Federal Member for Leichhardt, Warren Entsch, has slammed the Gondwana Rainforest Trust for what he calls blatant deception, accusing the organisation of misleading donors by falsely claiming that land in the Daintree Rainforest is at risk of development.
At the centre of the controversy is Lot 92 Cape Tribulation Road, a property the group is actively fundraising for under the pretence that it must be “saved” from destruction. However, official advice from Douglas Shire Council has confirmed that the site is not at risk of development under any circumstances.
“The claims being made by Gondwana Rainforest Trust are completely false,” Mr Entsch said. “They are telling donors that this land is under imminent threat of clearing and development, when in reality, it is zoned for conservation and cannot be built on, cleared, or developed in any way.”
Council Confirms: No Development Possible
In written advice provided to Mr Entsch’s office, Douglas Shire Council has stated that Lot 92 is within a protected conservation zone and has no development rights. The land falls within Precinct 1 – General Conservation, meaning that unless there is previous lawful clearing on the site—which there is not, based on historic aerial imagery—it cannot be lawfully developed or altered.
“This isn’t speculation. The local government planning authority has confirmed in writing that this land cannot and will not be developed. Yet Gondwana is still running a public misinformation campaign—claiming that Lot 92 is zoned for development—to con well-meaning donors into thinking they’re ‘saving’ something that was never in danger in the first place,” Mr Entsch said.
False Advertising and Potential Fraud
The Gondwana Rainforest Trust is currently running 24 separate advertisements on social media platforms, soliciting donations with misleading claims that the Daintree Rainforest is under threat. These advertisements use sensationalised imagery and even feature Sir David Attenborough, despite no evidence that he has endorsed their campaign.
Mr Entsch says this raises serious legal and ethical concerns.
“This is nothing short of fraudulent. Under Section 408C of the Queensland Criminal Code, it is illegal to dishonestly obtain a benefit or advantage through deception,” he said.
False advertising in charity fundraising is also unlawful, and Mr Entsch is now calling for the appropriate authorities to investigate.
Communities Under Siege by Fake Environmentalists
Mr Entsch, a long-time advocate for balanced environmental conservation that respects both the land and the people who live there, says groups like Gondwana Rainforest Trust do not engage with local communities but instead operate as ideological activists.
“For decades, we have seen outsider groups parachute into the Daintree and dictate to the locals as if they don’t belong there,” he said. “This is yet another example of a group profiting off deception while undermining the very people who actually live in and care for this environment.”
Entsch to Meet with Daintree Locals Next Week
These developments come as Mr Entsch prepares to visit the Daintree early next week to meet with local residents and discuss ongoing conservation efforts.
“I will be up there meeting with the community, hearing their concerns, and standing with them against these deceptive fundraising tactics. The people who live in the Daintree deserve to be respected—not vilified by self-serving activist groups,” he said.
“It is deeply disturbing that organisations like this keep springing up in the area. I suspect that their aim is to land bank solely for their own financial benefit. They weaponise these emotional claims of rainforest destruction—which couldn’t be further from the truth and actually only serves to hurt the reputation of the Daintree community,”
“I honestly would not be surprised if one day these organisations suddenly became the future developers of some of these sites that they’ve already acquired,” he said.
Mr Entsch is urging the ACNC (Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission) and consumer protection authorities to investigate whether the Gondwana Rainforest Trust is in breach of their obligations as a charity.
“According to ACNC financial records the Gondwana Rainforest Trust is spending hundreds of thousands of dollars annually between fundraising activities, communications and advocacy. These efforts are not just within Australia, they are soliciting donations from overseas as well,”
“If you’ve donated to this campaign believing this land was under threat, you’ve been misled. I suggest you ask for your money back.”
