English

Noun

green ban ‎(plural green bans)

1. (Australia, Britain) A ban instigated by a trade union on construction or demolition work on a site deemed to be of cultural, historical or environmental significance. [From 1973.]
   • 1973, Conservation Foundation, Conservation Foundation Letter, page 8,

     Though the overall, long-term effects of green bans are far from clear, they have caused a dramatic eruption of environmental concern into Australian thinking.

   • 1978 June, Harvey Wasserman, Unionizing Ecotopia, Mother Jones, page 32,

     A unique and important coalition between environmentalists and labor unions has come about in Australia, in a movement known as “the Green Bans.” […] Essentially the Green Ban is a labor veto of socially and ecologically unsound plans. […] After careful consideration and a public meeting, the union posted a Green Ban, refusing to build on Kelly′s Bush.

   • 1963, Richard Lucy, The Pieces of Politics, page 112,

     In consequence they imposed green bans, a move which effectively prevented the execution of policy and forced a stay on proceedings.

   • 1999, Steve Pile, Gerry Mooney, Chris Brook, Unruly Cities?: Order/Disorder, page 202,

     One of the most interesting strategic alliances around environmental politics in the city was the Green Ban Movement that was active in Sydney from the early to mid 1970s.

References

1. ↑ Australian National Dictionary Centre Home » Australian words » Meanings and origins of Australian words and idioms » G