Dig ABC listen
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- History
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Revisit the biggest environmental movement Australia has ever seen: the 1982 Franklin River Blockade. This story is nuts. Missing people, death threats, savage political moves, young people flooding into Tasmania to put their bodies in front of bulldozers. Host Jo Lauder investigates how this movement beat the odds and came to inspire a new generation of environmental activists that have shaped Australian politics through to today.
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01 | A mystery in paradise, before the Franklin River fight
The fight to save the Franklin River started in a totally different part of Tasmania's wilderness: with a proposal to dam the paradise inland beach of Lake Pedder. In this episode of Saving the Franklin, a mystery disappearance and a devastating loss signal to campaigners just how far they'll have to go in the next battle.
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02 | The battle lines: 'Greenies' vs workers
The Franklin Dam proposal symbolised a lifeline to struggling communities on Tasmania's West Coast, recovering from the end of a mining era. Yet for environmentalists, it symbolised destruction and greed.
In this episode of Saving the Franklin, the battle lines are drawn between pro-dammers and environmentalists and the State Government is caught in the middle, until it's forced to act. -
03 | Secret cave: a game-changing rediscovery no one expected
The campaigners had painted the Franklin River as an untouched natural wonder, a place free from human interference: a wilderness.
But the rediscovery of a cave along the Franklin throws everything into question. The finding is so significant it reshapes modern understanding of human history – and it paves the way for a new strategy to save the River. -
04 | 'All we had was our bodies': The blockade begins
In this episode of Saving the Franklin, thousands of protesters fly into the sleepy town of Strahan to prepare for the biggest moment in the campaign: the blockade.
An army of national media descend, and the first bulldozer is taken upriver, for a shocking confrontation on the water. -
05 | Threats, accusations and a Federal election
In this episode of Saving the Franklin, scenes on the West Coast get uglier and uglier, and the campaigners turn to the mainland for support as a Federal election looms.
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06 | West Coast shockwaves; a new era for politics and protest
The Franklin river's fate all comes down to a legal challenge between state and federal powers.
In the final episode of Saving the Franklin: the moment this so-called wilderness war all came to an end.
Customer Reviews
Wonderful Australian Journalism
It has taken a while to get really high quality Australian stories told on podcasts. This is another great one from the ABC.
As a Tasmanian and a relative of people who both supported and opposed the dam, this is also a story familiar to me. A primary industry family who shifted their views through the story of the Franklin.
Thank you for telling Australian stories well. There is much to be proud of in this one. It made me laugh and cry.
Another fabulous podcast
I thoroughly enjoyed this podcast hosted by Matthew Condon who clearly know his subject inside and out, I particularly like the compassionate eye he focused on the brave women who stood up to the corruption at great personal risk and tells their stories without judgement - a very compelling podcast I highly recommend.
Loved it!
This is the best quality podcast series I have probably heard since the teachers pet. I have listened to the series twice now!
Matthew Condon has a voice that was made for story telling! if you loved this podcast I also recommend his other podcast - ghost gate road.