Jack Mundey, 1976

Jack Mundey was a member of the Builders Labourers’ Federation (a trade union) which helped to protect a park known as Kelly’s Bush from development. Members of the union refused to work at the Kelly’s Bush site, and also refused to work at some other building sites around Sydney unless work at Kelly’s Bush was stopped. This was the first ‘green ban’ in Australian history.

Mundey created the phrase ‘green ban’ in 1973. It could refer to workers defending public spaces, protecting existing houses from demolition, or preserving old and historic buildings that might not yet be protected by heritage listing.