Franklin River campaign

Franklin River campaign

The Franklin River campaign was a major environmental conservation movement in Australia during the late 1970s and early 1980s that sought to prevent the construction of the Gordon-below-Franklin Dam on the Franklin River in Tasmania. It involved grassroots organisations, political parties, judicial challenges, and mass protests that connected groups such as the Tasmanian Wilderness Society, Australian Conservation Foundation, and the United Tasmania Group with national actors including the Australian Labor Party, the Liberal Party of Australia, and the Australian Electoral Commission. The campaign culminated in a High Court case, national demonstrations, and significant shifts in Australian environmental policy and heritage protection.

Background

In the 1960s and 1970s Tasmania experienced expanding hydroelectric development led by entities like the Hydro-Electric Commission (Tasmania) and supported by state governments including administrations under Premiers Eric Reece and Bill Neilson. Proposed projects such as the Gordon River scheme and the planned Gordon-below-Franklin Dam emerged alongside prior controversies over the Lake Pedder inundation, which mobilised groups including the Tasmanian Field Naturalists Club and early conservationists like Olegas Truchanas and Sydney Chapman. The proposed dam threatened areas within the Southwest National Park (Tasmania) and regions later considered for the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, provoking legal interest from organisations such as the Australian Conservation Foundation and political scrutiny from federal figures including Gough Whitlam and later Bob Hawke.

Campaign and Protests

Direct action and civil disobedience characterised the campaign, with river protestors organising blockades, kayak trips, and occupation of the proposed site led by activists from the Tasmanian Wilderness Society and individuals like Bob Brown. National coordination involved coalitions including the Australian Conservation Foundation and international allies such as representatives from the Greenpeace movement. Protests drew support from cultural figures like Tim Winton and academics from institutions such as the University of Tasmania, while opponents included industry stakeholders and the Hydro-Electric Commission (Tasmania). High-profile events included mass rallies in Hobart and petitioning directed at the Commonwealth of Australia; tactics mirrored other environmental actions like the Save Lake Pedder campaign and later influenced groups such as the Australian Greens.

Government and Legal Responses

State-level decision-making by the Government of Tasmania under Premiers including Robin Gray and earlier administrations prompted federal intervention debates involving Prime Ministers Malcolm Fraser and Bob Hawke. The conflict led to litigation culminating in the Commonwealth v Tasmania case before the High Court of Australia, which tested constitutional powers under the external affairs power linked to the World Heritage Convention. The Hawke Government used federal legislation to block construction, invoking the Environment Protection (Impact of Proposals) Act 1974 and later protections related to the World Heritage Convention (1972). State enforcement and policing, including actions by the Tasmanian Police, encountered organised protest tactics and civil rights challenges advanced by environmental advocates and legal organisations such as the Australian Conservation Foundation.

Media and Public Opinion

Media coverage spanned outlets including the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, The Australian, The Age, and local Tasmanian newspapers, with photographers and journalists documenting confrontations involving protestors and the Hydro-Electric Commission (Tasmania). Television broadcasts and print editorials amplified voices from politicians like Bob Hawke and activists like Bob Brown, while commentators from institutions including the Australian National University debated economic versus heritage arguments. Public opinion polls influenced electoral strategies by the Australian Labor Party and the Liberal Party of Australia, and cultural responses—literature, film, and music—echoed environmental themes found in campaigns such as The Wilderness Society’s outreach and the precedents set by the Lake Pedder protests.

Outcomes and Legacy

The campaign resulted in the cancellation of the Gordon-below-Franklin Dam project after the High Court of Australia ruled in favour of federal intervention, contributing to the expansion of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area and setting legal precedents for environmental protection under the Australian Constitution. Politically, the campaign catalysed the rise of the Australian Greens and influenced policies within the Australian Labor Party, while organisations such as the Tasmanian Wilderness Society transformed into enduring institutions like the Wilderness Society (Australia). The Franklin campaign's tactics and legal strategies informed later conservation efforts including campaigns to protect the Great Barrier Reef and heritage listings managed by agencies like the Australian Heritage Council. Monuments, books, and films commemorate participants including Bob Brown and photographers inspired by Olegas Truchanas, and the episode remains a pivotal case study in Australian environmentalism and constitutional law.

Category:Environmental protests in Australia Category:History of Tasmania