In the early 1970s Lake Pedder, an alpine lake isolated in the heart of the wilderness of south-west Tasmania, was flooded to make way for a massive hydro-electric scheme. The campaign to save the lake became the first national environmental battle in Australia’s history. In the fight to save Lake Pedder the world’s first green party was born. By the time the Franklin River was under threat the environmental lobby in Tasmania was highly skilled and organised as a result of the Lake Pedder experience and subsequently was able to campaign successfully for the Franklin River to be saved.