Convoy

There’s nothing more inspiring than seeing the power of the people in action. In April 2019, former Greens leader Bob Brown and a troupe of protesters made the 3500km journey up the east coast of Australia to rally against the development of the Adani Carmichael coal mine. Their aim: to lend their voices to the protection of the environment; raise awareness of the realities of climate change; and, crucially, to #StopAdani. Convoy is a 35-minute documentation of these events, created by Hobart-based director/cinematographer Matthew Newton.

Starting in Hobart, Bob Brown and a convoy of over 1,000 activists make their way north along the coast, stopping in major towns and cities along the way to spread their message through peaceful protest. With over 25,000 supporters taking part in the rallies, this documentary captures the sense of hope and community that comes about when people band together for change. Particularly inspiring – and noted by Brown himself through interview – is the drive and determination of the youth in Australia, and the profound grasp they have on the issue of climate change. 

Convoy uses the events documented in the film to shine a stark light on the social and political divide on climate change policy in Australia. This is most evident during the convoy’s stop in Clermont, Queensland, a major mining town situated close to the Galilee Basin. Upon their arrival, pro-coal activists, the Go Galilee Basin Group, intercept the convoy to declare them unwelcome in the town, and hostility swells over the course of their stay. In Brown’s words, the convoy was ‘faced with an unruly mob, fuelled up by extreme right-wing, activist politicians and publicans letting the grog flow.’ Though clearly left leaning in motivation, the film makes an effort to remain factual, using the footage to show and not tell what happened in Clermont. 

Bob Brown is no stranger to running environmental campaigns, and his reputation as a true leader of the people is affirmed during the #StopAdani convoy. His peaceful, unaggressive approach to politics and activism is pitched up against footage of right-wing political figures such as Matthew Canavan (LNP) and Pauline Hanson (One Nation) passively encouraging hate speech and hostility. True to form, Hanson says of the convoy to ‘bugger off, you’re not welcome in this state, go back where you came from and leave us alone’. Motivations aside, this comparison highlights the differences in political leadership styles and the effect it has on the way the public interacts with their opposition.

Climate change is a contentious, significant and wildly pressing issue in Australia and the rest of the world. Through this global dissonance, individuals and communities are taking action against all odds. Convoy captures an instance of this determination, giving viewers the hope to rise up and create change.

Transitions Film Festival 
Till Friday, 6 March 2020
transitionsfilmfestival.com/event/convoy