In May 2021, the full bench of the Federal Court overturned the landmark win in the case to protect the critically endangered Leadbeater's Possum and vulnerable Greater Glider from logging. The appeal was won on a single ground - that logging has a wide exemption...
VicForests’ appeal hearing for the Possums Case
VicForests’ appeal hearing has wrapped up! After three days in the Federal Court in Sydney, our legal team are heading home to await the outcome of the appeal. The team arrived at the steps of the Federal Court in Sydney on Monday and were greeted by supporters like...
We’re back in court to defend vital possum habitat
The case to protect possums from logging has been running for over three years. And after an incredible win for threatened possums, we’re heading back to court on April 12 to defend vital possum habitat once more. In May 2020, Justice Mortimer found that 66 of...
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...
Statement in support of the Rights of Nature
Environmental Justice Australia supports the legal precedent of the Rights of Nature. In 2008, Ecuador became the first country in the world to codify the Rights of Nature in constitutional law. In October 2020, the Rights of Nature law was tested in the...
Defending our environment laws
Over the 20-year existence of Australia’s federal environment laws, the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, we have fought roll backs of the Act on numerous occasions, and advocated to improve this key piece of legislation. This month, EJA has...
A huge thank you from our forests
We have been blown away by the incredible support from over 1,000 generous supporters to defend possums against VicForests Appeal. Together, we have raised over $70,000 to fight this appeal against our landmark win in the federal court for our clients, Friends of...
VicForests to appeal landmark Federal Court win for threatened possums
VicForests to appeal landmark Federal Court win for threatened possums VicForests last week lodged an appeal with the Federal Court over the landmark decision in the Friends of Leadbeater’s Possum case that has stopped...
Final orders in our historic Federal Court win
The mammoth David and Goliath battle which first began in 2017 has finally reached its conclusion. In August 2020, The Federal Court delivered final orders for our historic win for Friends of the Leadbeater’s Possum that protects the forests subject to the case from...
Dissecting the interim EPBC Act review
On Monday 20 July, Professor Graeme Samuel released the Interim Report of the Independent Review of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Act (EPBC Act) - a 10-year review of our national environment laws. In the midst of a climate and extinction crisis, it’s...
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,...
Federal Court win for our possums!
We are thrilled that the Federal Court decided in favour of Friends of Leadbeater’s Possum (FLBP) in the case to protect the threatened Leadbeater’s Possum and Greater Glider from logging. The high canopies and deep hollows in the forests of Victoria’s Central...
Time to fix Australia’s national environment protection laws
EJA has joined with many other individuals and organisations in making the case for new and improved national environment protection laws, lodging our submission to the second 10 yearly review of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (the...
Morrison and Andrews governments fail Victoria’s threatened species in the wake of bushfires by renewing Regional Forest Agreements
MEDIA RELEASE Today, the Victorian and Commonwealth governments are expected to extend Regional Forest Agreements (RFAs) for another 20 years in a move that environmental lawyers say will fail Victoria’s threatened species. Environmental Justice Australia (EJA)...
Nature protection under review
There have been two significant developments in the last month in relation to nature protection both federally and in Victoria. EPBC Review discussion paper released As we reported in last month’s bulletin, the federal Environment Minister, Sussan Ley, has appointed...
The 10 year review of our national environment laws
This week, the federal Environment Minister Sussan Ley announced the ten year review of our federal environment laws – the Environment Conservation and Biodiversity Protection Act (EPBC Act). An incredible 248 scientists signed an open letter to Scott Morrison calling...
Federal election – new nature laws please!
Environmental Justice Australia is one of the organisations leading the work of the Places You Love Alliance to advocate for new federal environmental laws. The Places You Love Alliance includes more than 50 organisations representing over 1.5 million Australians. EJA...
A big win for law reform to protect the Places You Love
Last weekend, at the ALP National Conference, we had a big win for the places and wildlife we love. Bill Shorten committed to a new generation of environment laws and a national EPA to oversee them if Labor wins government. This is testament to years of campaigning by...