MEDIA RELEASE Federal Court orders VicForests to pay costs in Possums Case, reiterating multiple breaches of Victorian environment law Today, the Full Federal Court ordered VicForests to pay the costs…
MEDIA RELEASE Today, the full bench of the Federal Court overturned the landmark win in the Possums Case on one ground, on the basis that logging has a wide exemption from federal environment law…
MEDIA RELEASE A historic victory for Australia’s native forests and threatened species is being challenged in the Federal Court next week, with an appeal outcome set to change the fate of logging in…
MEDIA RELEASE National Pollutant Inventory: 5-year audit shows little change to coal-fired power station pollution, while 4000 people die prematurely from exposure A five-year audit of Australia’s most comprehensive pollution data highlights inaction on toxic air pollution from coal-fired power stations, despite an estimated 4000 premature deaths from exposure. …
NEWS RELEASE Concerns have escalated over the rehabilitation of AGL’s Loy Yang power station after the company announced a demerger that carves off coal-fired power stations into a separate corporate…
MEDIA ALERT Lawyers at Environmental Justice Australia (EJA), representing Environment Victoria, Victorian National Parks Association and Save Westernport, are celebrating an environmental win with the Victorian government’s rejection of AGL’s plan for a floating storage and regasification unit off…
MEDIA RELEASE 18 March, 2021 NSW government’s Clean Air Strategy fails to reduce pollution, after five years in the making After five years in the making, the NSW government today released a draft Clean Air Strategy…
Communities across NSW are demanding the Berejiklian government combats toxic air pollution and protects people’s health with the release of The People’s Clean Air Action Plan. Tired of government inaction, particularly toxic pollution from…
Victorian communities are demanding the Andrews government combat toxic air pollution and protect people’s health with the release of The People’s Clean Air Action Plan. Tired of government inaction, particularly toxic pollution from coal-fired power…
MEDIA RELEASE Communities across NSW and Victoria are demanding the Berejiklian and Andrews governments combat toxic air pollution and protect people’s health with the release of The People’s Clean Air Action Plan. Tired of government inaction, a coalition of community groups, environmental lawyers, health professionals and international regulatory experts came together…
MEDIA RELEASE In a report released today, conservationists decry Victoria’s Wildlife Act as part of the problem confronting wildlife in the state, rather than an effective tool to protect it….
UN Human Rights Council Members Urge Australia to Adopt Stronger Climate Measures Now to Protect Human Rights San Francisco, USA / Sydney, Australia – All eyes were on Australia as…
Environmental lawyers challenge EPA and EnergyAustralia in VCAT over pollution control at Yallourn Power Station Environmental lawyers have launched legal proceedings in a bid to uncover documents about the operations and maintenance of EnergyAustralia’s pollution…
Lawyers for north-Queensland teenagers ask State Bank of India to halt billion dollar loan as Australian government reviews Adani/Bravus coal mine approval Lawyers at Environmental Justice Australia (EJA) have this week written on behalf of their clients to the State Bank of India (SBI) to request that they do not fund the Adani/Bravus Carmichael coal…
Qld teenagers present critical new evidence to revoke approval of Adani coal mine BREAKING: Two North Queensland teenagers today presented the federal government with new expert evidence and strong legal grounds to revoke approval of Adani’s controversial Carmichael coal mine. Acting for the young community leaders— Brooklyn O’Hearn, 17, from Townsville; and Claire Galvin, 19, from Cairns — lawyers at Environmental Justice Australia said the three independent expert reports provide sufficient new evidence…
NEWS RELEASE BREAKING: Two North Queensland teenagers today presented the federal government with new expert evidence and strong legal grounds to revoke approval of Adani’s controversial Carmichael coal mine. Acting for the young community leaders— Brooklyn O’Hearn, 17, from Townsville; and Claire Galvin, 19, from Cairns — lawyers at Environmental Justice Australia said the three independent expert reports provide sufficient new evidence for Environment Minister, Sussan Ley, to exercise her…
Vales Point: EPA’s paltry fine sends signal that public health is worth less than corporate welfare Legal and policy experts at Environmental Justice Australia (EJA) warn that government must prioritise public safety over corporate welfare, as yesterday the EPA announced fining Delta Electricity a mere $30,000 for waste offences at Vales Point coal-burning power station. EJA lawyers say Delta has been inadequately penalised for the offences, which have resulted in land pollution. This is a negligible sum for the privately-owned power station, valued at $750 million, especially given this week’s news that taxpayers are funding a multimillion-dollar upgrade to the ageing power station, without specifying air pollution controls. In 2018, a large stockpile of asbestos and other waste was documented across a 30,000 square metre area at the station’s coal ash dump, situated between Mannering Lake and Lake Macquarie water catchments. The breach has received only a paltry fine, and a final clean-up notice has not yet been issued for the remainder of the dumped material on the site. Due to close in nine years, Vales Point coal-burning power station is reportedly earmarked for several million dollars in government grants for new turbines and high-pressure heaters. But lawyers warn that Vales Point already emits pollutant concentrations that dramatically exceed limits set by comparable countries due to inadequate pollution controls. Vales Point also enjoys an exemption from the stricter oxides of nitrogen standards applicable to other NSW coal burners. These factors must be addressed to protect the public from exposure. Jocelyn McGarity, lawyer at EJA, said: “For decades, Centra Coast communities living next to Vales Point coal-burning power station have raised concerns about the health impacts of coal pollution, including poorly managed coal ash dumps. “These ash dumps, even before being filled with asbestos as in the case of Vales Point, are loaded with dangerous heavy metals that can leach into local waterways like Lake Macquarie and pose a significant threat to the local community. “This paltry fine for serious environmental breaches is unlikely to materially affect Delta’s bottom line, and so will not be a disincentive to pollute. “It’s disappointing to note that although the EPA recently amended its Prosecution Guidelines to include the consideration of human health and environmental justice principles, it has obviously given these factors little weight in deciding not to prosecute Delta. Had the EPA taken legal action, the maximum penalty available for each breach was two million dollars. “Delta clearly failed to have adequate systems and procedures in place to safeguard the community and environment from asbestos waste. Because of that, there’s now a compounding of environmental issues at the ash dam. “The fact that the Morrison Government is seriously considering handing over millions of dollars of public money to prop up this ageing, failing power station when it continues to harm community health and breach environmental laws is frankly appalling. “Instead of rewarding these industries with public funds to operate for longer, governments must urgently move to address the serious flaws in our regulatory system. Our EPAs should be empowered with stronger national pollution standards which would make sure these power stations have proper pollution controls on their smoke stacks and ash dams to protect community health.” Background Australia’s coal-burning power stations rank among Australia’s biggest sources of pollution, with ambient air pollution exceeding the World Health Organization’s recommended thresholds. Australia’s pollution standards lag significantly behind most other countries, including China, the United States and the European Union. Such poor regulatory control of toxic pollution from coal-burning power stations including Vales Point has deadly consequence. Collectively, these stations cause approximately 800 premature deaths, 14,500 asthma attacks and 850 cases of babies born with low birth weight every year, according to a peer-reviewed report published last month. The report finds 2.1 million Australians are exposed to toxic pollutants from coal-burning power stations. Last month a team of volunteer actuaries modelled the economic cost of the health impacts of air pollution from Australia’s coal-fired power, finding that the health bill last year alone amounted to $2.4 billion on conservative estimates. Further information: Unearthing Australia’s toxic coal ash legacy Costs of Negative Health Outcomes Arising from Air Pollution from Coal-Fired Power Stations Toxic and terminal: How the regulation of coal-burning power stations fails Australian communities Lethal Power: how coal is killing people in Australia The health burden of coal-burning power in NSW National Pollutant Inventory (NPI) Strengthening national air pollution standards to protect public health Expert Position Statement on health-based standards for Australian regulated thresholds of nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide and ozone in ambient air Australian coal-power allowable pollution would be illegal in US, Europe and China – report
‘Inconsistent, unreliable and of limited utility’: Australia’s air pollution data condemned by experts, ignored by regulators Double standards, legal loopholes and ‘unexplained’ errors in Australia’s air pollution data are preventing…
NEWS RELEASE Double standards, legal loopholes and ‘unexplained’ errors in Australia’s air pollution data are preventing communities from accessing reliable information about the poor quality air they’re breathing. Analysis by…
Environmental lawyers warn Bayswater coal ash dump expansion cannot proceed until coal ash inquiry is complete, as hearings begin Environmental lawyers are calling for the NSW Environment Minister to pause the assessment process for the coal ash dump expansion at AGL’s Bayswater power station until the outcomes of the coal ash inquiry are known,…
MEDIA RELEASE Environmental lawyers are calling for the NSW Environment Minister to pause the assessment process for the coal ash dump expansion at AGL’s Bayswater power station until the outcomes of the coal ash inquiry are known, as hearings begin today. Recommendations from the NSW Parliament’s Inquiry into…
Australians pay a deadly $2.4 billion health bill for coal-fired power Coal-fired power stations’ failure to install life-saving pollution controls costs Australians around $2.4 billion in health costs annually, warn actuaries, economists and lawyers. In a new report released today, a team of volunteer actuaries modelled the economic cost of the health…
NEWS RELEASE Coal-fired power stations’ failure to install life-saving pollution controls costs Australians around $2.4 billion in health costs annually, warn actuaries, economists and lawyers. In a new report released today, a team of volunteer actuaries modelled the economic cost of the health…
Federal Court’s final orders in landmark legal win protect forests home to threatened possums from logging The Federal Court has delivered final orders for Friends of Leadbeater’s Possum’s historic win against state logging agency, VicForests, that protects the forests subject to the…

MEDIA RELEASE The Federal Court has delivered final orders for Friends of Leadbeater’s Possum’s historic win against state logging agency, VicForests that protects the forests subject to the case from…
Auditor-General’s report: Victorian communities at risk, taxpayers foot the clean-up bill as government neglects mine rehabilitation Victoria’s mines are contaminating communities and leaving a legacy of social, financial and environmental liabilities, warn lawyers and environmental NGOs. Lawyers at Environmental Justice Australia, acting for community groups including Friends of Latrobe…
‘Unfair and unprecedented’: public denied scrutiny of controversial gas plan as planning minister ignores government guidelines The Victorian government’s refusal to extend a deadline for public scrutiny of a gas company’s Environment Effects Statement (EES) in Western Port Bay ignores ministerial guidelines and may encourage community groups to defy Stage 4 coronavirus restrictions, warn lawyers. Lawyers at…
‘Pollution doesn’t stop for COVID — legislation shouldn’t either’: Victorians pay with their health as Andrews government stalls regulation Lawyers and community groups are urging the Victorian government to immediately revoke its delay of the state’s Environment Protection Amendment Act 2018, due to…
EPA flouts its own recommendations as it licences power stations to keep polluting at current levels
EPA flouts its own recommendations as it licences power stations to keep polluting at current levels Vales Point exemption from NOx limits expires in January 2022. New licence will require Vales Point to install low NOx burners to one…
MEDIA RELEASE Upper Hunter communities have been forced to pursue legal advice as the New South Wales government curtails residents’ attempts to investigate and regulate the region’s air pollution levels. …
NSW Government curtails community access to air pollution data as it deems Upper Hunter Valley a ‘non-region’ Upper Hunter communities have been forced to pursue legal advice as the New South…
MEDIA RELEASE A team of senior lawyers at Environmental Justice Australia say there are already indications an interim review of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act will be misapplied by the…
Morrison government will accelerate environmental destruction and species decline if EPBC Review is misused to fast-track industrial projects A team of senior lawyers at Environmental Justice Australia say there are…
Supreme Court prevents VicForests from logging five more sites of threatened species habitat Victoria’s Supreme Court has issued five more temporary injunctions to stop VicForests from logging areas of unburnt threatened species habitat following…
MEDIA RELEASE Environmental Justice Australia reiterate their call for a law change and an investigation into The Adani Group’s ‘suitable operator’ status in light of fresh allegations revealed by the ABC this morning relevant to the companies concerning international track record. The legal organisation is calling on the Palaszczuk…
Environmental lawyers call for law change and an investigation into Adani’s ‘suitable operator’ following fresh allegations about shocking international track record Environmental Justice Australia reiterate their call for a law change and an investigation into The Adani Group’s ‘suitable operator’ status in light of fresh allegations revealed by the ABC this morning relevant…
MEDIA RELEASE During the UN periodic review of Australia’s human rights record, a coalition of Australian and international lawyers is asking the United Nations to address Australia’s contributions to human…
MEDIA RELEASE Governmental failures will be scrutinised with the imminent release of the interim report of the ten-year independent review of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. Environmental Justice…
EPBC Act Review: Governments can expect more litigation Governmental failures will be scrutinised with the imminent release of the interim report of the ten-year independent review of the Environment Protection and…
MEDIA RELEASE Environmental lawyers Nicola Rivers and Elizabeth McKinnon have been jointly appointed to head one of Australia’s leading public-interest legal organisations, Environmental Justice Australia (EJA). The two senior lawyers, each with…
Co-CEOs bring feminist game-change to legal leadership role Environmental lawyers Nicola Rivers and Elizabeth McKinnon have been jointly appointed to head one of Australia’s leading public-interest legal organisations, Environmental Justice Australia…
MEDIA RELEASE 18 June 2020 Community group Zero Waste Victoria has secured better air quality, waste management, monitoring and reporting for Victorians in a legal challenge to the EPA’s approval of a waste-to-energy facility…
Community group secures a win for the environment in legal case over Laverton waste-to-energy plant Community group Zero Waste Victoria has secured better air quality, waste management, monitoring and reporting for Victorians in a legal…
MEDIA RELEASE A Federal Court judgment delivered this morning is a huge win for a community group which brought a case under national environment law to protect the threatened Greater…
MEDIA RELEASE A coalition of health, environment and community groups has made a legal complaint to the New South Wales Environment Protection Authority calling for the body to investigate alleged breaches of the law by Delta Electricity after Vales Point power station reported huge increases in dangerous particle pollution, despite producing less…
MEDIA RELEASE A coalition of health, environment and community groups has made a legal complaint to the Victorian Environment Protection Authority calling for the body to investigate alleged breaches of the law by EnergyAustralia after Yallourn power station reported huge increases in dangerous particle pollution, despite producing less…
MEDIA RELEASE Analysis of just released data from the National Pollutant Inventory reveals coal-fired power stations are Australia’s biggest polluters once again with a number of power stations reporting significant increases in some of the most toxic pollutants. Coal-fired…
MEDIA RELEASE The Victorian and Commonwealth governments have agreed to extend the five Victorian Regional Forest Agreements (RFAs) for 10 years without taking into account the impacts of the catastrophic summer bushfires on native forests and wildlife. Ten-year extensions with 5–year reviews were formalised yesterday for the five RFAs covering…
This Friday 27 March, community group Wildlife of the Central Highlands (WOTCH) is back in Victoria’s Supreme Court in a case to stop VicForests from logging areas of unburnt threatened species habitat, following…
MEDIA RELEASE An independent committee’s decision to reject a bid to use funding intended for reducing greenhouse gas emissions to prop up coal-fired power stations has been welcomed by Environmental Justice Australia. The Emissions Reduction Assurance Committee…
MEDIA RELEASE New research revealing the health impacts of smoke pollution from the catastrophic summer bushfires shows the need for action to address existing air pollution, according law and policy…
MEDIA RELEASE Environmental lawyers have launched legal proceedings in a bid to uncover documents about the operations and maintenance of EnergyAustralia’s pollution control technology at Yallourn Power Station in the…
MEDIA RELEASE The Morrison Government’s plan to keep NSW’s ageing Liddell Power Station open until 2026 won’t just cost taxpayers millions – it will also cost lives, according to lawyers…
MEDIA ALERT Today, community group WOTCH is back in Victoria’s Supreme Court in a case to stop VicForests from logging areas of unburnt threatened species habitat, following the catastrophic bushfires. At…
MEDIA ALERT On Friday 7 February, Justice McMillan of the Victorian Supreme Court made orders that extend the interim halt on logging in unburnt forests to incorporate three further coupes…
MEDIA RELEASE The Morrison Government’s plan to keep NSW’s ageing Liddell Power Station open until 2026 won’t just cost taxpayers millions – it will also cost lives, according to lawyers…
MEDIA RELEASE Just days before the Siemens AGM in Germany, Australian experts in environmental law and corporate accountability have written to the President and CEO of Siemens, Mr Joe Kaeser,…
MEDIA RELEASE VicForests has been forced to immediately stop logging in several areas of threatened species habitat after the Victorian Supreme Court granted an injunction to citizen science group Wildlife…
MEDIA RELEASE 29 January 2020 Citizen scientists take VicForests to court to stop logging in threatened species habitat after catastrophic bushfires A community group of citizen scientists has launched a Supreme Court…
MEDIA RELEASE 3 October 2019 Authors of groundbreaking research into toxic coal ash waste in Australia are welcoming an Upper House Inquiry into coal ash waste, launched yesterday by the…
MEDIA RELEASE 16 August 2019 Environmental lawyers call for law change and an investigation into Adani’s ‘suitable operator’ status as Adani faces fresh prosecution at Brisbane’s Magistrates Court…
Read our joint statement of support for the union movement on a fair and just energy transition in Australia.
MEDIA RELEASE New research released today reveals communities across the country are at serious risk from poorly managed coal ash waste – the toxic by-product of coal-fired power that accounts…
MEDIA RELEASE Community group, Environment East Gippsland, has settled its legal challenge to the Environment Protection Authority’s approval of Australian Paper’s proposed Maryvale Mill waste incinerator. “Although we still believe…
MEDIA RELEASE On Monday 3 June, the trial will commence in the case Friends of Leadbeater’s Possum Inc v VicForests, before Justice Mortimer in the Federal Court, listed for 3 weeks. In…
MEDIA RELEASE This year’s National Pollutant Inventory reveals soaring toxic emissions from coal-fired power stations and highlights the need for our ageing fleet of generators to be fitted with readily…
Environmental Justice Australia, formerly the Victorian Environment Defenders Office, welcomes today’s announcement by the federal ALP that it will restore funding to community environmental legal services across the country. Environmental…
MEDIA RELEASE 31 January 2018 The final report from the South Australian Royal Commission into the Murray Darling Basin confirms the failures of the Basin Plan, its implementation, and institutional oversight. The Royal Commission’s findings reinforce advice…
Media Release As the prosecution of Adani for alleged pollution at the Abbot Point Coal terminal returns to court today, a new report raises fresh concerns about the Adani Group’s…
Media Release Victoria’s Labor Government is under pressure to crack down on air pollution from coal-fired power stations after the Labor Opposition in NSW announced a 10 year plan to…
Media Release Pressure is now on the Berejiklian government to tighten power station pollution licences to protect human health after State Labor pledged to review emissions standards to “ensure they…
OPEN LETTER 30 January 2019 Dear Premier Berejiklian CC Leader of the Opposition, Michael Daley The NSW EPA has just concluded its review of pollution licences for three of the…
MEDIA RELEASE 30 January 2019 The NSW Environment Protection Authority has again given coal-fired power stations a licence to harm communities with toxic coal pollution after a disappointing decision to…
MEDIA RELEASE A case to stop logging in over thirty areas of old-growth forest in Victoria’s East Gippsland will be heard by the state’s Supreme Court today. Lawyers from Environmental…
An independent study released today has found that air pollution produced by New South Wales coal-fired power stations cause 279 deaths in the state every year. The study of the…
Three US experts have slammed the Victorian EPA’s approach to the regulation of the Latrobe Valley coal-fired power stations. Modelling found emissions of sulfur dioxide from Victoria’s power stations were…

20 September 2018 By David Barnden Today ASIC released its report Climate risk disclosure by Australia’s listed companies. ASIC reiterated that the law requires the directors of a listed entity…
MEDIA RELEASE 28 August 2018 Environmental Justice Australia (EJA) welcomes the Victorian government announcement this morning that an independent Ministerial Advisory Committee (MAC) will be appointed to advise the Victorian…
MEDIA RELEASE 14 August 2018 Delta Electricity, the company that said it wants to build a ‘Hazelwood replacement’ coal-fired power station, has a ‘bad neighbour’ reputation because of the toxic…
MEDIA RELEASE 30 July 2018 As news emerges that VicForests is logging and burning areas in East Gippsland for research – knowing that the experiment is likely to kill threatened…
MEDIA RELEASE 26 July 2018 Environmental Justice Australia, on behalf of the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA), has requested that the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) remove…
MEDIA RELEASE 25 July 2018 Mark McVeigh, 23, is taking his superannuation fund REST to the Federal Court of Australia, seeking information about what the trustees know about the impact…
The Water Act is ‘substantially inconsistent’ with Australia’s commitments to international conventions, a Traditional Owner group will today tell the South Australian Royal Commission into the Murray-Darling Basin Plan. The…
Environmental Justice Australia has urged the nation’s politicians to remember the serious health impacts of coal-fired power before flirting with plans for new coal power stations. Air pollution researcher Dr…
MEDIA RELEASE 21 June 2018 Environmental Justice Australia and Environment Victoria have welcomed the introduction to the Victorian Parliament of the Environment Protection Bill, in particular the inclusion of a legal right…
MEDIA RELEASE 24 May 2018 The Victorian Government’s amended Flora and Fauna Guarantee Bill, introduced to parliament this week, continues to give governments too much discretion to act or not…
MEDIA RELEASE 21 May 2018 AGL’s Liddell power station has been granted an exemption from NSW air pollution regulations and emits toxic oxides of nitrogen (NOx) at up to 14…
MEDIA RELEASE 21 May 2018 Environmental Justice Australia has welcomed AGL’s decision to turn down Alinta’s offer for the Liddell power station. AGL’s Board today told the Australian Stock Exchange…