30th anniversary of the Franklin River blockade
Next year marks the 30th anniversary of the Franklin River blockade and the 30th anniversary of the World Heritage listing. Without the blockade, the World Heritage listing and a change in Australia’s federal government one of the world’s most spectacular river basins would have been destroyed forever.
This week in the Senate I thanked the 6,000 peaceful protesters who came from across the globe to protect the Franklin River. Although they were breaking the law of the day, it is interesting to reflect that in 2008, for the 25th anniversary, many of the campaigners came together for a big party in Tasmania and were joined in merriment by some of the police and dignitaries who had not only opposed but arrested them. Many laughs were had about old times that night. No-one was in doubt that the outcome had been a good one for Tasmania.
I thanked all the protectors, and so should all Tasmanians. Why? Conservationists are often labeled economic vandals in my state. The truth is, given time to reflect on history, they are quite the opposite. They have turned out to be state builders. They have delivered positive, sustainable, structural change to the economy of my home state. With all the doom and gloom currently surrounding Tasmania’s economy, our wild places and the tourism they attract is one bright light in the economy. Our protected, wild and rare World Heritage areas are critical to our Tasmanian economy and future prosperity.