Chronic illnesses and contaminated land and waterways: these are the serious health and environmental impacts of coal pollution. For years, the Central Coast and Latrobe Valley communities have been speaking out - and the United Nations has taken note. In August 2023,...
Delta Electricity prosecuted over fish kill
Did you know that last year in September, out of the blue, more than 15,000 fish and rays washed up dead on the shores of Lake Macquarie? Residents were seriously concerned that Deta Electricity’s nearby coal fired power station, Vales Point, was to blame – and it...
Commonwealth Parliament Inquiry into Australia’s human rights framework
Do you know Australian law is lagging behind its international counterparts in protecting human rights? And that your right to live in a healthy environment is not protected at all in Australia?Different states and territories have different approaches and regimes,...
What will changes to Victorian mining laws mean for communities?
The Victorian Government has passed a Bill to gut Victoria’s mining laws – and literally take the word ‘sustainable’ out of mining regulation. De-regulating the mining industry is the last thing our government should be doing as Victoria prepares for a surge in mining...
Community action in Victoria holding coal mining companies to account
The Latrobe Valley community has fought to reduce the health impacts of toxic coal waste for generations. Over the last few months, we’ve seen two huge moments for holding coal mining companies accountable for protecting community health and the local environment....
Update: More scrutiny for Delta Coal’s Chain Valley mine
We have an encouraging update on Delta Coal’s proposal to expand the Chain Valley mine at Lake Macquarie. Last year, we asked you to make a submission on Delta Coal’s proposal to expand its Lake Macquarie mine, keeping it open for another two years and extracting an...
Getting Hazelwood rehab right with thorough environmental assessment
When the Hazelwood coal mine closed in 2017, it left behind giant hole and tonnes of toxic coal ash. Now, the mine's operator, Engie, must clean up the site. We have serious concerns that Engie wants to dodge its responsibility and cut corners on properly...
Toxic air pollution on the rise: Our analysis of National Pollution Inventory data
The PR departments of Australia’s power stations might prefer we didn’t track their emissions of 93 toxic substances. But we think everyone who breathes air has a right to know about – and stop – toxic contamination. That's why we’ve spent the last few days carefully...
Toxic coal ash dumps leave Latrobe Valley communities at risk
AGL Energy has plans to expose the Latrobe Valley community to coal ash pollution for another 20 years. The company wants to build another six enormous coal ash dumps where waste from coal production is mixed with groundwater, creating a cocktail of lethal heavy...
Problematic plans to flood Hazelwood mine pit to be scrutinised
The federal government has agreed Engie’s plans to take billions of litres of river water to flood the old Hazelwood coal mine will be scrutinised under federal law. This is a huge win for the community and environment, and for every person who took the time to make...
An update on Delta’s plans to mine more coal
Thanks to the community raising its voice, Delta Coal’s plan to mine more coal will undergo thorough scrutiny by the NSW Independent Planning Commission! Last month, we asked you to make a submission on Delta Coal’s proposal to expand its Lake Macquarie mine, keeping...
Frequently asked questions: Delta Coal’s Chain Valley Colliery Consolidation
Until Friday, 16th December you can make a submission on Delta Coal’s plans to consolidate two of their mines at Lake Macquarie, which would produce another 9.5 MILLION tonnes of coal. EJA is making a submission on behalf of our client, the Nature Conservation Council...
Reflections on the #CoalPollutionCase
Reflections on the Coal Pollution Case from Senior Lawyer Charley Brumby-Rendell. Last week, I sat in the Supreme Court for three long days, alongside our small but mighty legal team and client. Before the judge’s vast, carved wooden bench, we made our arguments – for...
The #CoalPollutionCase: Challenging coal pollution limits in court
During October 2022 our client, Environment Victoria, went to the Supreme Court against the EPA and three of Australia’s biggest energy companies. This landmark case was the first test of Victoria’s key climate change legislation, the Climate Change Act 2017, and the...
Cleaning up Hazelwood mine: New reports show Engie’s plan will release toxic coal ash pollution
Decades of brown-coal mining has left the Latrobe Valley with enormous mine pits and toxic coal ash dumps contaminating the land and groundwater. As Australia transitions to clean energy, rehabilitating these sites properly will be crucial to protect community health...
Setting the standards for mine rehabilitation in the Latrobe Valley
Communities in the Latrobe Valley have powered our homes, offices, and schools across Victoria for decades. As coal mines close, mining operators need to be held responsible for cleaning up their mess, to ensure that the Latrobe Valley community aren’t stuck with the...
Complaint lodged in the Victorian Human Rights commission to stop brumby preservation group from racially vilifying Traditional Owners
Lawyers at Environmental Justice Australia have today lodged a complaint at the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission to stop a brumby preservation group from racially vilifying Monica Morgan, a senior member of the Yorta Yorta Nation. The Barmah...
Gippsland Lakes is in dire straits and needs new management and policy
The future health of Gippsland Lakes, an internationally recognised Ramsar wetland, lies firmly in the hands of the Victorian and Commonwealth governments, writes senior EJA lawyer Ellen Maybery. As a Party to the Ramsar Convention, Australia has a responsibility to...