1. The Franklin River Blockade

3. Franklin River Blockade Video 20min
Part One
Part Two

4. Hydro-Electric Commission
Often known as the State religion of Tasmania
Dedicated to the generation of hydro-electricity, but is also a major employer in the State
It believed that if it did not continue to build dams, it could no longer produce electricity
The Franklin River was not the first site of litigation the HEC had experienced, from , they fought the ‘greenies’ over the dam construction of Lake Pedder.
October 1979, they recommend to the Tasmanian Government that a Dam below the Franklin be built.
The fight to ‘Save the Franklin’ had began.

5. What did they want? This or 60 megawatts of power?

6. Lake Pedder
Lake Pedder – situated in south-west Tasmania Australia – was the jewel of wilderness
In 1972 the flooding (damming) of Lake Pedder for a minor hydro-electric scheme created an international environmental uproar
1955: The Lake becomes the heart and focus of the Lake Pedder National Park
1968: the LPNP is incorporated into the South West National Park

7. Lake Pedder con.
1967: Premier Eric Reece announces the Gordon Power scheme will “result in some modification to the Lake Pedder National Park”
1972: The world’s first Green Party, the United Tasmania Group (UTG) is formed to oppose the flooding
1972: In spite of a massive campaign of national and international opposition, the lake is flooded to provide an extra 60MW of electricity

9. Franklin Evidence
Bob Brown and Paul Smith rafted the Franklin River to investigate the ‘mutterings’ they had heard regarding the HEC construction
Evidence was found that the HEC was planning on damming the river
October 1979, HEC formally recommended the damming of the Gordon River above the Franklin River
A Strong Public reaction erupted, not only in Tasmania but on the mainland as well.

11. Franklin Evidence con.
1980 September: Archaeological sites of Kutikina Cave were discovered
From the Franklin River itself the entrance to Kutikina Cave is not visible
The caves lay undisturbed for over 20,000 years
Over 100 caves lay undisturbed along banks of the Franklin River

12. The Public Presentation
A public referendum was commissioned by the Tasmanian Government (a vote of yes/no of an issue or topic)
The only options offered to the people of Tasmania were the two dam projects, it was the first referendum in Australian history without ‘no’ as an option to vote for
The Tasmanian Wilderness Society adopted a risky strategy: voters would be urged to not mark either options, but to write “NO DAMS” across their ballot papers.

14. Change of Government
1981 November: Harry Holgate took over as Premier, winning on the basis of promising to cease all damming
1982 January – Holgate Government change their policy and support the flooding of the Franklin
This further stirred the Greenies and infuriated the public who had voted for Holgate due to his promise of banning the dams

15. The Secret Mission
1982 January – The first blockades prepared to enter the area for a non violent demonstration
They had 4 goals in mind –
Generate publicity
Put pressure on the government
To make a show of commitment and determination by getting themselves arrested
To slow and even stop work on the dam

16. Parliament Recalled
1982 March – a motion of NO CONFIDENCE in the Holgate Government was head
1982 May – An election was held, the dams legislation still hadn’t been passed. A landslide victory to pro-dam Liberal Gray
1982 June – Gordon-below-Franklin dam bill was passed
1982 June – Tasmanian Wilderness Society applied to the High Court to prevent funding for the Tasmanian dams by the Loans Council
Results: Arguments DISMISSED

17. Control to the HEC
The only hope for the Franklin was now “Intervention by the Federal Government”
Bob Brown travelled to Canberra and met with Malcolm Fraser
His response...
“People with lost causes in Tasmania should not come to Canberra expecting rescue”

18. Movements in the Night
1st bulldozers moved into the area and truck started run –
The dam had started
HEC security on Gordon-below-Franklin works area is tightened
Entry is now only by permit
HEC barge moves onto the water

19. The Franklin Guerillas
1982 November – Blockaders begin to arrive in Hobart
December 8th – Fraser Government publicly states it will not intervene to stop the damming
December 12th – The first boatload of protestors leave Shrahan to get into position at the dam site for Day 1

20. Stage 1 December 14th – 102 people arrested, all refused bail
South West Tasmania officially becomes a World Heritage Area
December 15th – Another 47 people arrested
Decmber 16th - Premier Gray bands all blockaders ‘extremists’. Bob Brown arrested with another 48 people

21. Stage 1
December 17th – a tent site is established stopping HEC traffic for 5 hrs, 62 people arrested
December 22nd – HEC employees leave area for Christmas
Blockade Committee works fast:
417 people register for Stage 1
202 arrested
167 imprsioned

22. Stage 2
4th January – silent vigil on Lower Gordon River, 350 protestors
5th January – new strategy introduced with fewer arrests
January 11th – ‘sunset bail’ conditions introduced, leaving protestors with 24hrs to leave the area
January 12th – rocks hurled through ‘Greenies’ stations, public phones out of order, camping grounds blocked by police, 80 police escourt bulldozer through to river banks
January 19th – PM Fraser offers Tasmania $500million to cease the scheme, Premier Gray delines the money

23. Stage 2 February 3rd – Fraser calls a Federal Election
February 8th – Stage 3 is announced ‘G-Day’
February 10th – A protestor fights for his life after being caught under the barge carrying a bulldozer in his canoe
February 17th – the 1000th arrest is made

24. Stage 3
February 22nd – Camping is banned within the National Park that the Franklin is within
February 23rd – An unknown number of protestors hide in the bush in preparation for G-Day
March 1st – ‘G-Day’ (GREEN DAY) 231 people are arrested “No Dams” flags are erected all over Tasmania and Victoria
March 5th – Bob Hawke is elected to power and is in full support of ‘No Dams’
March 31st – the Federal Government passes regulations forbidding HEC works in the World Heritage Areas

25. Stage 3
April 1st – Tasmania Government challenges Federal Government’s constitutional right to impose the regulations and the matter goes to the high court
Evidence is gathered by ‘Greenies’ to assist the Federal Government
May 19th – In Hobart all charges for trespass are dropped
July 1st – The High Court rules 4 votes to 3 in favour of the Commonwealth. The damming cannot proceed.
July 22nd – The last ‘Greenie’ leaves the wilderness

26. The Franklin River Today
In the early 80’s the Franklin was purely a private independent usage river
Today however, over 60 commercial companies use the site for water adventures
It is the only ‘wild’ river left in Tasmania and it has a ‘Source to Sea’ flow with only 1 road crossing it.