Former leader of the Australian Greens Christine Milne launched her autobiography An Activist Life in Launceston on Friday night.
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The book is an in-depth look at some of Ms Milne’s most notable political achievements and campaigns, from protesting against the Franklin Dam in 1983 to playing a major role in legislating an emissions trading scheme in 2012.
Each chapter of the book identifies a different item that has personal meaning to Ms Milne to represent different periods in her life.
Some of the items include her mother’s butter pats, a photo of her being arrested at the Franklin River and her briefcase from the 1980s.
In the book, she notes her proudest achievements include playing a major role in legislating for gun control and the decriminalisation of homosexuality in Tasmania.
Her campaigns to stop the Wesley Vale and Tamar Valley pulp mills from eventuating are also highlighted in An Activist Life.
Ms Milne said she hopes the book inspires Tasmanians to recognise the role of environmental campaigners in the state’s recent history.
“This [book] is a call for Tasmanians to record their own history,” she said.
“It is to recognise that the history of environmental campaigning is about defining who we are as Tasmanians and why we can’t afford to lose it.
“I wanted people to think about the boxes of stuff they’ve got under the house in the garage and to think about digitising their images and writing their names on the photographs.”
The North-West native said the front cover of the book, Ms Milne standing in front of a crooked tree, was emblematic of her career.
“Even though the tree has been bent over by the prevailing winds of a very long time, it continues to stand,” she said.
“The idea is to stand in the face of prevailing winds and push for something different.”
Ms Milne started her political career in 1989 when she was elected to the Tasmanian State Assembly as a member for Lyons.
She ascended to federal parliament in 2004, after being elected to the Senate as a representative for Tasmania.
She retired from parliament in 2015, after assuming the leadership of the Australian Greens in 2012.