In Australia, the 1970s are remembered as a decade of protest and industrial struggle. Powerful social movements were a cornerstone of political life; unions, women, First Nations people, and the LGBT community fought together to defend human rights and the environment.

The New South Wales Builders Labourers Federation (BLF) was at the forefront of many of these struggles. Famously, they pioneered the strategy of placing “green bans” on jobs likely to cause severe damage to the heritage or the environment, or ones that would destroy low-cost housing.

The green ban movement flourished in the early 1970s. It brought a predominantly male, blue-collar workforce into joint action with diverse community organizations, often led by women, and sometimes based in middle-class suburbs. Together, they chalked up numerous victories against ruthless vested interests. Many of these battles, however, had to be fought at great personal cost.