Environment Victoria and lawyers from Environmental Justice Australia say EPA Victoria needs to outright reject AGL Energy's plans for a massive expansion of toxic coal ash dumps and enforce laws to protect the local community. AGL Energy has sought approval to...
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,...
Updates to Victoria’s climate change response
The Victorian Government has made several big decisions this month, with significant consequences for how we respond to climate change. The legislative changes around fracking and conventional gas provided ‘one step forward, one step back’ while the Premier...
Fighting Fires From Burned Ground
We at Environmental Justice Australia acknowledge all those in the Australian community who have and continue to suffer pain and distress caused by this summer’s catastrophic bushfires. We express our sympathy and support for those who have lost loved ones,...
Growing the next wave of climate justice lawyers
- Ariane Wilkinson, Senior Lawyer, EJA. At Environmental Justice Australia we believe that the law and the legal profession have a central role to play in responding to the climate crisis. We support and encourage the development of more opportunities for lawyers to...
Justice delivered for the Latrobe Valley
Bronya Lipski, Lawyer, EJA I will never forget when my dad called to tell me the Hazelwood mine was on fire. I knew there was a bushfire in the area, which for a very fire-prone area of Victoria is a devastatingly regular occurrence. It also isn't particularly...