved the dam in late 1982. Others wanted desperately to protect the Franklin and not allow another Lake Pedder debacle. Following the environmentalist victory these positions became more entrenched. With those who supported the dam becoming quite bitter towards both conservationists and the interventionist federal government.

35. Attitudes: Australian Public According to the Canberra Times in August 1972 44% cent of “Australians disagree with the Tasmanian Government's decision to go ahead with the Gordon-below-Franklin power scheme, according to the latest Gallup Poll.” In October 1982 Sydney Morning Herald poll revealed that 75% of Australians opposed the building of the dam. Many were moved and awakened to environmental issues by the TWS and ACF’s media campaigning. Others remained indifferent and continued to consider the environment a minor issue in Australia.

36. Attitudes: Australian Support Dick Smith made a generous donation, while a fund appeal in late 1982 had prompted 100 people to send $1000 or more. One informed estimate put the TWS's annual turnover at around $1 million (mostly from mainland Australians, compared to about $200,000 for the anti-uranium movement.

37. Attitudes: Indigenous People In 1981 Aboriginal caves were discovered by Kiernan whilst caving in the Franklin. Archaelogist Dr Rhys Jones established that the cave contained Indigenous relics dating back nearly 20,000 years (Hutton and Connors). It also held 40,000 stone flakes and 250,000 bone fragments (Mirams et al). The cave would be submerged under 75m of water if the Gordon-below-Franklin went through. The cave was called Kutakina (Spirit) Cave. Tasmanian Aboriginal activist wrote “you can sense the spirit here…every race of people strives to protect and preserve its heritage not destroy it”.