Category

Media releases

National Pollutant Inventory: 5-year audit shows little change to coal-fired power station pollution, while 4000 people die prematurely from exposure

By Air Pollution, Media releases

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. …

Read More

Legal experts welcome rejection of Crib Point gas terminal but urge federal decision to follow suit

By Cases, Energy Transition, Media releases

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…

Read More

NSW and Victorian communities release their own clean air plan after years of government inaction

By Air Pollution, Media releases

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…

Read More

Lawyers for north-Queensland teenagers ask State Bank of India to halt billion dollar loan as Australian government reviews Adani/Bravus coal mine approval 

By Climate and Finance, Media releases

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…

Read More

Qld teenagers present critical new evidence to revoke approval of Adani coal mine  

By Climate and Finance, Media releases

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…

Read More

Qld teenagers present critical new evidence to revoke approval of Adani coal mine

By Media releases

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…

Read More

Vales Point: EPA’s paltry fine sends signal that public health is worth less than corporate welfare

By Air Pollution, Media releases

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  

Read More

Environmental lawyers warn Bayswater coal ash dump expansion cannot proceed until coal ash inquiry is complete, as hearings begin  

By Air Pollution, Climate and Finance, Media releases

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,…

Read More

Environmental lawyers warn Bayswater coal ash dump expansion cannot proceed until coal ash inquiry is complete, as hearings begin

By Air Pollution, Media releases

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…

Read More

Australians pay a deadly $2.4 billion health bill for coal-fired power

By Air Pollution, Media releases

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…

Read More

Auditor-General’s report: Victorian communities at risk, taxpayers foot the clean-up bill as government neglects mine rehabilitation 

By Media releases

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…

Read More

‘Unfair and unprecedented’: public denied scrutiny of controversial gas plan as planning minister ignores government guidelines 

By Climate and Finance, Media releases

‘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…

Read More

‘Pollution doesn’t stop for COVID — legislation shouldn’t either’: Victorians pay with their health as Andrews government stalls regulation 

By Air Pollution, Media releases

‘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…

Read More

Environmental lawyers call for law change and an investigation into Adani’s ‘suitable operator’ following fresh allegations about shocking international track record

By Media releases, Protecting the reef

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…

Read More

Environmental lawyers call for law change and an investigation into Adani’s ‘suitable operator’ following fresh allegations about shocking international track record 

By Climate and Finance, Media releases

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…

Read More

Coalition of health, environment and community groups launch legal complaint over Vales Point power station pollution

By Air Pollution, Media releases

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…

Read More

Coalition of health, environment and community groups launch legal complaint over Yallourn power station pollution 

By Air Pollution, Media releases

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…

Read More

Coal-fired power stations top biggest polluter list again as toxic emissions from oldest power stations soar, National Pollutant Inventory

By Air Pollution, Media releases, Uncategorized

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…

Read More

Morrison and Andrews governments fail Victoria’s threatened species in the wake of the bushfires by renewing Regional Forest Agreements

By Forests, Media releases, Uncategorized

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…

Read More

Support our work

DONATE NOW

Get updates

Stay connected