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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
Standing with unions on a just transition
I'm a proud ASU member from ASU Victorian Private Sector Branch. I know there are hundreds of ASU members like me working in the environmental justice movement across Australia. As a union member, I know that my union will not take a backward step in fighting for...
The Adani Brief Update
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...
Coal-fired power station health study prompts calls for pollution monitoring and modern emissions controls
Health concerns about coal-fired power stations have prompted calls for air pollution monitoring in the New South Wales central west city of Lithgow, with doctors saying the scale of potential risks is unknown. A recent analysis of large international...
Clean air for all Victorians?
Let’s start this discussion with the thought that the air we breathe belongs to everyone. We can’t divide the air space into boundaries that pollution can be contained in. Most of us are exposed to whatever is emitted into the atmosphere – whether we’re close to the...
Australians spell it out: Stop Adani
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...