Public access to information held by government departments and local councils is important in promoting open, accountable government. Government Departments usually have a freedom of information officer or contact point which are a good starting point. Sometimes the information you are looking for may have been released already. A lot of information is available on Government […]
Parliament can be an excellent source of information Hansard Hansard is the official record of Parliamentary proceedings. Although not strictly word for word, it is verified and accurate. These edited transcripts document debates in the Senate, House of Representatives, Federation Chamber and Parliamentary Committees at the national level; and in the Legislative Council and Legislative […]
The process for making laws, or the legislative process, is similar for both the NSW and Australian systems For a thorough explanation of how laws are made, visit the Parliament of NSW website or the Parliament of Australia website. The Making of an Act A Bill is draft version of an Act of Parliament (a law) before it […]
Decision-makers sometimes make mistakes. There are a number of options available to the public to help ensure due process is observed and decision-makers are held accountable for their actions. Auditors-General Australian Auditor-General The Australian Auditor-General provides an independent assessment of Australian government entities, and is supported by the Australian National Audit Office. Audits involve the independent […]
This resource summarises the main rights, responsibilities and opportunities to participate under both State and national legislation. If you would like further detail about a particular area of law, you may wish to do some legal research Legislation There are many pieces of legislation relating to the environment in NSW. This website deals with the […]
For assistance with legal research, consider contacting the Legal Information Access Centre (LIAC) LIAC is a specialist information service run by the State Library of NSW and is free for NSW residents. LIAC provides legal research assistance through specialist librarians based at the State Library. Sydney LIAC’s Head Office in the NSW State Library holds a […]
New Acland is a coal mine in the Darling Downs of Queensland, right next door to the small town of Acland, and surrounded by some of the best farming land in Australia. The mine began operations in 2002, with Stage 2 of the project opening in 2006. However the proposed Stage 3 expansion of the […]
Before having your say about a decision, it is important to figure out who the decision-maker is. It is important to be clear on what you are being invited to participate in. Is the decision-maker trying to inform you, consult with you, collaborate with you, or engage with you? Government decisions are required to be […]
There are many opportunities to participate in environmental decision-making and have your say. The opportunities available to you will depend on whether the decision is yet to be made (in which case you can focus on influencing the decision) or whether the decision has been made (in which case your efforts should focus on either […]
Aboriginal Culture & Heritage This Fact Sheet examines the ways that Aboriginal cultural heritage is protected under the law. It looks at national, state and local protections, and includes information on World Heritage, Aboriginal objects and places, and Aboriginal Heritage Impact Permits. This Fact Sheet will be useful for people who want to protect Aboriginal […]
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Authorised by Joanna Shulman, Environmental Defenders Office Ltd, Suite 8.02 Level 8, 6 O’Connell St, Sydney NSW 2000 • ABN: 72 002 880 864
Postal Address:
PO Box R1105 Royal Exchange NSW 1225
EDO recognises the traditional owners and custodians of the land, seas and rivers of Australia. We pay our respects to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander elders past and present, and aspire to learn from traditional knowledge and customs so that, together, we can protect our environment and cultural heritage through law.
