Australian Environment Foundation

The Australian Environment Foundation (AEF) is a not-for-profit advocacy organisation. It has disputed the values of some mainstream environmental assertions, and also on occasion the evidence used to support those assertions. The AEF is climate-change-denying, pro-logging, pro-big business, anti-wind energy, and against the Murray-Darling Basin plan.[1][2][3]

History

The formation of the AEF was first mooted at the Eureka Forum organised in December 2004 by the Institute of Public Affairs (IPA) and a number of resource user groups.[4] It was formally launched on World Environment Day (5 June 2005) in the northern New South Wales town of Tenterfield.

The founding chairman was former Labor federal environment minister, Barry Cohen. A subsequent chairman was gardener, author and television presenter Don Burke.[5] Reporting on the AEF's launch, the Melbourne broadsheet newspaper, The Age wrote: "Dr Marohasy said she acted as the group's leader as an individual and not part of the IPA."[6] At the time of registration, the registered office was the same is the registered office of the IPA.[7]

The group stated in its press release that "This new group will be vastly different to the established environment organisations that have had the ear of governments for some time. The AEF’s focus will be on making decisions based on science and what is good for both the environment and for people".[8][9]

The organisation has been labelled a "fake environmental group" by community advocacy organisation GetUp!.[10] In May 2014 the AEF came under criticism for lobbying for the de-listing of Tasmania's World Heritage old-growth forest.[11]

Personnel

Former directors

References

  1. ^ "Media Watch: What's in a name? (19/03/2012)". www.abc.net.au.
  2. ^ "Category". The Courier Mail. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
  3. ^ "Beware environmental wolves in sheep's clothing!". Theecologist.org. 9 June 2014. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
  4. ^ Inaugural Eureka Forum - Reclaiming the Environment Invitation to forum
  5. ^ Mahosey, Jennifer (23 September 2008). "Don Burke Retires as Chair of the Australian Environment Foundation". jennifermarohasy.com. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
  6. ^ The Age, 6 June 2008, Cool reception for new green group
  7. ^ ASIC Direct Current Extract for Australian Environment Foundation Ltd. Sourced from ASIC database on 7 June 2006
  8. ^ World Environment Day Launches New Environment Group in Tenterfield Archived 15 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine media release. Australian Environment Foundation. 2 June 2005. Retrieved 22 November 2015
  9. ^ ABC Radio National Counterpoint, 6 June 2008 broadcast
  10. ^ "GetUp: The fake environment group ..."
  11. ^ Oliver Milman (15 May 2014). "IPA-founded group lobbying for forest world heritage delisting | World news". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 April 2018.