Australian Conservation Foundation
| Founded | 1966 Melbourne, Australia |
|---|---|
| Type | Non-governmental organization |
| Focus | Advocacy, policy, research and community organising |
| Location | |
Area served | Australia |
Key people | Adam Bandt, Chief Executive Officer Mara Bún, President |
| Website | acf.org.au |
The Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) is Australia's national environmental organisation, launched in 1965 in response to a proposal by the World Wide Fund for Nature for a more co-ordinated approach to sustainability.
One high-profile campaign was "Save the Whales", which ended commercial whaling in Australia, following widespread protest against the huge slaughter. Another was to protect the vulnerable Great Barrier Reef by classifying it as a marine park, from which mining, drilling and trawling were banned.
Origins
Discussions regarding the need for an Australian conservation organisation originated in the 1960s through the Queen of England husband Philip, a founder of the World Wide Fund for Nature pivotal in establishment of the conservation movement in Australia. The head of the World Wide Fund, Philip Crowe, visited Australia in 1965 to advocate for more meaningful conservation action, recommending federal coordination, tax deductible donations for conservation and a national wildlife survey as three important measures.[1] The Australian Conservation Foundation was established at a meeting of founders in Canberra, with the objective of supporting "conservation policies and schemes that need special encouragement by whatever methods are most appropriate," with funding obtained by public appeal for "material as well as moral support" to its work.[2] Sir Garfield Berwick was elected as the foundation president and governance was by a member-elected council.
The Great Barrier Reef
In 1969, ACF kick-started a Royal Commission which led to a ban on oil drilling on the reef. Six years later, after a national campaign by ACF and other community groups, the Australian government declared the Great Barrier Reef a national marine park. In the 1980s ACF successfully campaigned for the Reef's World Heritage listing. In the early 2000s, ACF influenced the expansion of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Over 3,500 submissions from ACF supporters to the Marine Park Authority saw environmentally protected areas of the reef increase from five per cent to one third of its expanse. ACF has sought to protect the reef through climate litigation, exemplified by their case against Woodside Energy regarding the Scarborough gas project, which aimed to address the potential climate impacts on the reef.[3]
Funding
The Australian Conservation Foundation reported total revenue of $18.1 million and an expenditure of $19.26m Australian in 2023.[4] The additional expenditure was drawn from operating reserves. Approximately 90 per cent of ACF's income is received through individual donations, bequests, memberships and grants.[5]
ACF disclosed $16.38 million raised in 2023 from donations and bequests. The ACF spends $1.3 million on acquisition of donors "through external service providers". They reported a net surplus of $3,263,972. Other sources of ACF income include rental income from the 60L Building and returns from ethical investments. The ACF reported full time equivalent staff (FTE) of 96 persons.
Organisation
The governing body is a board consisting of the President, two Vice-Presidents, four Councillors and up to four co-opted members.
| 1967–71 | Sir Garfield Barwick |
| 1971–76 | Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh |
| 1977 | Sir Mark Oliphant |
| 1978–79 | Dr H.C. Coombs |
| 1979–84 | Murray Wilcox |
| 1985–89 | J.H. Wootten |
| 1990–94 | Peter Garrett |
| 1994–97 | Prof. David Yencken |
| 1998–2004 | Peter Garrett |
| 2004–14 | Ian Lowe |
| 2014–2018 | Geoff Cousins |
| 2017–2023 | Mara Bún |
| 2023 – present | Liana Downey |
| 1968 | Dr Donald F. McMichael |
| 1969–73 | R.D. Piesse |
| 1974–86 | Geoff Mosely |
| 1986–92 | Phillip Toyne |
| 1992–95 | Tricia Caswell |
| 1995–97 | James Downey |
| 1997–2014 | Don Henry |
| 2014–2026 | Kelly O'Shanassy |
| 2026–present | Adam Bandt |
References
- ^ "Federal body needed for conservation". Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995). 27 February 1965. p. 6. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
- ^ "Canberra starts conservation foundation". Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995). 1 December 1966. p. 18. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
- ^ Neville, Ben; Peel, Jacqueline; Markey-Towler, Rebekkah (23 June 2022). "Why this new climate case against the high-polluting Scarborough gas project is so significant". The Conversation. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
- ^ "Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission". ACNC. Archived from the original on 11 March 2019. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
- ^ "Australian Charities and Not for Profits Commission".
Further reading
- Lines, William J. (2006) Patriots : defending Australia's natural heritage St. Lucia, Qld. : University of Queensland Press, 2006. ISBN 0-7022-3554-7
- Broadbent, Beverley (1999) Inside the Greening : 25 years of the Australian Conservation Foundation Insite Press, Elwood, Victoria, 1999. ISBN 0-646-37411-7