3.1.

4 The franklin river ( Tasmania)

The foundation and role of environment movements in changing relationships with outdoor
environments, in relation to the franklin river.

The wilderness society

- Established in 1976
- Not for profit, non-government organisation.
- Funding: is providing by members who pay membership and regular donations to support
our work. Other funds come from public fundraising, bequests, and donations, and online
and retail sales of campaign merchandise.

Aim:
- to prevent the flooding of the franklin river and establish South West Tasmania as heritage
protected
- protecting the issue and stopping dam construction, preserving the environment and not
restricting the river flow.

Justifications:
- The environment has a high conservation value.
- There is concern about the destructive effect on the environment.
- International significance

Methods:

- Lobbing
- Street marches
- Pamphlets
- Use of prominent people
- Blockade

Tas gov & HEC

Aim: to build a dam on the franklin river for hydroelectric power

Position: environment as resource to exploit for human needs

Justifications:

- Franklin river is a resources and should be dammed to provide electricity

- It would boost the local and state economy.
- It would provide the industry with cheap electricity.

Methods:

-manipulation of media
- street marches

- use of prominent people

Explain the conflict over the Franklin river:

- Who were the opposing side

- How did they try &sway opinion
- What was effective in swaging opinion
- What was the outcome & how did it come to be that way.

The conflict over the Franklin river was between The Wilderness society and the Tasmanian
government & HEC. The wilderness society was raising awareness and trying to stop the dam in
order to preserve the beautiful landscape. However the Tasmanian government & HEC believed
that the river needed dams in order to have electricity and bring more resources to boost
economy. The Wilderness Society had started protesting and street marching to be heard. Over
10,000 people marched “No dams” in Hobart in 1980. Furthermore, they gave out pamphlets to
the community to raise awareness of the issue and to help start the anti-dam campaign to
preserve Australia’s landscapes. They ensured to get members of parliament to witness the
beauty of the franklin river and persistently emailed & messaged the members to bring
awareness to how many people wanted to save the river. Out of all the different ways Bob
Brown and the wilderness society used to gain attention and awareness, the use of prominent
people and lobbing were the most effective in swaying the opinions of the community. The
blockade however had made a bit of a difference, but many people were arrested, and the HEC
were still able to get to the franklin river. In March 1983 the Tasmanian Government ignored the
federal government ‘statement’ to stop making dams, to which the fed gov took the tas
government to high court. On the 1st of July the high court ruled in favour of the federal
government 3-2.