Environmental law enforcement in WA is on the uptick

The Perth Magistrates Court recently found gold miner Bellevue Gold Limited liable for two environmental offences relating to a hypersaline spill after enforcement action by the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation. Bellevue was fined $41,000 in total for the offences. Read more

Safeguard Mechanism Bill passes Parliament setting stage for Safeguard Mechanism reforms

The Safeguard Mechanism (Crediting) Amendment Bill 2023 was passed by the Australian Parliament on 30 March 2023.  The Bill was primarily introduced to enable the crediting element of the reform, however the changes negotiated with the Australian Greens Party are not limited to crediting and will extend beyond amendments to the Bill itself. We explore key aspects of the Bill and our current understanding of the other agreed amendments to the Safeguard Mechanism Reforms. Read more

Queensland passes amendments to the Environmental Protection Act 1994

The Environmental Protection and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2022 (Qld) (EPOLA Bill) was passed yesterday. The EPOLA Bill amends the Environmental Protection Act 1994 (Qld) with wide ranging implications for Queensland operators, in particular for the resources sector. It also makes minor amendments to the Waste Reduction and recycling Act 2011 (Qld) and the Wet Tropics World Heritage Protection and Management Act 1993 (Qld). Read more

Treaty on maritime biodiversity finalised

On 4 March 2023, the UN Intergovernmental Conference on Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (Conference) reached agreement on the text of a new treaty which seeks to protect the marine environment. The Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological … Read more

Illawarra declared as the fifth and final REZ in NSW

The NSW Minister for Energy has declared a Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) in the Illawarra region. Following a draft exhibition of the declaration in late 2022, this marks the first key step in establishing the Illawarra REZ under the Electricity Infrastructure Investment Act 2020. Read more

Public consultation open: Proposed offshore renewable energy infrastructure area off the NSW Hunter coast

The Australian Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water announced yesterday that it is seeking public feedback on the possible effects of renewable energy projects off the NSW Hunter coast. This announcement follows last year’s declaration of part of Bass Strait off Victoria’s Gippsland coast as Australia’s first offshore renewable energy infrastructure zone. Read more