The saga surrounding the Gondwana Rainforest Trust has deepened, with new information revealing even more troubling details about their fundraising practices in the Daintree Rainforest.
Following Mr. Entsch’s initial media release (27/02/25), which brought to light questionable claims made by Gondwana regarding Lot 92 Cape Tribulation Road, the organisation has rapidly scaled back its advertising campaigns and made significant changes to its messaging.
“Since my original statement, Gondwana has quietly reduced their Facebook advertisements from 24 to 13 (at time of writing) and removed all references to Lot 92 as well as Sir David Attenborough, who they had been associating with their campaigning for fundraising—seemingly without permission”, Mr. Entsch said.
“More alarmingly, it appears that Lot 92 was already purchased back in November 2024 by Gondwana, yet they continued soliciting donations for the purchase of the site months after the sale had occurred, it was only until I brought their questionable tactics to light that they miraculously announced that the purchase had taken place.”
Mr. Entsch has suggested that Gondwana has very serious questions to answer:
• Why was Gondwana still raising money for Lot 92 if they already owned it?
• Why were Gondwana claiming that the property was at risk of development when written advice from Douglas Shire Council confirms that Lot 92 is not at risk.
In further written confirmation seen by Mr Entsch, the Douglas Shire Council has reiterated that Lot 92 is within the General Conservation Precinct and that no maintained clearing exists on the site. This makes development effectively impossible under current planning laws.
“Despite these undeniable facts, Gondwana’s campaign continued to push a misleading narrative that this rainforest block was at imminent risk of development. The truth is, the land is not and was not at risk,” Mr. Entsch said.
Additionally, new claims have surfaced that Gondwana Rainforest Trust may have used imagery obtained allegedly through trespassing on private properties to promote their fundraising activities. Sources have alleged that photographs used by Gondwana to illustrate supposed clearing and development threats in the Daintree were taken without permission on other private properties not related to Lot 92.
“These revelations paint a picture of an organisation that is prepared to engage in unethical practices, deception and now allegedly criminal trespass.”
In a concerning twist, it has also come to light that Gondwana Rainforest Trust has been running a similar fundraising campaign for Lot 463 – (99 Black Bean Road, Cow Bay), despite having already purchased this property earlier in 2024.
“Again, this raises serious questions about the legitimacy of their fundraising practices. They seem to be perpetually in a state of fundraising for properties they already own while falsely portraying them as being under threat of development.”
Mr. Entsch has reported Gondwana Rainforest Trust to the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) and is calling on relevant authorities to launch a formal investigation into the organisation’s practices.
“Earlier this week I met with many people from the local Daintree community, and they are outraged by the actions of Gondwana Rainforest Trust. Without exception, every person I spoke to in the Daintree was furious that their good name and the work they do as local conservationists is being denigrated by this dodgy organisation.”
