VOLUME 38 NUMBER 2: APRIL 2010

2010 the International Year of Biodiversity

Special Commemorative Issue

The campaign for biodiversity – your actions count

Are your holiday plans eco-friendly?
Australia’s big blue oceans – a world in pictures
To revive the Murray? Just add water!
The Tarkine – walking an ancient landscape
How do I talk to a climate sceptic?
Australian Conservation Foundation HABITAT AUSTRALIA APRIL 2010 1
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HABITAT AUSTRALIA
CONTENTS Vol 38 No 2 April 2010

4 Eco-Shopper 22 Indigenous communities

5 Letter from Don Henry getting dumped in it. ‘I invest
Again.
5 Letters to the editor ethically
24 How to save the Murray-
6 Dispatches from the field
Darling? Just add water! because I
8 Australia’s east coast
marine wonderland
25 The Tarkine: walking an don’t want to
ancient landscape
12 Reconnecting the web
27 Australia’s best
make money
of life
eco-friendly holidays from harming
16 CHOICE: Dishwashers
18 How to talk to a
28 The Kimberley: big and
unprotected
others.’
climate sceptic
29 The natural rivers of the
19 Climate cover-up: the north: an indigenous
crusade to deny global perspective


warming 
 


30 Ask the experts

20 Removing seafood
31 Introducing… NADINE
confusion "EFMBJEF
Danny Vadasz
OFX
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USBWFMMJOH

Habitat Australia is published by President

the Australian Conservation Foundation Professor Ian Lowe
Inc. ABN 22 007 498 482 Vice Presidents
Melbourne (Head Office) Rosemary Hill
Floor 1, 60 Leicester St, Carlton, Vic 3053 Alex Gordon
Ph: (03) 9345 1111 Chief Executive Officer
or 1800 332 510 (free call) Don Henry
Fax: (03) 9345 1166
Editor
Sydney Margaret Ambrose
Suite 504, 32 York Street Sydney NSW 2000
Ph: (02) 8270 9900 Contributing Editor
Fax: (02) 8270 9988 Alex Monday
Canberra Design and Artwork
PO Box 2699, Canberra City, Pang & Haig Design
ACT 2601 www.panghaig.com
Ph: (02) 6247 2472 Printing
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Ph: 1800 332 510 Advertising
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Cairns, QLD 4870 Habitat Australia
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PO Box 1868 (Lotteries House) Membership fees are:
Broome WA 6725 Individual/Group/Household $65,
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Fax: 08 9192 1936 (includes GST).
ACF website: www.acfonline.org.au Copyright
Habitat email: habitat@acfonline.org.au Reproduction in whole or in part may
only occur with the written permission
Membership email:
membership@acfonline.org.au
of the editor. The views expressed in this
magazine are not necessarily the views of 


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Australian Conservation Foundation HABITAT AUSTRALIA APRIL 2010 3

Eco-Shopper Win a selection of EnviroTrend
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4 HABITAT AUSTRALIA APRIL 2010 Australian Conservation Foundation

Letters to the editor Letter from the CEO
Dear Supporter
Welcome to the special
commemorative issue of
Habitat, celebrating 2010, the
UN Year of Biodiversity.
Protecting our biodiversity
is about more than making
sure our wilderness areas
are sustained for the next
generation to enjoy on
their holidays. Protecting
biodiversity is about looking after our life-support systems.
Green skies Making the switch Our rivers, forests, oceans and landscapes all contribute to
The article ‘Green and Gone‘ It occurs to me that one simple our wellbeing.
(Habitat vol 38 No.1) suggested and cheap action that we can Check out our special biodiversity feature on page 12,
some simple ways that all take to mitigate climate which examines the interconnectedness between our lives
consumers can use their travel change – and one that would and our natural landscapes.
to assist airlines in decreasing have a huge effect if we all did But biodiversity is also about natural landscapes and
carbon emissions. However, – is signing up for 100 per cent the life they support. In Australia, we have neglected our
airlines and consumers need to accredited Green Power. wildlife and the ecosystems they rely on for too long. Close
work together. Here are some It’s easy because it can be to half of all mammal extinctions in the last 200 years have
practical suggestions: done online or by phone. It’s occurred in Australia.
Meals should be ‘opt-in’ simple because it takes just The greatest threat to Australia’s biodiversity is, of
on short flights, so that the one action to achieve. It’s course, climate change. And during this year, ACF is
number of people choosing not cheap because there are some calling on the government to rapidly scale up investment
to consume can be calculated. good deals available. And it’s for biodiversity and climate change adaptation to over $1
Passengers carrying lighter effective because suppliers are billion a year to address the crisis confronting our wildlife.
luggage should be rewarded required by law to supply the If you haven’t already, I strongly urge you to visit
with frequent flyer point equivalent amount of power www.acfonline.org.au and sign up to receive our
credits. Travel carbon offsets from renewable generation. monthly e-bulletin, ACF NEWS. You will not only get the
should be ‘opt-out’ at point If we all switched to 100 per latest environmental news and opinion, you’ll also
of ticket purchase – not many cent accredited Green Power, be notified of all our online actions to save Australia’s
people would opt out as the eventually all the coal-fired precious biodiversity.
cost of offsets is minimal on a power-stations would have to Like you, I was very disappointed that once again talk
long flight. close – just by letting consumer has turned to which part of Australia would ‘best’ be made
power force suppliers to go into a nuclear waste dump. The current Federal Government
Laele Pepper, plan is a continuation of the divisive approach of the past. It
green!
Ferndale VIC is secretive, controversial and inconsistent with the current
Having just converted to
100 per cent accredited Green government’s commitments and international standards.
Power myself, I know what a Please make sure you read Justine Vaisutis’ snapshot
good feeling it is! of the impact of the nuclear industry on Indigenous
communities (page 22). Mistakes of this magnitude cannot
Ian Freney, be made again, especially when there are far safer and
Torrens Park SA superior alternatives to the nuclear industry. Radioactive
waste lasts longer than any politician and it is important
that we approach its management in an open and
Got something to say? responsible manner.
Write a letter or send in a photo to the editor of Habitat and
you could win a sample of Cocolo, the first fully Fairtrade Don Henry, CEO Australian Conservation Foundation
Premium Organic range of chocolate in Australia. Simply
email us at habitat@acfonline.org.au au.
Cocolo Chocolate
Cocolo Chocolate leaves a slightly lesss
Photo of the issue
bitter taste in your mouth when you know ACF Campaigns Director and
it’s Fair Trade. The range includes Dark
rk Vice-Chair of the Antarctic
Mint Crisp, Dark Almond, Dark Bitterr and Southern Ocean Coalition,
Sweet, Dark Orange, Milk Hazelnut, Denise Boyd, presents The
Milk, Dark and White with Almond Hon Bob Hawke with a
Crunch and is available from Coles commemorative photograph
and all good health of the anniversary of the
food stores. decision to withdraw support
for mining in Antarctica.

Australian Conservation Foundation HABITAT AUSTRALIA APRIL 2010 5

 You don’t have to be endangered to know
that things aren’t going well for much of
the world’s species of plants and animals.
Since Australia became a signatory to the
International Convention of Biodiversity 17
years ago, the rate of biodiversity loss
has increased.
To play our part in the global effort to halt
and reverse biodiversity loss, ACF focuses
on key ecosystems across freshwater, marine
and forest and woodland environments.
Expanding and strengthening protected
areas in our oceans is crucial to sustaining
marine biodiversity. We have kicked off a
new campaign to establish marine protected
areas in the Pacific Ocean. This builds on
our existing campaign work with ENGO
partners in the seas of south-west Western
and northern Australia. The University
of Technology in Sydney is working with
ACF to rollout a new scientific assessment
of sustainable fisheries that will create
incentives for the fishing industry and
consumers to protect our oceans.
Freshwater ecosystems are declining
faster than any other on Earth. In the
Murray-Darling Basin 90 per cent of
wetlands have been destroyed. Surviving
wetlands are vital sanctuaries for wildlife
and people. Our Water for Wetlands
campaign gives Australians the opportunity
to personally return water to wetlands
in Hattah Lakes National Park, and
send a clear message to federal and state
governments that Australians expect more
water to be returned to the Murray and
Darling Rivers. You can donate at
www.justaddwater.org.au
We have been building a strong economic
case for the transition of industrial logging
operations out of Victoria’s native forests.
It makes little economic sense to keep
destroying this valuable carbon store and
wildlife habitat when there are vast amounts
of plantation hardwood in south-west
Victoria that can already provide far more
than our national domestic pulp and
paper demands.
Dr Paul Sinclair, Healthy Ecosystems
Program Manager
6 HABITAT AUSTRALIA APRIL 2010
Our work on the Rapid Active and
Affordable Transport Alliance (RAATA)
continues. We are focusing attention on
the federal and Victorian elections and
in the lead-up will deliver to the two
major political parties the key messages
around reforming transport spending as
a way to fast track the delivery of better
public and active transport infrastructure
and to contain urban sprawl. With other
RAATA members, we also met with the
Queensland Office of Sustainable Transport
and are contributing to their longer-term
work plan.
ACF has been advocating for some time
for mandating vehicle emissions standards
and the need to provide incentives for
promoting alternative technologies and
environmentally sound alternative fuels.
In March, we participated in an NRMA
summit on this subject and will be working
collaboratively with the NRMA and others
during this federal election year.
ACF is also working with the
Queensland Government and the
Queensland Conservation Council to
hold a joint forum on creating south-east
Queensland as a water-sensitive region.
There are lots of initiatives happening in
the built environment space at the moment:
the launch of the ASBEC report, Cities of
the Future; further work being undertaken
on our Smart Cities initiative; and
participation in many initiatives on energy
efficiency. We are also developing an ACF
Sustainable Cities Index, which will rank
the 20 largest Australian cities on a range
of indicators, including air quality, climate
change, public participation and education.
The Werribee Plains project is in its
final phase, with a Sustainable Framework
and some groundbreaking research being
launched at a community event on
23 March.
Monica Richter, Sustainable Australia
Program Manager
Australian Conservation Foundation
Last year was a huge year for the climate
change campaign and 2010 is shaping up
to be another big one. While 2009 was
dominated by the CPRS and Copenhagen,
2010 looks like it will be dominated by a
federal election and a grab bag of different
climate change policies of mixed quality.
We were dismayed by the Coalition climate
policy when it was released in January and
spent a lot of time explaining to journalists
that although one million solar rooftops
sounds good, it would only reduce
Australia’s emissions by less than one
per cent.
On the positive side, The Greens Party
made a very constructive move around
the same time by proposing the interim
carbon price first put forward by Professor
Ross Garnaut. At the time of writing the
government, Greens and other senators
were still negotiating a flat carbon price
applied to Australia’s big polluters.
It will be a tough fight just to keep
climate change on the election agenda this
year but we have one very powerful force
on our side – the overwhelming majority
of Australians who still want action on
climate change. ACF will be more than
happy to work with our members to ensure
that message is deafening in the corridors
of power in Canberra.
Tony Mohr, Climate Change
Campaign Manager
Products in our range include shower timers, shower curtains, water buckets, stickers and plugs
Australian Conservation Foundation
Already in 2010, there have been two
decisions that will have a major impact on
northern Australia.
The first was positive. It was the release
of the Federal Government’s Northern
Australia Taskforce report on future land
and water resource use, which concluded
that the region cannot be the nation’s new
‘food bowl’ as has been proposed for
decades by some politicians and farmers.
Made up of experts from science,
business and farming, as well as prominent
Indigenous leaders, the taskforce stated
that despite heavy rainfall across the north
during the wet season, the combination
of heat, high evaporation rates and
geography makes the construction of dams
for large-scale agriculture unviable.
This conclusion was not unexpected,
given the several failed attempts at large-
scale agriculture in the Kimberley and
Northern Territory. On a brighter note,
the Taskforce identified conservation
and natural resource management as a
potentially big contributor to the region’s
economy, and said there must be greater
support for Indigenous people to build on
their comparative advantage in providing
customary and commercial services on
the vast area of Indigenous-held lands in
northern Australia.
The second major decision was not
positive. In the Kimberley, Woodside and
its partners Shell, BP, BHP Billiton and
Chevron decided that James Price Point,
60km north of Broome, was the preferred
site at which to build a large gas processing
facility. The CEO of Woodside said the
decision was “the best economic outcome”.
This was somewhat predictable, given
that the Western Australian and Federal
governments enforced a ‘use it or lose it’
deadline of April 1 on the companies when
it changed conditions for renewing leases to
recover gas from Browse Basin in late 2009.
ACF was hopeful the companies
would opt to pipe their gas to established
industrial sites in the Pilbara and spare
the Kimberley widespread and lasting
environmental damage. Still, there remains
a chance the project may not go ahead if
environmental assessments find it poses
unacceptable risks to the natural values of
the Kimberley. A decision is due in late 2010
from environment minister Peter Garrett.
For more information on these issues
visit: http://www.acfonline.org.au/
northernaustralia
Dr Suzanne Jenkins, Northern Australian
Program Manager
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HABITAT AUSTRALIA APRIL 2010 7
 Biodiversity Special

From unique and threatened wildlife to amazing underwater seascapes, the ocean off
Australia’s east coast is filled with marine wonders. Incredible marine photography now allows
us to venture deep into the blue, capturing these treasures and allowing us to understand why
this ocean deserves special protection.

PHOTO © marinethemes.com/Kelvin Aitken

1.
MARINE CONSERVATION

Dive into Marine Conservation and Management.

Undergraduate and postgraduate courses at the National Centre for
Marine Conservation and Resource Sustainability include majors in:

• Marine Conservation • Aquaculture • Global Change

• Fisheries Management • Ocean Governance • Seafood Quality & Safety

With more than 25 years of industry and government collaboration, and RESOURCE
AMC opens up a whole new world of opportunities.

For more information or to apply for a midyear enrolment visit

SUSTAINABILITY
www.amc.edu.au/marine.studies or call (03) 6324 3801

AMC is an institute of the University of Tasmania

8 HABITAT AUSTRALIA APRIL 2010 Australian Conservation Foundation

 Biodiversity Special

PHOTO © Gary Bell/OceanwideImages.com

2.

1. Bigeye trevally 2. Lord Howe Island lagoon

Broadbill swordfish and black marlin move through this part of
the ocean, along with large schooling species such as trevallies
and tunas. Like many creatures of the deep, these fish are
commercially, socially and ecologically valuable.
The world’s southernmost coral reefs occur around Lord Howe
Island, a volcanic island that is part of a 1000-kilometre long
seamount chain. A unique mix of tropical, sub-tropical and
temperate species are found in this area, including Galapagos
sharks, black cod and seabirds.

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Australian Conservation Foundation HABITAT AUSTRALIA APRIL 2010 9

 Biodiversity Special

Australia’s east coast marine wonderland

Continued

3.

PHOTO: © marinethemes.com/Mark Conlin

3. Loggerhead turtle
Threatened marine reptiles including the green turtle, the
loggerhead turtle, and the world’s largest marine turtle –
the leatherback – all swim in these waters. The endangered
loggerhead, named after its distinctive large head, has powerful
jaws that can crush through shells.
4. Humpback whales
The annual migration of humpback whales takes them along
Australia’s eastern coastline, as they travel between their Antarctic
feeding grounds and their breeding grounds in the tropical waters
of the Great Barrier Reef.

10 HABITAT AUSTRALIA APRIL 2010 Australian Conservation Foundation

 Biodiversity Special

East coast marine sanctuaries

The ocean off our east coast is rich in
natural wonders, but less than one per
cent is protected. This places the unique
marine environment at risk from threats
such as climate change, pollution and
over-fishing.
Setting up marine sanctuaries where
wildlife are free from the pressures
of fishing - and habitats are protected
from human impacts - is the best way to
guarantee the survival of this precious
marine life.
ACF, in partnership with other
community environmental groups, is
campaigning for a network of large
marine sanctuaries off Australia’s east
coast to protect the ocean for present
and future generations.
Our east coast marine campaign
is focused on Commonwealth
waters offshore from Fraser Island in
Queensland to Bermagui on the New
South Wales south coast, and includes
Lord Howe and Norfolk islands.
Coastal communities depend on
healthy oceans for food, recreation,
industry and employment. Oceans also
drive climate and weather - the air we
breathe and the water we drink is all
linked to the ocean.
The Federal Government is
identifying areas for marine protection
around Australia, including off the east
coast. You can help by demonstrating
strong community support to protect
oceans – our planet’s life support
system.
Follow this campaign and learn how
you can take action at www.acfonline.
org.au/marine

4.

PHOTO: © marinethemes.com/Kelvin Aitken

Australian Conservation Foundation HABITAT AUSTRALIA APRIL 2010 11

 Biodiversity Special

Reconnecting the web of life

In this, the International Year of Biodiversity, Habitat explores why
biodiversity is vital to our very existence and how it is hanging in the balance.
Paul Smits
BELOW: ACF works to preserve
healthy biodiversity for future
generations.
PHOTO: Lisa Hunt

When we think about biodiversity, we

tend to view it in the same way as the
typical dictionary definition: as the variety
of species living in a particular area. We
often also think of it in aesthetic terms
as the beauty of our rich environment
– our scenic natural heritage. But these
narrow perceptions don’t do justice to
biodiversity’s greater truths: that it is
the interdependencies between different
species that sustain life on our planet, from
micro-organisms right up to blue whales,
and that this ‘web of life’ includes
human beings.
Disconnected from the life-support
system of biodiversity, we simply would
not survive. We depend on plants to
refresh our oxygen and to feed many of
the animals that in turn feed us. We rely
on fungi and micro-organisms to maintain
the fertility of the soil in which we grow
our crops. Birds and insects pollinate
flowering plants, enabling them to bear
the fruit that we eat, and spurring nutrient
cycles. Biodiversity also ensures that there
are always species resilient enough to
withstand disease and climatic extremes,
so preserving ecosystems and keeping the
cycle of life firmly on the move.
The fundamental importance of the
connections between all living creatures
was acknowledged by the United Nations
when it declared 2010 the International
Year of Biodiversity. The UN initiative is
in one sense (to use the organisation’s own
words) “a celebration of life on earth”. But
it is also a plea for global action. Human
activity is causing greatly accelerated
biodiversity loss and irreversible damage
to the world’s ecosystems – to the forests,
rivers and oceans that help safeguard our
health, and that of our companion species.
The UN’s message is a clear one: we
must take immediate action to stop this
from continuing.
But why has it been necessary for an
international chorus to chant the obvious?
Why do we seem to have forgotten that
our very existence depends on biodiversity,
instead taking it for granted that our most
basic needs will always be fulfilled, which

12 HABITAT AUSTRALIA APRIL 2010 Australian Conservation Foundation

 Biodiversity Special

LEFT: A desert toad emerging

before a cyclone, Port Hedland,
Western Australia.
PHOTO: Julian Bentley

BELOW: Brodribb river, Errinundra.

PHOTO: Ivan Carter

assumes an almost delusional measure of
self-reliance?
According to Dr Paul Sinclair, ACF’s
Healthy Ecosystems Program Manager,
“Modern life in a sense insulates us and
pushes us away from recognising the
natural processes that make our country
habitable. This understanding mostly
breaks through in times of disaster: in
Australia, think of bushfires, the recent
dust storms and floods. This is when we
usually regain a sense of the connectedness
of life, and how we as a species are as
connected as everything else, regardless of
whether we choose to acknowledge this
or not.”
However, Sinclair also thinks that
people intuitively have a deeper
understanding of the web of life, including
its increasing frailty. “They understand
how this web is being dismantled, how the
strands are being disconnected because of
the changes inflicted by humans, and the
long-term consequences, such as global
warming,” he says.
“Our challenge is to remake the
connections within, across and between
species and all parts of the landscape
– and most importantly, to remake
the connections between ecosystems
and ourselves.” Sinclair says we must
understand that biodiversity loss will not
resolve itself. We cannot ignore our place
at the centre of the problem; we can only
choose whether or not to fix it.
Australia is one of 17 nations that are
scientifically recognised as ‘megadiverse’.
Collectively, these countries are home
to around 70 per cent of the world’s
known species. Unfortunately, Australia
is also notable for the staggering scale of
biodiversity loss on the continent. Over
110 species of flora and fauna have been
extinguished over the past two centuries.
But while the legacy of our past activities
is bad enough, the legacy of our present-
day behaviour is set to be much worse.
Conservation biologists have concluded
that our ecosystems are inherently
susceptible to the key threats to existing
biodiversity: habitat loss and degradation,
invasive species, climate change,
overexploitation, pollution and disease.
Australia suffers most from the
destruction of habitat. Non-sustainable
agricultural practices such as land clearing
have claimed half of our precolonial-era
forests and woodlands, and most of the
rest are in worsening shape because of
widespread logging. The overuse of water
resources has also hit our environment
hard, with Australia’s river systems
depleted by irrigation. And, of course,
there are the growing effects of climate
change to contend with, which include
rising ocean temperatures and acidity,
and the resultant bleaching of large coral
reefs, as well as protracted droughts and
the threat of bushfires of unprecedented
ferocity.
Paul Sinclair says that since its
inception, ACF has made its core business
the nurturing and protection of healthy
ecosystems to prevent biodiversity loss.
All ACF campaigns can be traced back to

Australian Conservation Foundation HABITAT AUSTRALIA APRIL 2010 13


Recoonnectingg the web of liifee
Continuued
Protecting biodiversity in
2010 – getting the Australian
Government on board
This year is promising to be a big one
for biodiversity. Not only is 2010 the
International Year of Biodiversity, with
celebrations, meetings and conferences
happening around the world, many
countries participating in the Convention
on Biological Diversity will be meeting
in October to advance protection of the
world’s biodiversity.
Importantly, the Conference will
assess the progress of countries towards
the 2010 Biodiversity Target, which is
set to achieve a significant reduction of
the current rate of biodiversity loss. The
target includes sub-targets, such as the
effective conservation of at least 10 per
cent of each of the world’s ecological
regions, and the improvement of the
status of threatened species.
In mid-2010 the Federal Government
has indicated that it will announce
the changes it plans to make to our
national environment legislation – the
Environmental Protection and Biodiversity
Conservation Act 1999 – after it was
independently reviewed late last year.
Strong national laws to protect our
environment are fundamental and ACF
will be working hard to ensure that the
government strengthens these laws.
In the next month or so we are
also likely to see Australian state
governments release Australia’s
Biodiversity Conservation Strategy
2010–2020, which should spell out targets
and timelines for action to conserve
Australia’s biodiversity, though we are
yet to see whether the Strategy contains
action to reflect the scale of the challenge
facing our biodiversity.
With a federal election expected
sometime this year, it is a good time for
you to remind the government of what
is important to you and what you
would like to see them do to protect
our biodiversity.
14 HABITAT AUSTRALIA APRIL 2010
Biodiversity Special
Write and talk to your local MP
and get them enthusiastic about all the
fantastic opportunities for protecting our
wildlife and special places, and ask them
to work with their colleagues, the PM
and ministers to commit to protecting
biodiversity.
You can talk to them about protecting
high-value forests in Tasmania and
Victoria, protecting wetlands in the
Murray-Darling Basin and around
the country, increasing the number of
national parks and Indigenous Protected
Areas, protecting the Kimberley and
Cape York, and establishing large
networks of marine sanctuaries
throughout our oceans. The Federal
Government also needs to commit to
funding a large Biodiversity and Climate
Change Fund, which will help build the
health of our biodiversity to withstand
the impacts of climate change.
You can also ask your MP and the
Federal Government what leadership
it intends to show at the Conference for
the Convention of Biological Diversity,
and what we are doing to meet our
international commitments to the 2010
Biodiversity Targets.
Not only is it important for those
in parliament to hear about all the
fantastic opportunities for protecting our
biodiversity, it’s very valuable for them
to keep hearing that people want action
on the environment.
Once you have spoken with your MP,
talk with friends and colleagues, and call
talk-back on your local radio station to
broadcast your ideas.
And, last but not least, don’t forget
to look out for good news stories of
how efforts locally and nationally have
delivered good outcomes for our wildlife
and environment. The more people
know about these, the more hope and
enthusiasm people have for supporting
efforts into the future.
The interconnectedness
of flora and fauna: Imperial
White butterflies on
flowering gum.
PHOTO: Julian Bentley
this imperative, and all acknowledge the
importance of reconnecting people with the
environment that fosters them.
“ACF’s healthy country work seeks to
establish large areas of protected, healthy,
high conservation value forests, which
science tells us are one of the key indicators
of Australia’s environmental prosperity – if
you trash the local vegetation, there’s not
much chance of healthy connections,” says
Sinclair. Equally crucial is the conservation
of our rivers, lakes and oceans, which
work together through evaporation and
precipitation to supply us with fresh water.
Paul Sinclair says that the International
Year of Biodiversity is a great opportunity
for people to transform their intuitive
understanding of humanity’s life-support
system into a public understanding – and
then to act on it. In the wake of the UN
announcement, emphasising the growing
consensus for action and casting an eye
towards the upcoming Australian federal
election, ACF called for the establishment
of a Biodiversity and Climate Change
Fund. Sinclair explains that making
biodiversity protection a national priority
requires not only unequivocal government
commitment and participation, but
unparalleled investment. “What Australia
needs is the promise of a national,
fully-funded package of measures
designed to build up the resilience of
its ecosystems.”
Sinclair says the endeavour must be
in the form of a long-term policy, not a
short-term measure – the underlying
causes of biodiversity loss need to be
addressed, not just the symptoms. He adds
that we also need a watchdog to make
sure the money is spent properly, and to
effectively police government regulations,
such as those spelt out in the Environment
Protection and Biodiversity Conservation
Act (the EPBC Act). To this end, ACF
has also called for the establishment of a
National Environment Commission. Lastly,
Sinclair says that absolute excellence in
environmental policy must be demanded,
an approach that embraces continual
improvement in thinking and practice.
Australian Conservation Foundation
 Biodiversity Special
Green turtle hatchlings
emerging from sand in late
afternoon, Heron Is, Great
Barrier Reef.
PHOTO: Justin McCaul

Sinclair offers the following message to

ACF supporters who are concerned about
biodiversity loss: “It’s easy to despair
at degradation, at the loss of species, of
beautiful places undergoing dramatic
changes. I would urge our supporters
to instead help forge reconnections
between all environments, and crucially,
between each other, to create the political
momentum to protect and preserve our
life-support system. The challenge we face
is that the impacts of human behaviour
have been so profound that restoration will
take a long time – we won’t see the full
benefits ourselves. Nevertheless, we should
pursue this goal for the ongoing future and
all who will shape it.”

Australian Conservation Foundation HABITAT AUSTRALIA APRIL 2010 15


Dishwashers
With many areas in Australia
experiencing water (and power)
shortages and utility prices on the rise,
eco-friendly upgrades are becoming
more important when you’re looking to
buy or replace a large appliance such
as a dishwasher. The big questions are:
which ones are more environmentally
efficient (water and electricity
consumption) and does a more efficient
machine come at the expense of
performance?
There are exceptions, but CHOICE tests
show that machines that dry the dishes well
tend to be less energy-efficient, indicating
that good drying performance mostly comes
at the cost of higher energy use. Of the top
performers only a few manage to score
80 per cent or better for water or energy
efficiency when tested on the ‘normal’ cycle
(CHOICE research shows the majority of
users still run their dishwashers on this
program).
Many dishwashers, however, do wash
well, so one way you can save water is
by not rinsing plates before turning them
on. We test each dishwasher’s washing
performance by getting it to clean a load
of dishes and cutlery coated with food
that’s been left to dry on overnight. As
most machines now wash these clean on
the normal program, there’s no need to
waste water by rinsing plates before you
stack — just scrape the food scraps off first.
Or, if you do pre-rinse (because you don’t
run the machine every day) try using the
dishwasher on its ‘fast’ program, which
uses less water.
How CHOICE tests
• Water and energy efficiency: Testers
measure the amount of water and energy
used in a cycle.
• Washing: Our testers check the
machines’ performance by placing
equal amounts of egg yolk, spinach and
baby cereal on plates, butter on saucers,
tomato juice in glasses and tea in cups.
They also put egg yolk and cereal onto
cutlery. It’s all left to dry for 15–18 hours
before being washed (using the sensor
16 HABITAT AUSTRALIA APRIL 2010
GREEN CHOICE: A HABITAT &
program if the machine has one or the
normal cycle if it doesn’t) and dried.
Each machine is tested at least twice and
the scores averaged. The score is based
on the number of specks of food left on
the dishes or the area of the larger stains.
• Drying: The drying performance score
is based on the number of drops and/
or streaks left on the dishes half an hour
after the end of the wash. There are no
plastic items in our load as these take a
very long time to dry.
Some tips in what to look for
in a dishwasher:
• Will your normal dinnerware fit into the
dishwasher without crowding or hitting
the spray arms? Take a few of your
day-to-day dishes, such as a large dinner
plates and tall glasses, and try them out
in the store to see they both fit at the
same time. Spin the spray arms to make
sure they don’t hit the plates and glasses.
• Look for height adjustable top baskets
and removable or fold-down plate
racks/tines for more versatility when
loading. An ‘easy-lift’ top basket means
you can adjust the height without
needing to completely remove the basket
to change its position.
• Fold-down or removable tines are useful
for loading larger items like pots, pans
and baking dishes.
• Anti-flood hose: This hose has an electric
cut-off near the water tap connection,
which means it stops leaks in the
hose, not just in the machine. Almost
all dishwashers have some level of
protection, an anti-flood hose is a high-
level protection.
• Half-load option or load sensing: Half-
load adjusts the water and program
times for a much smaller load, while
load sensing adjusts them according
to the number of items and soil in the
dishwasher. Both let you wash smaller
loads more economically.
• Eco/economy or bio wash: To wash
more economically with less water, or
at a lower temperature - around 50°C is
good for enzyme-based detergent (the
majority of detergents have enzymes).
• Fast/quick wash: For washing
lightly soiled or rinsed dishes more
economically in a faster cycle.
• Child-safe detergent dispensers and
door locks.
• Optional anti-nesting grids on the
cutlery baskets or cutlery trays.
• A fault display helps you identify simple
problems, such as an empty rinse-aid
dispenser or blocked spray arms, and
avoid unnecessary service calls; or warns
you of a serious problem that does need
a service call.
• Fan-assisted drying can improve drying
by removing condensation from inside
the dishwasher.
• Controls and labelling. The controls
should be easy to use and the labelling
intuitive and clear. Look for engraved or
etched labels on stainless steel so they
don’t come off when cleaning. Only
use water and a microfibre cloth on
bonded labelling.
• A concealed heating element prevents
items from damage if they fall through
the basket, and food from being burnt
onto the element and causing a bad smell.
Information in this article has been
provided by CHOICE. It focuses on the
environmental performance of a number
of current dishwasher models, and does
not cover the full test results, performance
testing, specifications, features and prices.
CHOICE is the number one advocate
of consumer rights in Australia. As
the public face of the Australian
Consumers’ Association (ACA),
CHOICE is a completely self funded
body that is committed to providing
consumers with advocacy and advice.
Members receive independent and
expert advice on the products and
services they encounter every day,
while the community at large benefits
from vocal and active campaigns that
champion consumer rights.
Australian Conservation Foundation
CHOICE COLLABORATION

Summary Table of Dishwasher Efficiency Performance

Brand / model Water Energy Water Energy Noise Half- Eco Fast Running
efficiency efficiency used used (dB) load wash wash cost
score (%) score (%) (L) (kWh) option ($ /10
years)
Bosch Classic Electronic 94 89 12 0.66 41 Yes Yes $452
SMS50E12AU/07
Dishlex DX301WK 71 62 21 1.57 48 Yes Yes $1,050

Westinghouse 77 61 19 1.60 49 Yes Yes $1,059

WDF901WA
Asko D3122 82 60 17 1.63 50 Yes Yes $1,075

Electrolux ESF68040X 63 60 24 1.63 44 Yes Yes $1,102

Miele G 1143 SC 69 58 22 1.71 42 Yes $1,140

Whirlpool ADP7000 84 81 16 0.93 53 Yes Yes $686

Fisher & Paykel Double 86 72 15 1.22 49 Yes Yes Yes $824

DishDrawer DD60DCW6
Blanco BFD10X 86 64 15 1.49 43 Yes Yes $997

LG LD-1420T2 82 70 17 1.31 41 Yes Yes Yes $873

Smeg SA8210X7 80 67 18 1.4 47 Yes Yes $934

Baumatic BAD6002 85 83 16 0.88 53 Yes Yes $605

Omega DW601XA 85 83 16 0.87 54 Yes Yes $612

Ariston LV645A 89 74 14 1.17 49 Yes Yes $795

Bellissimo by Technika 94 81 12 0.93 54 Yes Yes $624

TBD4SS-4
Haier HDW100WHT (H) 97 89 11 0.67 55 Yes $458

Table Notes
Noise: All the dishwashers are fairly quiet, but a difference of 3dB is noticeable to the human ear.
Running cost: An estimate of cost over 10 years for water & electricity if you wash a full load every day using
a normal or ‘auto-sensing’ cycle, based on 17 cents per kWh for electricity and $1 per 1000L water.

Special Offer to Australian Conservation Foundation members

4 issues of CHOICE magazine for $4 – offer expires 31 May 2010
Simply call 1800 069 552 (9am-5pm AEST) and quote E510/ACF
After the promotional period, CHOICE will inform you before charging the regular quarterly subscription rate of $20.50
(you can cancel this at any time). Offer not available to professional/institutional subscriptions and available
to new CHOICE members only.

Australian Conservation Foundation HABITAT AUSTRALIA APRIL 2010 17

How to talk to a climate sceptic
It’s always the way. Just when you think it’s safe to start talking about doing something to
tackle climate change, up they pop – individuals or groups trying to tell you that it isn’t
happening or it’s nothing to worry about.
Owen Pascoe
Whilst the World Meteorological
Organisation, NASA, CSIRO and the
Bureau of Meteorology have all recently
declared that we have just experienced the
hottest decade on record, climate change
deniers seem to be a surprisingly heat-
tolerant species. Here a few handy tips
to remember:
Do climate deniers take out
car insurance?
Are you dealing with a full-blown climate
change denier? Someone who has read
every page of Ian Plimer’s book and
followed Lord Monckton round Australia
like an ageing hippy on a Bob Dylan tour?
If so, it’s best to approach with caution – or
perhaps walk in the opposite direction.
You probably won’t change this
person’s opinion in one conversation but
if you want to try, remind them that whilst
you might not be a climate scientist, with
110 countries supporting the Copenhagen
Accord, and NASA, CSIRO, and the
Bureau of Meteorology all highlighting
the impacts of climate change, you think
it would be a good idea to take action to
manage these risks. After all, how many
of us take out insurance on our houses
and cars?
Weigh up the credibility of
the evidence
Chances are, though, you’ll most likely
encounter the garden-variety sceptic. Many
of these people are just trying to weigh
up recent reports in the media against the
years of warnings about climate change.
Actually, there is nothing wrong with
being a genuine sceptic. Here at ACF we’ve
been very sceptical about the calls of the
big polluters for ever more compensation
for putting a price on carbon and the
claims of some electricity generators that
the lights will go out the day we decide
to act on climate change. We encourage
people to seek out the facts for themselves.
Start by reminding people that there
is very strong evidence for the science of
climate change in peer-reviewed scientific
journals like Science and Nature. There are
no papers in these journals that refute the
18 HABITAT AUSTRALIA APRIL 2010
overall conclusions of the world’s
climate scientists.
Your garden-variety sceptic may
be confused by recent media storms
on climate change. It’s true that the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change (IPCC) did take a battering over a
mistake in its 2007 report that Himalayan
glaciers could melt in the next 30 years.
However, even the scientists who pointed
out this mistake have been at pains to
report that this doesn’t discredit the overall
conclusions of the IPCC. The IPCC report
has been poured over by hundreds of
people looking for mistakes; if only a few
are found then it will have stood the test of
time very well.
On the other side of the ledger, Glaciers
are still melting at an alarming rate around
the world, and it has accelerated since
1990. A number of scientists have pointed
out that other impacts of climate change,
like melting of arctic sea-ice and sea level
rise, are occurring faster than scientists
projected just a few years ago: www.
copenhagendiagnosis.org/press.html
Use the information at
your fingertips
If you find yourself sometimes baffled by
the scientific and technical jargon, don’t
worry about answering specific questions.
There are a number of excellent resources
online that provide simple answers to the
most complex questions thrown up to
challenge the science of climate change.
There’s even an iphone app for the
techsavvy: www.skepticalscience.com.
Or try this from Dr Brett Parriss of
Monash University: www-personal.
buseco.monash.edu.au/~BParris/
BPClimateChangeQ&As.html
Is there really a global
conspiracy going on?
Claiming that all the world’s climate
scientists, scientific academies and
government have got it all wrong on
climate change is a big stretch, so if
questioner is making this case, ask
them how and why they think this has
happened. I’m yet to meet someone
who can do this without referencing some
sort of global conspiracy theory.
Who benefits from denying
climate change?
The rise in reports of doubt about climate
change science is not totally spontaneous.
Sadly there is an organised campaign
to sow seeds of doubt. A recent book by
James Hoggan, Climate Cover-up, highlights
the dirty campaign that’s been run against
climate change science for decades.
Exxon Mobil has recently been criticised
for funding organisations that sponsor
gatherings of climate deniers. Exxon
Mobil’s funding of this type of activity has
added up to millions of dollars since 1998.
“It would be an enormous relief,”
said Al Gore recently, “if the recent
attacks on the science of global warming
actually indicated that we do not face an
unimaginable calamity requiring large-
scale, preventive measures to protect
human civilisation as we know it”.
Unfortunately it’s not the case. There
is nothing wrong with asking questions
and challenging mainstream science, but
willfully ignoring the warnings of the
world’s best scientists is simply dangerous.
So next time you meet a sceptic or a
denier remember to stay calm, breathe,
don’t be threatening or sarcastic, but do
your best to remind one person why we
need to act now to save the planet.
Owen Pascoe is ACF’s Climate Change Campaigner
Australian Conservation Foundation
 Climate Cover-up – The Crusade to Deny willing to “generate international media
Global Warming by James Hoggan, attention to the fact that many scientists
exposes a global climate change-denying believe forecasts of rapid warming and
propaganda campaign. catastrophic events are not supported by
In 1998 the American Petroleum sound science.”
Institute (API) created a ‘Global climate Now there’s a new category of climate
science communications plan’ aimed sceptic – the nondenier denier. These
at convincing the media and public of people, typified by Bjorn Lomborg,
‘uncertainties’ in climate science, not to put themselves forward as reasonable
promote a genuine understanding of interpreters of the science, even allies in
the science. the fight against climate change, but then
Among the key aims of the undermine the public appetite for action.
James Norman looks at the global communications plan was the intention, Despite Lomborg’s book The Sceptical
working on behalf of industry, to change Environmentalist being heavily criticised
propaganda campaign that has, for conventional wisdom regardless of science by the Danish government for ‘fabricating
over two decades and largely funded by and to overwhelm the media by injecting data’, as well as being ‘misleading’ and
the oil and gas industry, successfully ‘balance’ into coverage - regardless of containing ‘plagiarism’, Lomborg became
made the public believe that climate whether that balance reflected the true the toast of the sceptics movement,
nature of the science. receiving awards from conservative think-
science is controversial, unproven and Following this, influential think tanks in the US and UK.
unworthy of united global action. tanks took on the call of promoting this The problem is that in the interests of
uncertainty, largely funded in doing traditional journalistic balance, people like
James Norman so by ExxonMobil. In November 2006, Lomborg can appear to be ‘centrist’ voices.
Conservative think tanks began offering Falling between the environmental side of
cash to scientists who would agree to write the debate and industry funded lobbyists,
critiques of the IPCC fourth assessment people like Lomborg are given a large
report. space in the media. The middle ground
Then a new denier think-tank came to shifts into unreality.
the fore – the Heartland Institute.
James Hoggan is Chair of the David Suzuki
In 2008, Heartland offered an all Foundation and the Canadian Climate Project.
expenses paid trip to New York and a
US$1000 honorarium to any scientist

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Australian Conservation Foundation HABITAT AUSTRALIA APRIL 2010 19

For the past three years ACF has been working with the Science Reference Panel
(a team of leading Australian marine scientists) to remove seafood consumer
confusion by taking the guesswork out of choosing sustainable seafood.
Chris Smyth

How to remove seafood

assessment confusion
The Science Reference Panel’s first job had
been to develop the Sustainable Australian
Seafood Assessment Criteria and the
assessment process to go with them. This is
the first time such a set of criteria has been
developed in Australia.
For this assessment program to be
successful, the criteria and process
had to be independent, transparent
and scientifically rigorous with quality
benchmarks. They also had to be time- and
cost-effective, cover wild catch and farmed
seafood products, and effectively engage
the seafood industry.
Without these features, ACF would
not have been able to make credible
recommendations to restaurants in its
upcoming sustainable seafood community
outreach program.
In 2009, ACF and the scientists were
joined by the University of Technology
in Sydney, which will host the panel and
its assessment criteria and process. This
will ensure that the program remains
independent of industry, government and
environment groups.
Recently, the program completed a pilot
assessment project, which assessed four
seafood products: farmed barramundi from
Cone Bay near Derby in Western Australia,
and wild-caught red emperor from the
Pilbara Trap Fishery, western king prawns
from the Spencer Gulf Prawn Fishery, and
Coorong yellow-eye mullet from the Lakes sustainability of wild fish food sources.
and Coorong Fishery. The first four were A key feature of the Australian
on the degustation menu at ACF’s gala Sustainable Seafood Assessment Program
seafood event (opposite). is its focus on seafood products, not
How do the scientists measure species. A species may be caught or farmed
sustainability? sustainably in one area but not in another.
For wild-catch seafood products, the The criteria and assessment process takes
criteria for sustainability are the status this into account and will be used to
of wild stocks, the nature and level of promote high-quality regional seafood.
by-catch, and the impacts on habitats You can find out more about the criteria
and ecosystems. For farmed seafood and the assessment process at www.
products the criteria for sustainability are acfonline.org.au/seafood
risk from disease and parasites, the site
and cumulative impacts of the operation,
interaction with wildlife, and the

20 HABITAT AUSTRALIA APRIL 2010 Australian Conservation Foundation

 FAR LEFT: One of the
delicious dishes on
ACF’s sustainable
seafood degustation
menu
LEFT: A guest admires
the apprentice chefs’
handiwork
PHOTOS: Elke Kerr

Celebrating sustainable seafood!
To raise funds for the very important
Sustainable Australian Seafood Assessment
Program, ACF held a sustainable seafood
competition as part of the Melbourne Food
and Wine Festival.
Each seafood dish on the night was
prepared by apprentice chefs from Delaware
North, the major event catering company
that very generously hosted the event, and
was judged by author and chef Adrian
Richardson, owner of La Luna Bistro.
from the Pilbara Trap Fishery, Garry Hera-
Singh and Tracy Hill from the Lakes and
Coorong Fishery and Karen Hollamby from
the Spencer Gulf Prawn Fishery for their
very generous donations of seafood for the
night.
ACF also wishes to sincerely thank the
following who donated items and prizes
for the night’s auction and raffle: Guy
Grossi of Grossi Florentino, Delaware North
Companies Australia, Peregrine Adventures,
Neco, Hansgrohe, Classic Bicycle Shop,

e
ACF would like to thank Guy Westbrook Stefano’s, Deirdre Page of Ewingsdale
of Marine Produce Australia, Doug Gibson Cottage, Howards Storage World and Enjo.

Investing
ethical
investment in a better
SERVICES world

Anne-Marie SPAGNOLO Michelle BRISBANE

B.Bus/Fin.Planning CFP, B.Bus.Fin,B.Sc.

ph 03 9853 0995
Financial Planning
Superannuation Choices
Retirement Planning
Ethical Share Advice
www.ethicalinvestments.com.au
Ethical Investment
Services Pty Ltd
ABN 38004531800
AFS Licence 222690 16 Princess St KEW 3101

Australian Conservation Foundation HABITAT AUSTRALIA APRIL 2010 21

As the Federal Government pursues controversial plans to dump nuclear waste
in the Northern Territory, Justine Vaisutis takes a look back on a dirty industry and
its devastating and long-lasting consequences for Indigenous people.
Justine Vaisutis
“Uranium mining has completely
upturned our lives … uranium
mining has also taken our country
away from us and destroyed it –
billabongs and creeks gone forever,
there are great holes in the ground
with poisonous mud where there
used to be nothing but bush.”
Yvonne Margarula, Mirarr senior
Traditional Owner, in Yellowcake
Country: Australia’s Uranium Industry,
Beyond Nuclear Initiative, 2005, p8.
In 2005 Yvonne Margarula’s words
revealed the impact that uranium has
had on Aboriginal people since uranium
mining began in northern Australia
approximately 50 years ago.
In 1952 the Australian Government took
over land where uranium had been found
85km south of Darwin to establish the
Rum Jungle uranium mine. There was no
consultation with Aboriginal communities
and the mine became – and remains - an
environmental disaster.
More than 20 years later the Ranger
Uranium Environmental Inquiry was
conducted to examine the environmental
aspects of a mining proposal at what
has become the controversial Ranger
uranium mine in Kakadu. The inquiry
concluded that Aboriginal title should
be granted to several areas of land, but
while it recognised the Mirarr’s opposition
to uranium mining on their country it
explicitly concluded “their opposition
should not be allowed to prevail.”
Little has changed for Indigenous
people in the 30-plus years since the
Ranger Inquiry, and today Aboriginal
communities still have limited rights
in relation to developments on their
traditional lands. Many find themselves in
a position where they must choose between
forming an agreement with a developer
or refusing to cooperate or consent, even
though this option is insufficient to prevent
22 HABITAT AUSTRALIA APRIL 2010
a project going ahead.
Legally, Aboriginal people have no
right of veto in regards to uranium mining
under the Native Title Act. The right of veto
they have under the Aboriginal Land Rights
Act can only be exercised before consent to
exploration, after this the only negotiable
factors are the terms on how – not whether
- mining will proceed. Many Aboriginal
communities are not aware that consent to
exploration equates to consent to mining
under this Act.
“Essentially, the Aboriginal Land Rights
Act provides a right of veto but because
often it is not explained properly people
are left disempowered,” says Dave
Sweeney, ACF’s Nuclear Free campaigner.
“There is an improper institutional bias
in the legislation, the regulation and the
balance of need.”
Adding to this inequality is the fact
that the benefits from uranium mining to
Aboriginal communities have traditionally
been restricted to financial reward with
little or no attention paid to the social,
cultural or environmental impacts.
Communities are often forced to use
mining profits to provide the basic needs,
Yvonne Margarula, who led the successful campaign
against uranium mining at Jabiluka in Kakadu
National Park, and her niece Vernadine.
PHOTO: Newspix
services and infrastructure delivered
to most Australians as fundamental
citizenship entitlements by State and
Federal Governments. So what may appear
to be a lucrative windfall for a community
can in fact be the first step towards a
vicious cycle of industrial welfare and a
dependence on mining profits.
Research conducted by Griffith
University in 2007 demonstrated that few
of the Indigenous land use agreements
negotiated over the past 10 years have
resulted in significant benefit to the
relevant communities. Dave Sweeney
is frank in his assessment: “This is not a
level playing field, it’s a stacked deck and
we have a policy that has been driven for
decades by carrot and stick”.
Traditional land owners have
consistently opposed uranium mining
and have spoken out passionately about
the negative impacts it has on their
communities. The Australian Nuclear
Free Alliance (www.anfa.org.au) is an
Indigenous controlled organisation that
seeks to support communities concerned
about and opposed to nuclear developments
on their lands. These sorts of concerns were
Australian Conservation Foundation

clearly expressed by representatives of the
Gundjeihmi Aboriginal Corporation at the
MAPW conference in April 1997:
“We do not feel that our people or
country have been protected since mining
came here. Government has forced us
to accept mining in the past and we are
concerned that you will force mining
development upon us again. Previous
mining agreements have not protected
us or given our communities strength to
survive development”.
By ratifying the United Nations
Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous
Peoples, Australia has made a public
commitment to address the historic
injustices caused by the dispossession of
Indigenous peoples’ land and resources.
Article 29 of the United Nations Declaration
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Available at Coles, Bi-Lo, Woolworths and selected independents. For more information see www.awareenvironmental.com.au
Australian Conservation Foundation
on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples states that:
1. Indigenous peoples have the right to the
conservation and protection of the environment
and the productive capacity of their lands or
territories and resources. [and]
2. States shall take effective measures to
ensure that no storage or disposal of hazardous
materials shall take place in the lands or
territories of indigenous peoples without their
free, prior and informed consent.
But today the Federal Government is
pursuing a contested and secretive plan to
dump nuclear waste at Muckaty north of
Tennant Creek in the Northern Territory.
The plan is based on a confidential Howard
Government agreement with some of
the Ngapa Aboriginal clan for cash and
services worth around $12 million dollars.
The lack of agreement, transparency and
Aerial view of the Ranger Uranium Mine at the
Kakadu National Park in the Northern Territory.
PHOTO: Newspix
consultation with other Aboriginal clans
that will be affected by the dump has
undermined the procedural credibility of
the Federal Government and provoked
strong opposition by environmental groups
including ACF, the Northern Territory
Government and many Indigenous groups.
By failing to enforce more stringent
conditions on mining companies and
greater protection for Aboriginal people,
Australian state and federal Governments
are failing to honour their commitment
to DRIP and continuing to perpetuate the
falsehood that Aboriginal people benefit
from uranium mining. The on-ground
reality, as Yvonne Margarula observes, is
very different: “None of the promises last
but the problems always do”.
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8ljkiXc`XedX[\fne\[
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New!
HABITAT AUSTRALIA APRIL 2010 23

How to revive the Murray-Darling?
Just add water!
The launch of a ground-breaking new campaign will see everyday Australians quite
literally pour much-needed water back into this iconic river system.
Ruchira Talukdar
This summer, yet another outbreak
of toxic algae crippled the health of the
Murray-Darling river system. In towns
like Yarrawonga in Victoria, people were
advised to avoid contact with the river
or risk gastroenteritis, and eye and ear
complaints.
However, algal bloom outbreaks are
the tip of the iceberg when it comes to
the state of the Murray-Darling, which is
particularly alarming given it is the source
of much of Australia’s food production.
More than 90 per cent of the wetlands
in the Murray-Darling Basin are already
beyond repair, primarily due to overuse
of water for irrigation. The crisis has been
exacerbated by the recent drought.
These wetlands are vitally important
for Australia’s environmental health,
since they act as natural filters, ensuring
good water quality for our rivers. They
are nurseries for wildlife, and protect
animals and plants during drought. The
Murray-Darling contains 16 internationally
significant (RAMSAR-listed) sites,
including Hattah Lakes in northern
Victoria, which are hot spots for unique
wildlife.
Experts claim that these life support
systems have been without water for far
too long, and irreparable damage has
already been done to the soil and water
quality. As a result, some native species are
being pushed to the edge of extinction.
Alarmingly, it is predicted that the
impacts of climate change may risk the
Murray-Darling and its wetlands beyond
the limits of resilience, and ruining the
river’s ecosystems and their capacity to
adapt to changing conditions.
In 2009, Climate Change and Water
Minister Penny Wong added urgently
needed water to sustain the river red gums
at Hattah Lakes. But these wetlands need
much more water to perform their
basic functions.
To date, the Federal Government has not
met its international obligations to protect
such important wetlands and their wildlife.
The governments have failed to maintain
the quality of water and the health of the
24 HABITAT AUSTRALIA APRIL 2010
Biodiversity Special
river system, and this is threatening the
wellbeing and livelihoods of Australians.
ACF has conducted research on how the
community sees water and the Murray-
Darling. Results from polling in NSW, SA
and VIC, (conducted by Auspoll), show
that 89 per cent of people agree that the
Murray-Darling system is dangerously
degraded and that the problem needs to
be fixed now.
According to ACF, the needs of
irrigators must be balanced with the needs
of the environment, rivers and wetlands.
But action must be taken now to restore the
river and its wetlands.
The solution? Just add water!
Governments are adding some water, but
much more water and many more good
decisions are needed to get a handle on the
crisis. ACF, supported by mecu limited,
is taking direct action. In June 2010, ACF
is aiming to purchase 200 million litres
of water to be returned to Hattah Lakes
wetlands. That is equal to the volume of
more than 80 Olympic-size swimming
pools!
Water added to Hattah Lakes will help
provide sanctuary for threatened water
birds like the Australian bittern, threatened
fish like the silver perch, and will revive
the majestic river red gums. It will also
send a clear message to governments: that
Australians expect more water and more
good decisions from government.
Australians concerned about the
A dry wetland in
the Hattah-Kulkyne
National park near
Mildura in Northern
Victoria waits for
much needed water.
ACF is attempting
to purchase and put
back 200 million
litres into the Hattah
Lakes in autumn
this year.
PHOTO: Ingvar
Kenne.
Murray-Darling can do their bit by
contributing to this first-of-its-kind
initiative, and play a direct role in
returning the Murray-Darling to health.
How to get involved
By donating just $15, you will help ACF
add around 75 ,000 litres of water to Hattah
Lakes wetlands. This will help provide
necessary drought refuge to native wildlife.
Simply visit www.support.acfonline.
org.au/justaddwater and sign ACF’s
Just Add Water petition. This will send
a clear message to Senator Wong that
Australians now expect governments to
follow their lead and do more.
Senator Wong must deliver one national
solution for the continent’s lifeblood
through the Murray-Darling Basin Plan.
The draft basin plan is due to be released in
the middle of this year, with the plan due
to be put into action in mid-2012.
For more information, to donate and to
sign the petition to Senator Wong, visit
www.support.acfonline.org.au/
justaddwater
Ruchira Talukdar is ACF’s Healthy
Ecosystems Campaigner.
Australian Conservation Foundation
 Eco-travel

Walking an ancient landscape

It is the southern hemisphere’s largest remaining tract of temperate rainforest,
an area of global ecological significance and home to many threatened and
endangered species. Yet outside the state of Tasmania, the Tarkine is barely
known. Elke Kerr ventured deep into the wilderness.
Elke Kerr as told to Alex Monday

Ancient trees tower overhead; whist Despite its global significance, the The vastness of the Tasmanian wilderness.
underfoot are rotting, spongy mosses Tarkine is currently threatened by logging, PHOTO: Elke Kerr

and lichen, the layers of fallen, decaying
foliage that is evidence of the forest’s
cycle of decomposition and re-growth.
On all sides, the rainforest stretches on,
dense and labyrinthine, criss-crossed by
rivulets and creeks, and alive with the
sound of birdsong. This is a place of a
hundred shades of green; a place where
giant tree ferns live for centuries, where,
undisturbed, the forest itself has been
growing quietly for millennia – a remnant
of the ancient continent of Gondwana.
This is the Tarkine.
mining and a proposed road that would
cut through the wilderness, ‘opening it
up’ to day trippers. I have come here for a
six-day hike to experience a taste of one of
Australia’s primeval landscapes first-hand,
before it is potentially changed forever.
At the northern boundary of the
Tarkine, we make the short river crossing
of the Arthur River by dinghy. This
marks our transition from civilisation
to wilderness, as we leave behind our
transport and continue on foot, carrying
our tents, clothes and food. We first hike up
old forestry roads, before the paths narrow
and become even older ‘snig’ tracks, along
which logs would have once been dragged.
But now even these disappear, reclaimed
by the undergrowth, and we are in virgin
rainforest, where only the incongruous
pink fluorescent trail markers, distinct from
the greens of the forest, mark the
path onwards.
Over the next days we will walk
through plains of button grass, through
groves of tea trees, which stain the creek

walks of
South Africa

Australian Conservation Foundation HABITAT AUSTRALIA APRIL 2010 25


Walking an ancient
landscape
Continued
waters red with tannin, and on through
eucalypts with their heady, uniquely
Australian scent. But here in the rainforest
proper the myrtle beech is king. These
giants, reaching heights of 50 metres or
more, can live for more than 500 years.
They are another link to the ancient
supercontinent of Gondwana, and will
dominate the landscape for much of
the journey.
This trip is a physical challenge for
me, unused as I am to hiking through
undulating terrain, carrying a third of my
body weight on my back. Having unwisely
skipped the recommended pre-hike
training, the physicality of the walk takes
its toll at first, and my sore shoulders and
aching legs mean that every night I fall into
a deep sleep almost instantly, missing the
nocturnal sounds of animals, which my
fellow walkers overhear.
Every day we wake at 7am, have coffee
and breakfast, pack up our camp and start
walking. We clamber over huge fallen
trees, evidence of last year’s severe storms.
We frequently catch sight of tiger snakes,
slithering away on our approach. We see
signs of Tasmanian devils and, although
we fail to spot one of these shy creatures,
we learn that the Tarkine is one of the few
remaining places where the devils are free
of the facial cancer that is decimating their
numbers elsewhere in the state.
Eco-travel directory
Come and walk the highlights
Join Park Trek Walking Holidays for a lightweight
walking experience in some of Australia’s best
outdoor locations.
• Red Centre 12 – 20 June 2010
• Kakadu & Beyond 10 – 18 July 2010
• Sunshine Coast Hinterland 2 – 6 August 2010
Ph: (03) 9877 9540 Email: parktrek@bigpond.com
www.parktrek.com
26 HABITAT AUSTRALIA APRIL 2010
Eco-travel
The Tarkine, a place of a hundred shades of green.
PHOTO: Elke Kerr
there – let’s hope that it continues to exist
long after we’ve passed through.
Elke Kerr took part in the Tarkine Rainforest
Trek, run by local eco-tour operator Tarkine
Trails. For full information about this and other
available tours, see www.tarkinetrails.
com.au
Protection for the Tarkine
In December 2009, Federal Minister
for the Environment Peter Garrett
We visit the Tarkine Falls, the water used emergency provisions under
flow at its summertime low, gushing down national environment law to include
the black basalt rock face, and explore the Tarkine in the National Heritage
‘Heaven’, a grotto of trickling water List. Although this decision does not
droplets dripping from plant to small plant in itself prevent the proposed Tarkine
as they make their way down the walls of road or any future developments
this beautiful cavern of ferns and moss. from being built, it does mean that
On day four we walk uphill to a clear area such developments must now be
of button grass that allows panoramic assessed against the National Heritage
views of the rainforest, stretching to the Listing alongside other environmental
horizon in every direction. This truly is impacts – a welcome decision.
a wilderness.
I feel deeply privileged to have been
able to see the Tarkine in its wild beauty
and hope that others can too – but the
opportunities that wider tourism may
bring to this area have to be balanced with
its preservation. By opening up the area to
allow easier and more convenient access,
we risk destroying its essence, and the very
reasons that attract people here. This forest
existed long before we even knew it was
To advertise in this space
please send your contact
details to:
habitataustralia@bigpond.com
Australian Conservation Foundation

Australia’s best eco-friendly holidays
Did you know, the world’s best eco-holiday destinations are in our own backyard?
In this edited extract from Explore Australia’s new book Australia’s Best Eco-friendly
Holidays by Ken Eastwood, we check out some of the most ethical and innovative.
Sunshine Coast and hinterland:
Glass House Mountains Eco-Lodge
The simple, down-market rooms here
include the use of old train carriages for
a communal kitchen and group area. An
old church has also been recycled, and
all greywater and blackwater is used on
site to irrigate the chemical-free orchard
that guests are invited to raid. Guests
are also encouraged to plant a tree and
contribute to ongoing conservation projects
such as the Richmond birdwing butterfly
(Ornithoptera richmondia) recovery
program.
198 Barrs Rd, Glasshouse Mountains;
(07) 5493 0008;
www.glasshouseecolodge.com
Townsville to Cairns: Jabiru Safari
Lodge, Mareeba Wetlands
By staying in one of the five safari tents
here, you will be contributing to wildlife
conservation at the Mareeba Tropical
Savanna and Wetland Reserve. Run
by a non-profit trust that includes the
Wildlife Conservancy of Tropical North
Queensland, the 2000-hectare reserve has
eight lagoons full of birds and is now one
of the most important crane-roosting sites
in Queensland. Two of the safari tents have
solar power and gas appliances, and the
others are on mains power. Barbecue packs
and breakfast are provided, and there is a
shared outdoor spa in the bush.
(07) 4093 2514;
www.mareebawetlands.com
Beyond Albany: Munglinup Beach Park
With advanced eco-accreditation and
a quiet location to die for, this caravan
park east of Hopetoun is a little special.
It has wind generators and solar power
providing nearly all the electricity,
rotary composting toilets and an organic
vegetable garden that you are allowed
Australian Conservation Foundation
Eco-travel
to raid if there is enough of something in
season. There is a range of self-contained
cabins and vans on site, as well as camping.
(08) 9075 1155;
www.munglinupbeach.com.au
Carnarvon to Port Hedland: Karijini
Eco-retreat
Solar panels provide the majority of power
for the 50 permanent safari tents in this
eco-accredited retreat, which is owned by
the Gumala Aboriginal Corporation and
Gumala Enterprises Pty Ltd. Most of the
tents have ensuites. There are also plenty
of campsites.
(08) 9425 5591;
www.karijiniecoretreat.com.au
Dampier Peninsula: Goombaragin
Eco Retreat
Built high on a clifftop overlooking Pender
Bay, 160 kilometres north of Broome, this
Aboriginal-owned-and-run resort has eco
tents built on platforms and new chalets,
primarily run on solar power and with
greywater recycling. You can take on-site
bushwalking cultural tours, discovering
local bushfoods, creation stories and
Aboriginal connections to the country.
(08) 9192 4717 or 0429 696 180;
www.goombaragin.com.au
Melbourne to Port Campbell: Cape
Otway Centre for Conservation Ecology
There are not many better-thought-out
ecotourism ventures than this superb
multiaward-winning facility on Cape
Otway. It has its own 66-hectare wildlife
refuge and doubles as a shelter for injured
and orphaned wildlife, including gliders,
koalas and kangaroos. The hosts are
dedicated to protecting, researching
and conserving wildlife and offer intimate
wildlife tours every day. There are only five
bedrooms at the deluxe ecolodge, which
includes a nature studies room and library.
(03) 5237 9297;
www.capeotwaycentre.com.au
Kangaroo Island: Flour Cask
Bay Sanctuary
Stay in luxury eco-campervan tents or
camp in secluded camping spots on 200
hectares of yacca (grasstrees), forest,
grasslands, samphire and hyper-saline
lakes. The land is managed by a private
conservation trust that plants some 9000
trees a year. The tents have solar-powered
lights and ensuites with a chemical toilet.
There are 20 kilometres of walking and
cycling tracks, and bikes and canoes
for hire.
(08) 8553 7278;
www.eco-sanctuaries.com
Australia’s Best Eco-friendly Holidays
(Explore Australia Publishing) by
Ken Eastwood, RRP $49.95.
Win a copy of Australia’s
Best Eco-friendly Holidays
Fancy winning a copy of Australia’s
Best Eco-friendly Holidays? Simply
email us at habitat@acfonline.org.
au and tell us your favourite eco-
holiday destination and you could
win one of 10 copies!
TOP:The Great Ocean Ecolodge at the
Cape Otway Centre
PHOTO: Chris Hillard
HABITAT AUSTRALIA APRIL 2010 27

The Kimberley: big and unprotected
In this International Year of Biodiversity, we take a look at efforts to protect
one of our most biologically unique regions: the Kimberley.
Justin McCaul
Big and unprotected. The Kimberley
is huge (around 420,000km2 and almost
twice the size of Victoria) and much of
it inaccessible. Yet it is inhabited by just
over 40,000 people. Such a situation may
reduce overall environmental impact, but
it poses a big challenge for the managing
of existing threats to biodiversity, namely
uncontrolled wildfires, invasive weeds,
feral animals, and land degradation caused
by overgrazing.
In 2008, WA Premier Colin Barnett
committed $9 million to a plan to protect
the Kimberley. Last year, ACF, with other
conservation groups, recommended the
WA Government develop a comprehensive
and integrated approach to the protection
of biodiversity and management of
development in the Kimberley. A special
advisory group to the government has
called for a state-based Biodiversity
Conservation Bill. If adopted, these
initiatives may help ensure the Kimberley’s
rich biological diversity is protected from
rampant development.
Heritage assessment
The Commonwealth Government is
currently assessing the Kimberley’s natural
and cultural values. The aim of this process
is to have parts of the Kimberley listed on
the National Heritage register, a precursor
to a future World Heritage nomination.
For ACF, the assessment is double-edged
sword. Though strongly supportive of
the assessment, it comes as the WA and
Commonwealth governments pursue
plans to build a large industrial area on the
Dampier Peninsula. Despite this, this work
will be vital in highlighting the deep links
between cultural and biological diversity.
Indigenous knowledge
Much of the on-the-ground biodiversity
conservation work is engaging Indigenous
people– range groups in particular. From
tagging freshwater sawfish in the mighty
Fitzroy River, to reintroducing traditional
fire management techniques, to monitoring
marine turtles and dugongs along the
rugged Kimberley coast, Indigenous
rangers are at the forefront of biodiversity
28 HABITAT AUSTRALIA APRIL 2010
Biodiversity Special
conservation in the Kimberley.
One group, the Bardi Jawi rangers on
the Dampier Peninsula, has been nationally
and internationally recognised for bringing
together Western science and Indigenous
Traditional Knowledge and are assisting
scientists to gather data on marine turtles
and dugongs. At present there are 12
Indigenous ranger groups established and
working across the Kimberley.
Race against the clock
All of this good work comes as a massive
threat looms on the horizon. Plans to
build a large liquefied natural gas (LNG)
processing facility at James Price Point on
the Dampier Peninsula, 60kms north of
Broome, have the potential to irrevocably
change the Kimberley – environmentally,
socially, and culturally.
Already the proponents of this
development, Woodside, have said they
will need to construct a 5km break wall
from James Price Point into the Indian
Ocean to regulate the large tides common
in the Kimberley. Sand dredging and the
blasting of coral reefs are necessary to give
the large ships that transport LNG room
to turn. All of this will produce extensive
Kimberley coast
near Broome.
PHOTO: G. Eckhart
sediment disturbance, and is bad news for
the humpback whales, snub-nose dolphins,
marine turtles and dugongs that inhabit
the waters of the Kimberley.
A final decision on whether an LNG
plant will be built in the Kimberley will
be made in late 2010, when Environment
Minister Peter Garrett gives his final
recommendation. Yet already no less
than 20 projects, from mining – including
uranium – to agriculture and more LNG
are earmarked for the Kimberley. The key
is access to a reliable and cheap source of
energy. And this is why plans to bring LNG
on shore at James Price Point is so pivotal
in shaping the future of the Kimberley.
Justin McCaul is ACF’s Northern Australia
Communications and Liaison Coordinator
For more information on the
Kimberley go to: http://
www.acfonline.org.au/
northernaustralia
Australian Conservation Foundation

The natural rivers of the north:
an indigenous perspective
Leah Talbot is ACF’s Cape York Program Officer, and also a Kuku-Yalanji woman. Her traditional country
is north of Cairns in the Bloomfield and Daintree rainforest regions. Being an environmental campaigner as
well as an Indigenous person, Leah has a unique perspective on the future of rivers in Northern Australia.
Leah Talbot as told to Justin McCaul
The environment &
Indigenous culture
“My interest is how we can look after the
environment and support Indigenous
culture. For me the two go hand in hand
so that Indigenous people benefit culturally
and economically from looking after their
own country.
“I also have a Master of Environmental
Science, which focused on Indigenous land
management techniques. I strongly believe
Indigenous knowledge can have good
outcomes for the environment and good
cultural, social and, increasingly, financial
outcomes for Indigenous people.”
The importance of rivers to
Indigenous people
“I’m lucky because my mob have
rainforest, sea country and two freshwater
river systems that run through our lands:
the Daintree and Bloomfield rivers. All
aspects of country are important to us, but
rivers have always been economically and
culturally important to Aboriginal people.
“Rivers have been a source for food and,
culturally, rivers have been a source of lore
and creation stories that help explain our
connection to our traditional lands. Water
and our connection to it, whether a river
system or a coastal environment, defines
a people.”
Get involved!
Find out what environmental events, marches, festivals and
seminars are happening in your area – log onto ACF’s event
calendar at www.acfonline.org.au/events
Australian Conservation Foundation
Biodiversity Special
Regulation of Cape York
ABOVE: The Coleman River starts in central
Peninsula rivers
Cape York Peninsula and drains into the
“Queensland has built its economy by Gulf of Carpentaria. PHOTO: K. Trapnell
promoting mining opportunities and to
a lesser extent agriculture development.
Some people think the Cape is ideal for
this type of development because it’s
sparsely populated and can offer unlimited
potential. Over the years people have
said we can solve drought in the south by
sending water from regions such as Cape
York Peninsula via pipelines or large inter-
basin transfer schemes.
“But only a handful of rivers in Cape
York Peninsula flow all year ‘round
Sustainability and
because tropical river systems are
environmental protection
characterised by a boom and bust cycle: it
“For ACF, our work in Cape York is about
pours in the wet season followed by a long
finding the balance between sustainable
period of hot, dry weather. So Cape York’s
development and environmental
river systems, which are healthy and intact,
protection. ACF recognises that the
are open to exploitation.
biggest problem for Indigenous people in
“Obviously the Queensland
a region such as Cape York Peninsula is
Government’s Wild Rivers legislation has
underdevelopment. But we should be wary
been in the media lately. For years mobs
of a ‘development at any cost’ attitude.
have managed their rivers exceptionally
We don’t need to import complicated and
well according to cultural custom. But we
expensive problems like those affecting the
need to recognise that without steps to stop
Murray-Darling.”
extreme water uses we may be left with a
Leah Talbot is ACF’s Cape York Program Officer
highly damaged river system. Unregulated
river systems are vulnerable to mining or
agriculture, which require huge amounts For more information on Cape York
of water, even if Traditional Owners are go to: http://www.acfonline.org.
opposed to such development.” au/northernaustralia
HABITAT AUSTRALIA APRIL 2010 29
Ask the Ask the
economist GreenHome
Simon O’Connor
expert
BELOW
Myth-busted: water tanks
will not spread mosquito-
carried diseases.

Dear Economist,
With consumption now well exceeding the Earth’s capacity
to support the present population, let alone projected future
growth, has any work been undertaken on how a low-growth or,
even better, a no-growth economy would change our way of life?
Doug Blackwell, Gungal NSW
As the economist Kenneth Boulding put it, anyone who believes
exponential growth can go on forever in a finite world is either a
madman or an economist.
Economic growth has been placed upon a throne at the top of
our society’s goals yet this has occurred based on some key, flawed
beliefs. Most significant of which is that growth, as measured by
GDP, equates to improved wellbeing.
Vast amounts of research now show that this is quite simply
untrue, rather “beyond a certain point, ever increasing material
gain can become not a gift but a burden. As people, it makes us Dear GreenHome
less happy, and the environment […] is increasingly degraded I was thinking of getting a water tank because saving water is
by it” – and this from the UK Conservative Party! In the global important to me, but then I heard that there have been health
Happy Planet Index (and other similar indexes) many of the scares associated with them and that if people continue to get
world’s developing countries outrank Australia on happiness and water tanks we will see the return of malaria and dengue fever.
wellbeing, despite their lower rates of GDP per capita. Should I be worried?
So the counter-argument - that all growth is bad - is Penny, East Brighton VIC
tempting, but not very useful. It’s probable, for example, that a
Tanks are a great way of storing water for our houses and gardens,
transformation of our economy towards zero emissions would
but will your water become home to other less welcome guests
result in high GDP!
like disease-carrying mosquitoes? The answer is no, according to
Instead, economic growth needs to be put back in its box.
Queensland Health Senior Medical Entomologist Joe Davis – so
Rather than GDP, our nightly news should be reporting our
long as you take sensible precautions.
progress (or failure) towards achieving true societal goals: those
“If you can make your water tank mosquito-proof, you
of human and ecological wellbeing. Let’s ditch the finance reports
won’t have any problems with them breeding in your tank and
and elevate the wellbeing reports to the 6pm news!
spreading disease,” he explains. “It’s not that difficult to do, you
As to how that would change our way of life, well, we should
just have seal up the inlet, the outlet and the roof. You can buy
all be much happier, like the Costa Ricans, who ranked first on the
mosquito-proof mesh (with holes no larger than 1mm) at most
Happy Planet Index!
local hardware stores. If you already have mesh installed it’s
ACF is soon to release its economic policy primer, Better Than
important to check it, because if it’s damaged the holes can allow
Growth, so stay tuned. For further reading, see Prosperity Without
mosquitoes to access the water inside.”
Growth Report by the UK Sustainable Development Commission.
You’ll need to make sure it’s a snug fit, as even a small amount
The Economist of warping can create a gap big enough for a mosquito to creep
Simon O’Connor is ACF’s Economic Adviser. through. “Covers often warp over time, or through physical stress,
such as kids climbing up and jumping on the tank,” says Joe. “If
this happens, the cover will need to be replaced, or if the damage
Got a question for our experts? isn’t too great a silicone sealant will often be enough to make it
Write to us at habitat@acfonline.org.au mosquito-proof.”
and your question could appear in an So there you go: a properly sealed and meshed tank should
upcoming issue of Habitat. alleviate any worries of mosquito-borne disease. As for how to
stop kids climbing up on the tank and damaging it in the first
place, well, that is a question for which science has yet to find a
satisfactory answer…
For more information, or if you have any questions about dengue
fever or other tropical diseases, please call Cairns Public Health Unit on
(07) 4050 3600.

30 HABITAT AUSTRALIA APRIL 2010 Australian Conservation Foundation

A lifetime of social activism and a career in business
places newly-appointed ACF Chief Operations
Officer, Danny Vadasz, in an ideal position to
take ACF into the future. With a focus on global
sustainability, Danny never forgets that change
begins in his own backyard.

What appealed to you about working
for ACF?
Once I had decided that I wanted to
redirect my career to the environment
sector, I made a short list of organisations
I thought were relevant and effective in
advocating sustainability and, in particular,
climate change, and ACF was on top of
that list. And as circumstances had it, an
opportunity came up at ACF.
How did you become an
environmental activist?
My politicisation was informed by two
things. My family are holocaust survivors,
so I grew up with an acute awareness of
human rights issues, but also, as a gay
man, I experienced discrimination first
hand. In my early years I worked in social
reform, civil rights and health promotion,
and you can’t be interested in questions
of equity without also being concerned
about the environment. Poverty, racism,
injustice - the exploitation of human capital
is inexorably connected to the exploitation
and degradation of our natural resources.
I’ve always been drawn to work within
the core issues of our time. For me, in the
seventies it was social justice, now it is
climate change.
Describe a typical day for you
The only typical thing about my day is
the recurring challenge to balance time
spent on process with time set aside for
important long-term strategic and creative
planning. That’s a daily battle.
When I first began at ACF, I was
just in awe of the depth of knowledge
and commitment of the people here.
Working with our campaigners is great.
I have always considered myself to be a
campaigner. Looking at ways of integrating
our marketing activities with our campaign
activities is exciting.
I really enjoy mixing with ACF
supporters. I have met extraordinary
people and seen amazingly generous
philanthropy – it’s both humbling
and inspiring.
When you’re not busy saving the
planet, how do you like to spend
your time?
I haven’t had to worry much about how
to spend my spare time since joining ACF!
But my previous career in health taught me
the importance of nutrition and exercise in
managing stress and workloads.
Actually, what I really enjoy is applying
what I am learning here to my own life.
Behaviour change begins at home so I try
to apply the principles of sustainability
to my garden and to improving energy
efficiency in my home.
I think that one of the great challenges
for ACF is how to make sustainability
relevant to ordinary people, to show
them that there are small but significant
changes they can make in their lives that
nevertheless add up to something that can
move the world. Going through that same
process myself gives me a sense of what
people are grappling with.
How do you see environmental
activism evolving?
Environmental advocacy has traditionally
relied on policy interventions. Climate
change in particular challenges this
way of campaigning because of its time
horizon. The natural cycle for a politician
is three to four years, yet we have to
deal with a ‘diabolical’ problem that will
gradually unfold over a 10, 30 or even 50
year time scale. As the current landscape
demonstrates, its almost impossible to get
our politicians to think on that sort of time
scale when they are completely focused on
the next poll.
The challenge now is to not only
fight for good policy , but also to engage
with people who can influence change
beyond policy. That means we have to
affect and work with the community,
other institutions and the private sector,
including those who are largely responsible
for the mess we’re in. It really is time for
an intra-sectoral grand alliance.

Our timber is unique, rare and 100% recycled

Yarra Timber Salvage is committed to supplying timber that’s FSC certified
and 100% recycled – guaranteed. What are you getting with your timber?
Let’s work together to recycle and reduce the impact on the environment.
We supply the needs and visions of our clients.

Contact Josh
Mobile 0422 879 797
418 Burnley Street Yarra Timber Salvage
Richmond Vic 3121

Australian Conservation Foundation HABITAT AUSTRALIA APRIL 2010 31

 Get close to nature at
Lane Cove River Tourist Park.
Winner of the QANTAS Award for
Excellence in Sustainable Tourism 2008

Remember when a cup of tea was made in a billy? Sleeping

in a tent was fun? And all you needed to amuse yourself
was open air and a river nearby? Well here’s the thing, it
still is fun and now you can camp only ten kilometers from
Australia’s largest city, just fifteen minutes from Sydney.
Bushwalks, barbeques and abundant wildlife. Powered
and unpowered campsites. And yes, well appointed cabins
if mum and dad are a little past the camping thing.
Whether you’re camping out, walking our many trails or
just sitting quietly by the Lane Cove River, you can enjoy an
authentic, carbon-neutral bush experience. And the money
you spend with us, all goes back into the park.
So bring your whole family and explore Lane Cove River
Tourist Park, Sydney’s only eco tourist park. It’s what
camping used to be like and it’s in your own backyard.

Park it in Sydney!
> Family cabins
> Ensuite cabins
> Caravan sites
> Tent sites
> Take a look at
www.lcrtp.com.au

Lane Cove River Tourist Park

Sydney’s eco-friendly tourist park.
Plassey Rd, Macquarie Park 2113
Telephone: 1300 729 133 or 02 9888 9133
Email: lccp@environment.nsw.gov.au
32 HABITAT AUSTRALIA APRIL 2010 Australian Conservation Foundation