1981 Tasmanian power referendum
| Industry | Hydroelectricity, Energy |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1914 |
| Headquarters | Tasmania , Australia |
| Products | Hydroelectric power |
The Tasmanian power referendum was a single-question referendum conducted on 12 December 1981 to determine the site of a planned hydroelectricity dam along the Gordon River in Tasmania, Australia.
As of 2024, it stands as the latest state referendum held in Tasmania.
Background
In 1978, the Hydro-Electric Commission (HEC) put forward a proposal to construct a hydroelectric dam on the Gordon River downstream from its confluence with the Franklin River, which would have resulted in flooding the ecologically sensitive Franklin River valley. Due to growing public opposition, Premier Doug Lowe declared a moratorium on the project and commissioned an environmental impact assessment.
With public opinion split between environmental protection and Tasmania’s economic and employment interests, Lowe suggested moving the dam upstream to the Gordon River above the Olga River (known as Gordon-above-Olga) as a middle ground. Although this alternative was approved by the Tasmanian House of Assembly, it was blocked by the more conservative Tasmanian Legislative Council, which favored the original Gordon-below-Franklin location.
Amidst this legislative stalemate, Lowe called for a referendum. Initially, he intended to include a 'No Dams' choice; however, pressure from Labor Party leadership led to its removal, resulting in political controversy.
About one month before voting day, Lowe lost a no-confidence vote and was replaced as Premier by Harry Holgate.
The 'No Dams' campaign
The Tasmanian Wilderness Society spearheaded a vigorous opposition campaign against the dam’s construction. Premier Lowe sought endorsement from its director, Bob Brown, for his Gordon-above-Olga proposal and offered to create a Wild Rivers National Park. Brown declined to support the compromise unless the "No Dams" option was reinstated on the ballot paper. Since this option was excluded officially, activists encouraged voters to write "No Dams" on their ballots as a protest gesture.
Initial count
| Location | Votes | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Gordon River above its junction with Olga River | 20,184 | 7.94% |
| Gordon River below its junction with Franklin River | 119,875 | 47.17% |
| Informal (including ballots marked with "No Dams") | 114,060 | 44.89% |
| Total | 254,119 | 100.00% |
Seat breakdown
| Seat | Enrolled | Gordon above Olga | Gordon below Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bass | 55,584 | 4,392 (16.58%) | 22,095 (83.42%) |
| Braddon | 53,938 | 4,175 (13.73%) | 26,241 (86.27%) |
| Denison | 54,887 | 3,515 (14.14%) | 21,335 (85.86%) |
| Franklin | 56,568 | 3,820 (13.76%) | 23,934 (86.24%) |
| Wilmot | 55,189 | 4,282 (14.02%) | 26,270 (85.98%) |
| Total | 276,166 | 20,184 | 119,875 |
The preliminary tally highlighted a significant protest vote with tens of thousands inscribing "No Dams" on their ballots. Initially categorized as informal by the Tasmanian Electoral Office despite some indicating clear preferences, legal counsel later advised reclassifying 23,839 of these votes as formal.
Recount
| Location | Votes | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Gordon River upstream from its confluence with Olga River | 24,844 | 9.78% |
| Gordon River downstream from its confluence with Franklin River | 139,054 | 54.72% |
| Informal ballots | 90,221 | 35.50% |
| Total | 254,119 | 100.00% |
| Note: Total "No Dams" votes from all sources | 84,514 | 33.25% |
Distribution of seats following recount
| Electoral Division | Registered Voters | Gordon above Olga | Gordon below Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bass | 55,584 | 5,261 (17.17%) | 25,379 (82.83%) |
| Braddon | 53,938 | 5,057 (14.37%) | 30,131 (85.63%) |
| Denison | 54,887 | 4,364 (14.96%) | 24,800 (85.04%) |
| Franklin | 56,568 | 4,952 (14.91%) | 28,271 (85.09%) |
| Wilmot | 55,189 | 5,210 (14.60%) | 30,473 (85.40%) |
| Total | 276,166 | 24,844 | 139,054 |
Voter turnout: 92.01%
Aftermath
Although the referendum saw a significant protest vote against the dams under the 'No Dams' campaign, the original proposal for the Gordon-below-Franklin dam secured a plurality of support. Premier Holgate committed to moving forward with the dam's construction; however, he was soon defeated by a no-confidence motion when parliament reconvened, prompting a state election in May 1982.
The subsequent election delivered a clear win for Robin Gray and the Liberal Party of Tasmania, with Gray also endorsing the dam's development.
In March 1983, the federal Labor government led by Prime Minister Bob Hawke intervened by enacting legislation to prevent the dam's construction. This federal law was later upheld by the High Court in the landmark case Commonwealth v Tasmania.