Grand Valley Review Volume 29 | Issue 1 Article 14 2005 Turning Point in Van Diemen's Land: Bob Brown, Bob Hawke and the Franklin River Dam Crisis of 1983 Randall Doyle Central Michigan University Follow this and additional works at: http://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/gvr Recommended Citation Doyle, Randall (2005) "Turning Point in Van Diemen's Land: Bob Brown, Bob Hawke and the Franklin River Dam Crisis of 1983," Grand Valley Review: Vol. 29: Iss. 1, Article 14. Available at: http://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/gvr/vol29/iss1/14 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by ScholarWorks@GVSU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Grand Valley Review by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks@GVSU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Randall Doyle Turning Point in Van Diemen's land Bob Brown, Bob Hawke and the ery day Franklin River Dam Crisis of 1983 here is often a historical event that can be pointed T to as the beginning of a new era and the origin of future destinies for the major players and entities involved. The 1983 Franklin River dam crisis in south­ 'R.t3ndall 'Doyle is currently a west Tasmania is such an event. Bob Brown and Bob Visiting c.A'ssistant Professor in the Hawke were two individuals whose respective politi­ 'l!istory 'Department at [entral cal careers took dramatic turns toward acquiring and c.7vlichigan University. 'llis new representing fame and power in Australian politics for book, America and Australia, the rest of the 20'h century and beyond. The Franklin was published in c.A'ugust by the River itself became an enduring and dynamic symbol University Press of c.A'merica. CJ!e is of change affecting Australia's constitutional interpreta­ currently researchingjor a new book 47 tion and practice, as well as inspiring environmentalists concerningfuture UJ.foreign policy nationwide who sought ecological policies that pro­ within the Pacific 'RJ.,m during the tected the most treasured, and revered gifts of nature, 21st century. from man's endless lust towards private and public development and exploitation. Together, Brown, Hawke, and the Franklin River altered the constitutional, environmental, political and social landscapes, the self-perceptions that Australians had of themselves, and the land they inhabited. For all three subjects, the dam crisis represented and triggered a turning point in their respective existences. Amanda Lohrey wrote, quite aptly, "The Franklin River blockade of 1982-1983 is one of the defining moments in Aus­ tralian political history."1 Franklin River Dam Crisis: A Thrning Point in Australian Environmental History The environmental showdown, in 1983, over the proposed damming of the Franklin River was not an accident. It was a collision of historical forces that were 1 and Information Literacy divinely destined to occur on this often ignored island ate University. located off the southeastern coast of the Australian mainland. The roots of this environmental, political, and The Lake Pedder d social confrontation were deeply embedded in the flood­ an enormous amount o ing of Lake Pedder in 1972. Kevin Kiernan, a professor in environmentalists and the Environmental Studies Program at the University of mental reform toward~ Tasmania (UTAS), wrote about the pain associated with Commission (HEC) 2 this event that altered his existence in Tasmania, "(Lake) state government. Then Pedder was the cradle of my adult life ... My own soul River dam crisis becamc seems haunted by an unwanted legacy of cynicism and moral equivalent of G2 distrust."2 that gave Australians ~ This stunning alpine lake was considered, in 1972, by worth and courage as a most ecological observers as an aquatic jewel of unspoken sands of casualties up01 beauty. Many individuals, like Professors Keirnan and the (Turkey) Ottoman his fellow university colleague, Richard (Dick) Jones, the of the British Empire. founder of the Environmental Studies Program at UTAS, that this environmenta admitted afterwards their respective recoveries from the its "green" combatants, painful ordeal of attempting to prevent Lake Pedder's a fight that had to be ~ drowning was, indeed, profound. Professor Jones believed peration permeated tht the political environment in Tasmania to be corrupt and even imprisonment, if amoral. In an interview with Roger Green, Jones stated an unflinching commit1 that the Franklin River campaign and the (Lake) Pedder struction of an unwante' campaign were "just one continuum of experience and dam upon the Franklin 3 48 activity." Pete Hay, a professor within, and former Direc­ region ofTasmania. tor of, the Environmental Studies program at UTAS, The man who emeq commented, about his former colleague (Jones died tioned resolve to confro tragically in 1986 after falling from the roof of his home), the Franklin Dam was 2 that Professor Jones was an intense and serious-minded doctor, from (north-cc individual who did not care much for small talk.4 named Bob Brown. AJ Dr. Jones held an especially intense disdain for the River in 1976, "the best t Tasmanian and Australian political systems that he to Dr. Brown, he becam believed to be broken and unresponsive to the wishes environmentalist.6 Soor of the people at-large. He believed this dysfunctional Robert Moore, a reportc political reality became evermore evident and undeni­ ing Company (ABC), : able to the common citizen who witnessed both of "physical obstruction" if the environmental campaigns mentioned above. Jones tion of the (Franklin) d was unsparing in his seething critique of the state and Thus, the birth of federal government, respectively: environmental leader tc I believe there is a fundamental breakdown in the upon one of the last w operation of politics in Australian society and that Nature, inexplicably, exe Lake Pedder detected that in the early stages. The and spirituality over h1 responsibility of politicians and the public has understanding. The raf continued to break down-public decision-making Brown to become a foo and involvement in politics has only gone for worse the Franklin River. 8 Tht -and that's a continuum.5 Australian history eme1 all the parties involved Randall Doyle ronmental, political, and The Lake Pedder debacle left behind in its wake Therefore, educating the public embedded in the flood- an enormous amount of bad blood amongst hard-core and presenting a strong and visible 11 Kiernan, a professor in environmentalists and strong supporters of environ­ protest were necessary, according to ram at the University of mental reform towards the powerful Hydro-Electric Brown, to stop the Franklin River the pain associated with Commission (HEC) and the indifferent Tasmanian dam project. He also knew that an lCe in Tasmania, "(Lake) state government. Therefore, in 1982-1983, the Franklin aggressive blockade represented a 1lt life ... My own soul River dam crisis became the environmental version and threat to his well-being. Indeed, legacy of cynicism and moral equivalent of Gallipoli, the famed WWI battle during the Franklin protest, Brown that gave Australians an inspired sense of their own was beaten severely by youths with a ; considered, in 1972, by worth and courage as a nation. Australia suffered thou­ wheel-brace, sent death threats and luatic jewel of unspoken sands of casualties upon this isolated peninsula within vilified by many of the local citizens :>rofessors Keirnan and the (Turkey) Ottoman Empire to defend the integrity during his activities in the southwest ichard (Dick) Jones, the of the British Empire. It is not an exaggeration to say region of Tasmania.9 He was not 1dies Program at UTAS, that this environmental "battle" in Tasmania amongst deterred, nor intimidated, in his com­ tive recoveries from the its "green" combatants, like Gallipoli, was perceived as mitment to save the Franklin River prevent Lake Pedder's a fight that had to be won at all costs. A sense of des­ from destruction. Professor Jones believed peration permeated the air. All efforts, strategies, and In 1983, the potential flooding nania to be corrupt and even imprisonment, if necessary, had to demonstrate of one of the last wild rivers in the ger Green, Jones stated an unflinching commitment toward stopping the con­ world propelled an all-out effort to L and the (Lake) Pedder struction of an unwanted and unnecessary hydro-power prevent the repeat of Lake Pedder. uum of experience and dam upon the Franklin River system in the southwest The stakes were incredibly high, and 1thin, and former Direc­ region ofTasmania. the atmosphere within Tasmania 49 ies program at UTAS, The man who emerged as representing an unques­ was dangerously tense and threat­ colleague (Jones died tioned resolve to confront and deny the development of ening. The situation was a powder n the roof ofhis home), the Franklin Dam was a quiet and unassuming country keg waiting to blow. Both sides, the 1se and serious-minded doctor, from (north-central Tasmania) Launceston, Tasmanian state government (led by 1 for small talk.4 named Bob Brown. After rafting down the Franklin Robin Gray-Liberal Party) and the intense disdain for the River in 1976, "the best two weeks of my life," according HEC on one side, and the ardent itical systems that he to Dr. Brown, he became an avid and uncompromising environmentalists with significant sponsive to the wishes environmentalist. 6 Soon afterwards, he wrote a letter to grassroots support within Tasmania ved this dysfunctional Robert Moore, a reporter for the Australian Broadcast­ and throughout Australia on the ·e evident and undeni­ ing Company (ABC), stating that he would resort to other, squared off on this small island ho witnessed both of "physical obstruction" if necessary to prevent construc­ located below the 40 degrees south 1entioned above. Jones tion of the (Franklin) dam.7 latitude marker from the equator.