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...
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...
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...
- 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...
In a world first, 23-year-old Mark McVeigh has filed a legal action alleging the trustee of his retirement fund, the Retail Employees Superannuation Trust (REST), breached the fiduciary duties owed to him by failing to adequately consider climate change risks. McVeigh...
On February 15, 2017, Environmental Justice Australia (EJA) published The Adani Brief, which documented allegations of conduct by the Adani Group and its associated entities, including alleged illegal dealings and corruption, current and past court cases filed against...
The Northern Territory government has done a deal with gas pipeline company, Jemena, that could cost consumers $2.7 billion and enable fracking in the Northern Territory. The cosy arrangement will rip off consumers and open up an enormous carbon bomb,...
Mark McVeigh, 23, is taking his superannuation fund REST to the Federal Court of Australia, seeking information about what the trustees know about the impact climate change will have on its investments and what they are doing in response to that knowledge. The...
In Australia, corporations and their directors are facing increased scrutiny over investments with links to climate change as regulators clamp down on financial risks. Yet government agencies putting taxpayer dollars on the line are immune. It is a blatant double...
Update The office of the Commonwealth Ombudsman has confirmed that it is investigating our complaint. We will update this page when further information comes to hand. Please follow EJA on Twitter and Facebook for news. 6 July 2018 Environmental Justice Australia, on...
Bill Shorten’s statement last week that Adani’s proposed Galilee Basin mega coal mine would ‘absolutely not’ receive Labor’s support if it didn’t stack up commercially or environmentally gave the clearest indication yet that the ALP may be shifting its position on the...
Subsidising climate change In the midst of a senate inquiry into its governance and operation and facing a barrage of criticism for being a slush fund to finance Adani’s Carmichael mine, the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility, NAIF, announced its first loan in...
An estimated 16,000 Australians joined together at 45 events around the nation on Saturday 7 October 2017 to spell out ‘Stop Adani’ with their bodies in a vivid display of community opposition to what would be one of the biggest coal mines in the world. Around 2,000...
A new legal opinion on climate change and trustee directors’ duties has wide-reaching ramifications for Australia’s superannuation industry. A new legal opinion on climate change and trustee directors’ duties has wide-reaching ramifications for Australia’s $2.3...
Scientific experts say two years of back-to-back coral bleaching means the Reef 2050 plan cannot be achieved, once again raising the prospect the Great Barrier Reef will be designated ‘World Heritage in danger’ – the very thing Reef 2050 was supposed to head off. The...
Westpac is considering climate risk by not funding new thermal coal mines in Queensland. The Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility should take heed. Despite Senator Matt Canavan describing them as “wimps”, Westpac’s directors are simply acting consistently with...
Adani says it does not need a $1 billion government loan from the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility for its Carmichael rail project according to media reports. This rules out NAIF’s ability to provide any financial assistance. To receive support, Adani must...
Who are the ACCR? The Australasian Centre for Corporate Responsibility promotes just and sustainable corporate activity by encouraging ethical investment and facilitating informed shareholder engagement and advocacy. Who are Environmental Justice Australia?...