History / Year 10 / Historical Knowledge and Understanding

• TLF-IDR7215

This clip shows old-growth forests in south-eastern Australia and some of the animals that inhabit them. A voice-over narration describes the diversity of the forests, explains that science is only just beginning to understand the complexity of their ecosystems. It warns of the devastating environmental effects of destroying ...

• TLF-IDR7323

This clip shows environmental protesters and police at Terania Creek in northern New South Wales during the month-long occupation of the area in 1979. Protesters and police make their way along a forest track and the narration, by Australian actor Jack Thompson, describes the protest as the 'first all-out environmental ...

• TLF-IDM015407

Imagine that, while working for a company responsible for pollution, you were a member of a commission to control pollution. This clip looks at such conflicts of interest between big business and conservation. The reporter explores the issue of whether an anti-pollution commission can be truly independent if people holding ...

• TLF-IDR2873

This is a black-and-white map of Australia showing areas of 'habitability' (where people can live) based on the quality of agricultural or pastoral land. The map shows the correlation between quality of agricultural and pastoral land and density of population, which is indicated by black lines. Coalfields are also noted ...

• TLF-IDM017269

How important is the environment in an election campaign? In this clip, explore the issue that changed Australia's conservation landscape forever: the fight to save the Franklin River. Watch how the Tasmanian Wilderness Society used political and media strategies to influence the outcome of the 1983 federal election in ...

• TLF-IDM016014

A coffin filled with mountain ash seedlings is carried up the steps of Victoria's Parliament House as part of a demonstration against the logging of mountain ash trees in Victoria's Alpine National Park. Find out why protestors carrying the coffin in this 1980 news clip regarded the proposal to log the mountain ash too ...

• TLF-IDM017487

Imagine a trade union whose members fought not only for better pay and working conditions, but to save parts of Australia's natural and built environment. This ABC Nationwide clip explores the career of Jack Mundey during the 1970s when he led the New South Wales branch of the Builders Labourers Federation (BLF) in campaigns ...

• TLF-IDR3031

This is a black-and-white photograph measuring 16 cm x 21 cm, taken by Reg Alder in January 1995, of logging trucks involved in a blockade of Parliament House in Canberra. The trucks are large articulated units and one has a banner attached referring to the timber industry. The protest was a reaction against the Australian ...

• TLF-IDM016024

Watch this confrontation between a conservationist group and a coal-mining executive in 1973. The coal mine in Coalcliff was given the all-clear from the State Planning Authority to dump coal-mining waste on the Illawarra escarpment. This happened before a planned official inquiry into the issue.

• TLF-IDM016009

Public figures have a high public profile and should act responsibly when commenting on important issues. This clip, taken from a 1973 Four Corners program, highlights the Duke of Edinburgh's apparent change in attitude towards environmental issues. While he suggests that Australia should relax its conservation efforts, ...