Not so long ago the sale of Telstra was all about the environment. Remember Senator Meg Lees from the Australian Democrats lamenting the level of service in the bush, but also suggesting there was opportunity for negotiation if the proceedings of the sale could go to saving the environment?
In 2002 she suggested the money from the sale of T3 could be spent on salinity.
The initial sale of Telstra enabled the establishment of the "Natural Heritage Trust". Back in 1996 John Anderson suggested this would be a "one billion dollar investment in natural capital".
I have never believed that throwing government money at problems fixes them, but for the sake of everyone in the bush who has never experienced the joys of broadband internet, I hope that I am wrong this time around.
Federal politics has changed with the arrival of Barnaby Joyce and the demise of the Democrats.
Politics of the environment is also changing.
The new Australian Environment Foundation (AEF) was registered in February, launched in June on World Environment Day, and recently recruited Aussie icon, gardening guru, part-time farmer and pioneer environmentalist, Don Burke to the role of chairman.
Like other AEF members, Don Burke sees the environment as dynamic -- ever changing.
He says we must learn to ride change. The new group is set to challenge the status quo.
The AEF has already ruffling feathers, with the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) threatened to take the AEF to court over trade mark infringement. While the names are similar, the logos and philosophies of the two groups are poles apart.
Imagine an environment group that cared about people -- people and their aspirations are one of six core AEF principles.
The AEF also respects technology, recognising that appropriate and innovative technological solutions can fix environmental problems.
The AEF accepts that environmental protection and sustainable resource use are generally compatible -- so we don't necessarily need to chase timber workers, horse riders and bee keepers out of healthy forests.
The first campaign for the AEF focuses on the Australian education system and the need for science to underpin environmental education nationally.
How the politics of Telstra and the environment can change, oh so quickly.
Readers interested in AEF activities can contact info@aefweb.info or visit www.aefweb.info.
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