Australian Conservation Foundation website

Spokesperson:

Denise Boyd, Campaigns Director

Contact Details:

Floor 1, 60 Leicester Street, Carlton Vic 3053

03 9345 1176

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Key role of Member Group:

The Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) is committed to inspiring people to achieve a healthy environment for all Australians. For over 40 years we have been a strong voice for the environment, promoting solutions through research, consultation, education and partnerships. We work with the community, business and government to protect, restore and sustain our environment. ACF is a national, community-based environmental organisation.

Key Achievements for ACF in South Australia for the period 2008/9:

Water for the Murray

Our Murray campaign received a boost in May 2009 when the Victorian Government repealed its 10 per cent cap on water ownership by 'non-landowners', which was hampering efforts to buy water from irrigators for environmental use. Better still, a month later, the 4 per cent cap on interstate water trading, which we have been lobbying against, was partially lifted. This decision allows the Commonwealth to buy 460 billion litres of water for the Murray, helping to sustain the floodplain's struggling red river gums and once-plentiful fish and waterbirds.  More water for the lower Murray recently became available with the purchase of Toorale Station, one of many buy-backs ACF has been pushing for.

Uranium Not for Sale

A treaty that would have seen Australian uranium sold to Russia was stopped in its tracks in September 2008, thanks in part to the efforts of ACF supporters. Meanwhile, ACF effectively lobbied an inquiry by the Federal Joint Standing Committee on Treaties. The committee recommended that the agreement not proceed until Russia meets a number of tough preconditions. A Federal Government response is not expected until after the review of the international Non-Proliferation Treaty in New York in May 2010.

Investor Roundtable on Sustainable Infrastructure

Over the past year, ACF has been working closely with unions, business and the finance sector to prepare for Australia's transition to a low-carbon economy, which will provide clean, green jobs in sustainable industries. This was the focus of the Investor Roundtable on Sustainable Infrastructure in October 2008, co-convened by ACF -a report on the roundtable recommended strong market regulation, the setting of sustainability targets such as for renewable energy, and ongoing government investment in public infrastructure.