Australia is set for new climate legislation after Parliament passed the Climate Change Bill 2022 and the Climate Change (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2022 (together, the Climate Bills). The Climate Bills will come into force following royal assent. Read more

The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has reviewed its greenhouse gas assessment guidance and has today published a Draft Environmental Factor Guideline – Greenhouse Gas Emissions (draft EFG GHG). The EFG GHG was first published in April 2020, subject to review after 2 years. The purpose of the EFG GHG is to communicate how GHG emissions … Read more

The Environment Council of Central Queensland has submitted reconsideration requests for 19 projects under section 78A of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth) (EPBC Act). The projects are all coal and gas projects, principally but not exclusively in Queensland, that are currently undergoing assessment under the EPBC Act. Read more

The NSW Court of Appeal has confirmed that a personal interest that cannot be legally enforced is not a compensable “interest in land” under NSW compulsory acquisition legislation. This case is important for acquiring authorities, businesses and landowners, as it clarifies when compensation is payable when land occupied by a person other than the landowner … Read more

The recent Australian Federal election has resulted in a change of government. While the government is settling in, our Environment, Planning and Communities partners set out their top 5 predictions for coming change on environmental matters, and where the priorities should lie. Read more

On 1 March 2022 the Supreme Court of Western Australia published its decisions in the matters of Conservation Council of Western Australia Inc. v Chairman, Environmental Protection Authority [2022] WASC 58 and Conservation Council of Western Australia Inc. v Chairman, Environmental Protection Authority [2022] WASC 59. The decisions are in respect of the Conservation Council of … Read more

The United Nations Human Rights Council has recognised a universal human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment. This may influence Australian courts and decision-makers. It is also relevant to how corporates understand their role in protecting human rights and contributing to sustainable economic activity. Read more

A further development in the multi-round match between the NSW EPA, a waste company and the resource recovery exemption regime: the EPA has appealed for a second time. The Land and Environment Court criticised the EPA and its waste regime in the long-running Grafil prosecution. Subsequently, the Government has announced a review of the regime … Read more