The Australian Government is poised to hand over their national environmental approval responsibilities to states and territories, so the Places You Love alliance commissioned the Environmental Defenders Office to analyse whether state and territory laws can do the job. The clear answer is no. The Devolving Extinction? report is a damning audit of core standards […]
Starting the important conversation about reforming our laws and values EDO has submitted an extensive submission to the federal inquiry into the destruction of caves at the Juukan Gorge in the Pilbara region of Western Australia which showed evidence of human habitation dating back 46,000 years, detailing the problems we have witnessed as lawyers assisting […]
By Joe Morrison, EDO Board, and David Morris, CEO The destruction of one of the Juukan caves in Western Australia’s Pilbara region by Rio Tinto is shocking, but not surprising. It is not Rio Tinto’s fault alone either. Their actions, which were immoral and lacked credibility, were condoned by the laws of Western Australia and […]
29 May 2020 Western Australia The Planning and Development Amendment Bill 2020 (WA) (PDA Bill) was introduced into the WA Legislative Assembly on 20 May 2020 and passed the Legislative Assembly on 28 May 2020. Most of the PDA Bill relates to broader planning reforms that had previously been consulted on, however, the PDA Bill […]
Our lawyers across the country are tracking the exercise of emergency powers on planning and environmental laws, and announcements of economic recovery measures, as well as developing principles to help guide good decision making during this unprecedented time. On 1 May 2020 we summarised the laws passed and changes made to planning and environment laws […]
Many of us are breathing a sigh of relief as restrictions cautiously ease across Australia to allow for somewhat greater social interaction and economic activity. As Australia’s initial response to COVID-19 gives us reason to hope a health crisis has been contained in this country, governments have rapidly switched gear to economic recovery. Subsequent rapid changes to laws, as […]
On 16 April 2020, the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) in Western Australia published its new Environmental Factor Guideline for Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHG Guideline),[1] which reflects its approach to considering greenhouse gas emissions (GHG emissions) in environmental impact assessments (EIA) and provision of advice to the Minister for Environment on significant proposals in WA. The […]
As the COVID-19 crisis has gathered pace globally and nationally, we’ve been confronted with a period of unprecedented transformation and enormous uncertainty. However, the huge environmental challenges we face on climate and biodiversity loss remain and EDO continues to use the law to squarely face them. Our national team is actively navigating the legal system as it moves online. […]
By Ruby Hamilton and Sarah Flynne, Solicitors, EDO Perth The new version of the Western Australian Environmental Protection Authority’s Environmental Factor Guideline for Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHG Guideline), published on 16 April 2020, is the latest development in response to the ongoing challenges of assessing and regulating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and climate change impacts of […]
The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation is currently seeking feedback on the Native Vegetation in Western Australia- Issues Paper published in November 2019. It seeks stakeholder advice and feedback on four initiatives that aim to improve the consistency and transparency in how the state’s native vegetation is managed including: A State native vegetation policy […]
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Authorised by David Morris, 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.
