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...
Representing community opposing a mineral sands mine in East Gippsland
More than four years after the Minister for Planning first required an Environment Effects Statement (EES) be prepared for the Fingerboards mineral sands mine proposed in East Gippsland, Victoria, the public hearings to consider the proposal are about to commence. An...
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...
Hearing to protect Toondah Harbour
On March 11, EJA was in court on behalf of the Australian Conservation Foundation seeking the release of documents, which recorded meetings between the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment and the Walker Group. The Walker Group sought to build a...
Rare win for last coastal bush in Chelsea
In November 2016, a developer purchased a block of land in Chelsea and lodged an application to clear all native vegetation for fourteen two-storey townhouses. After a four-year effort by the Friends of Dents Paddock alliance the native coastal vegetation land was...
Thank you Western Region Environment Centre
Environmental Justice Australia is both honoured and saddened to be the beneficiary of the winding up of the Western Region Environment Centre (WREC). Losing this institution is a sad day for environment protection in Melbourne’s west. We have worked with WREC for...
Supporting affected communities against mineral sands mining in East Gippsland
EJA is currently acting for Mine-free Glenaladale, a community group opposing the Fingerboards mineral sands mine in East Gippsland, Victoria. Mine-free Glenaladale is a volunteer-based group, representing residents, landowners and members of the community (local 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...
Delays to the Environment Protection Act in Victoria
Together with other community groups, we have been urging the Victorian government to immediately revoke the delay of the Environment Protection Act 2018. In April, the Victorian Parliament passed the Covid-19 Omnibus (Emergency measures) Act 2020 (the...
Crucial Victorian environment protection reforms delayed
The Victorian government has changed the law to delay the commencement of the overhaul of Victoria’s pollution control law, the Environment Protection Act. On Thursday last week, the Victorian Parliament passed the Covid-19 Omnibus (Emergency measures) Act 2020 (the...
North East Link: Environmental assessment ignored
- Virginia Trescowthick, EJA Lawyer Earlier this month, Victoria’s largest ever road project, the North East Link, was assessed by the Minister for Planning as ‘environmentally acceptable’. This flies in the face of recommendations by the...
Reforming Victoria’s Pollution Laws
Consultation has just finished on the draft regulations under Victoria’s new Environment Protection Act – the state’s new pollution laws. We recently held a seminar to engage the community in the proposed regulations and help people make submissions. Tim Eaton,...
What the NSW election result means for air pollution
After a cliffhanger election in New South Wales, the Berejiklian Liberal Government has maintained government in the state. So, what does this mean for air pollution in NSW? Air pollution control is primarily the responsibility of state governments who are largely...
Plans to burn rubbish must be scrutinised for impact on health and environment
Even though burning rubbish in backyard incinerators was banned about 40 years ago, Australian Paper has moved to restart the practice of burning Melbourne’s rubbish in an industrial incinerator in Gippsland. Australian Paper, which lodged an application for Works...
Community rights a welcome feature of Victorian bill
A legal right for the community to enforce pollution laws is a welcome feature of the Environment Protection Bill, introduced to the Victorian Parliament this week. The Bill, if passed into law, will replace the Environment Protection Act 1970 with a new Environment...
Bob Brown’s win in the High Court
The former Greens leader, Bob Brown, has won a landmark High Court case against Tasmania's anti-protest laws. Bob Brown’s case challenged the validity of Tasmanian anti-protest laws that specifically target and criminalise people involved in activity to promote...
Commonwealth Bank hearing
On 1 June we were in court for a hearing in our case against the Commonwealth Bank. This important test case is about the rights of shareholders to put ordinary resolutions to company AGMs. With the power and reach of corporations growing around the world, any extra...
Tasmanian protest laws will have chilling effect
Tasmania is about to change its laws to enable large corporations to sue for defamation. We think this will have real impacts on people’s ability to participate in campaigns and protests to protect the environment. Tasmania is about to change its laws to enable large...