The Wilderness Society (Australia) Environmental Advocacy

The Wilderness Society is a prominent Australian, community-based, not-for-profit non-governmental environmental advocacy organisation. Operating as a public company limited by guarantee, the society is structured with separately incorporated campaign centres located in the capital of each Australian state, as well as in Launceston and Newcastle. Many of these centres, such as those in South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, and Western Australia, operate as membership organisations.

History

The organization was initially formed as the Tasmanian Wilderness Society (TWS), transitioning from the South West Tasmania Action Committee. It was formally established in 1976, emerging from the members of the Lake Pedder Action Committee and the South West Tasmania Action Committee. Along with the United Tasmania Group, the group protested against the flooding of Lake Pedder.

One of the most significant milestones in the society's history was the campaign to save the Franklin River between 1976 and 1983. The Tasmanian Wilderness Society played a pivotal role in this effort. On July 1, 1981, the High Court ruled that the Labor Prime Minister Bob Hawke’s government could overrule the Tasmanian premier Robin Gray to stop the works on the Franklin Dam, upholding the World Heritage Convention. Following this success, the organization rebranded as The Wilderness Society to reflect its national approach to environmental issues.

In 2005, the society faced a legal battle with the Tasmanian forestry business Gunns, which sued the group for $3.5 million in damages, claiming environmental activism had damaged their profits. However, in March 2009, the court ordered Gunns to pay the Wilderness Society $350,000 in damages and the action to cease.

Campaigns

The Wilderness Society has spent decades arguing that wilderness is a vital quality of the environment that must be preserved for future generations. This advocacy has led to the political response in most Australian states to create wilderness inventories and acknowledge designated wilderness areas.

Key Environmental Campaigns

• The Franklin River: A landmark campaign against the Franklin Dam controversy.
• Old Growth Forests: Ongoing efforts to stop logging in old growth forests.
• Endangered Species: Preventing the destruction of habitats for endangered species.
• Wild Rivers: Protecting Queensland's Wild Rivers and the Cape York Peninsula.
• Climate Change: A nationwide campaign to mitigate the effects of climate change by keeping fossil fuels in the ground.
• The Kimberley Campaign: A campaign against the industrialization of the James Price Point headland near Broome, featuring high-profile concerts and speeches by figures like Dr. Bob Brown.
• New Nature Laws: Since 2018, the society has campaigned for strong, national nature laws and an independent watchdog agency.
• The Great Australian Bight: Protecting the Bight from fossil fuel exploration and extraction, leading several oil companies to abandon their drilling plans.
• Wollemi National Park: A sustained effort with Traditional Owners and local communities to prevent a third coal lease site near the park.
• Victoria Native Forest Logging: Helping to end native forest logging in Victoria, starting from January 1, 2024.
• Channel Country: Protecting the rivers and floodplains of the Channel Country in Queensland from fossil fuel expansion in 2023.

Stance on Nuclear Energy

The Wilderness Society opposes nuclear energy.

Funding and Support

Historically, fundraising was conducted through The Wilderness Society Shops, which were popular for their calendars and posters by photographers like Peter Dombrovskis and Olegas Truchanas. These shops served as hubs for community engagement and member meetings.

With the rise of the internet, fundraising has shifted toward centralized online activities, including the website, online store, and email lists, while maintaining postal communications. The society now raises funds through donations, advocacy gifts, bequests, and member subscriptions, as well as grants and merchandise sales.

Political Involvement

The inaugural director of The Wilderness Society was Kevin Kiernan, followed by Norm Sanders, who was later elected to the Tasmanian Parliament in 1980 for the Australian Democrats on an environmental platform.