Environment

Asset Energy has won Federal Court review of former Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s decision not to grant a two-year extension of a controversial offshore exploration license, after the government conceded that Morrison’s decision was “infected by apprehended bias.”

The Victoria Supreme Court has dismissed a bid to quash the Environment Protection Authority’s decision to renew the mining licences of the state’s three remaining coal power stations, in a test case for the state’s Climate Change Act.

Santos has lost its challenge to a judge’s decision to revoke approval for its $4.7 billion offshore gas project because Tiwi Islanders were not properly consulted about the project.

A court has rejected the plans of a Clive Palmer-owned mining company to dig a coalmine in central Queensland, finding the mine would infringe on the human rights of First Nations people and future generations of Queenslanders, and contribute to “foreseeable and preventable life terminating harm”.

PTTEP Australasia has settled a class action over one of Australia’s largest oil spills, more than a year after a judge ruled that the oil exploration company breached its duty of care to 15,000 Indonesian seaweed farmers and damaged their livelihoods.

International law firm Pinsent Masons has lured a partner and two senior associates from K&L Gates’ planning and environment law team for its Sydney office. 

Eco-conscious Australian skincare company Sukin has been hit with a lawsuit alleging it misled consumers by selling products labelled with a carbon neutral certification it did not hold.

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission is targeting predatory lending, greenwashing and crypto-assets as rising interest rates cause consumers to turn to fringe sources of credit.

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission has drawn “a line in the sand” on greenwashing and will no longer accept “purely aspirational” climate change targets from companies, the regulator’s deputy chair has said.

Luxury car makers BMW and Mercedes-Benz are facing separate $100 million class actions over the alleged use of cheat devices on emissions tests.