The Living Wonders climate cases are due to be considered by the Federal Court in Melbourne next month. The cases have generated a lot of public interest, so the purpose of these updates is to provide factual information about the proceedings and where they are up...
New legislation set to allow Australian companies to dump carbon emissions overseas
On 22 June, Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek introduced new laws that would allow companies to transport carbon emissions beyond Australian borders for the purpose of undersea ‘carbon capture and storage’ (‘CCS’).The proposed ‘Environment Protection (Sea...
Federal Court date set for Landmark climate litigation
18th September - put it in your diary. It’s the date our client’s landmark climate cases are scheduled to begin in the Federal Court, challenging Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek’s decisions not to register the climate risks our client argued accompany of two mega...
Landmark climate litigation filed in the Federal Court
We’ve filed the documents and served the notice. We’re taking Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek to Court in landmark climate litigation to protect Australia’s living wonders from new coal and gas, for our client the Environment Council of Central Queensland. These...
Two new coal mines shelved, but 14 awaiting decisions
Great news! Two huge coal mine proposals in Central Queensland have been shelved. Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek has just confirmed the proposed China Stone Coal Mine in the Galilee Basin, and The Range Coal proposal in the Surat Basin cannot be approved –...
Living Wonders legal intervention update
Have you heard the news? Minister Plibersek has just announced she has accepted our client's game changing climate legal intervention as valid, and will reconsider 18 coal and gas proposals currently awaiting federal approval. This is huge! Back in July, on behalf of...
Legal intervention for our living wonders: Reconsider 19 new coal and gas proposals
On behalf of our client, the courageous Environment Council of Central Queensland, we’ve just commenced a landmark legal intervention. Our client has just asked Australia’s new Environment Minister to reconsider nearly all new coal and gas proposals currently awaiting...
What a win! The federal government’s push to allow ARENA to fund fossil fuel tech defeated in the Senate
Good news! The federal government’s attempt to redirect public money from Australia’s renewable energy funder, Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), to bankroll fossil fuel technologies, has been defeated. These controversial regulations were issued by federal...
Memorandum of Advice – Amendments to ARENA regulations
A leading barrister and former head of the Law Council of Australia says the Federal government's push to invest public money into fossil fuels could be illegal, is open to serious legal challenges and is "at odds" with the purpose of the Australian Renewable Energy...
Standing up for a safe future in light of the IPCC report
In August, climate change and the urgent and undeniable imperative to rapidly decarbonise the world dominated the news, after the sixth United Nations IPCC Report was published. There is no question that the IPCC analysis shows that the choices of the Australian...
Two North Queensland teenagers escalate their call to revoke approval of Adani
It’s clear if we are to protect our magnificent Great Barrier Reef, Adani’s giant coal mine cannot go ahead. The evidence keeps mounting – just this month, the United Nations recommended the Great Barrier Reef be listed as World Heritage in danger because of...
Senate blocks Morrison government’s plan to allow ARENA to invest in fossil fuels
On Tuesday 22 June 2021, Labor, the Greens and cross-bench senators blocked the Morrison government’s plans to invest taxpayer funds into fossil fuels and adjacent technologies. The Senate vetoed regulations which sought to expand the Australian Renewable Energy...
Crib Point gas terminal rejected over environmental concerns
This week, the Minister for Planning rejected AGL’s proposed Crib Point gas import terminal, saying it would result in “unacceptable environmental effects” to the internationally significant Westernport Bay. This is a huge win for the community who have been...
Revoking approval of Adani’s coal mine – client letter and expert reports
Two North Queensland teenagers are presenting the federal government with new expert evidence and strong legal grounds to revoke approval of Adani’s controversial Carmichael coal mine. Legal request to Minister Ley from EJA lawyers representing the teenagers. An...
Adani’s overseas breaches
In September 2020, our lawyers wrote to the Queensland Environment Minister requesting a law change and an investigation into Adani Group’s ‘suitable operator’ status in light of fresh allegations revealed by the ABC about the company’s concerning international...
Climate change and human rights
EJA recently made two joint submissions related to Australia’s Third Universal Periodic Review under the United Nations Human Rights Council, calling on Australia to improve its approaches to environmental and climate justice, the protection of cultural heritage and...
AGL gas import terminal proposed at Crib Point, Westernport Bay
EJA is acting for several environment and resident groups opposing the AGL/APA gas import terminal and pipeline project proposed to be built at Crib Point, Westernport Bay, Victoria. Westernport Bay is recognised as a wetland of international importance under the...
With the Great Barrier Reef on the brink, Australia’s climate policy is adrift at sea
- Noni Austin, Staff Attorney, Earth Justice The World Heritage Committee should encourage Australia to take meaningful action to protect this ocean treasure. Oceans are essential to human life. Not only do billions of people depend on them for food and livelihoods,...