A court has given the green light to BHP’s bid to extend a Queensland coal mine over the objections of an environmental lobby group, saying the court’s acceptance of climate change did not mean it would reject all applications for fossil fuel projects.
Businesses that violate environment law could soon face fines of up to $780 million, under a plan that promises tougher enforcement through the creation of an Environment Protection Agency, alongside speedier environment approvals for projects.
Investment and advisory firm Pollination Group has poached a leading climate lawyer who led MinterEllison’s global climate practice group to bolster its offering of cutting edge advice on the transition to net zero.
Santos wants four activist organisations to hand up any communications with the Environmental Defenders Office over its unsuccessful challenge to the construction of a pipeline for the energy company’s $5.6 billion Barossa gas project, as it seeks to recover third-party costs against the legal centre for its conduct in running the proceedings.
Johnson Winter Slattery has snagged a special counsel from Corrs Chambers Westgarth to meet heightened demand for advice on climate change, sustainability and ESG issues.
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission has won its first civil penalty proceeding in a greenwashing case, with a court finding against Vanguard Investments over its $1 billion “ethically conscious” hedge fund.
The Environmental Defenders Office has appointed a team of external lawyers, including Gilbert + Tobin and a senior barrister, to review its processes after a judge found aspects of its case over Santos’ Barossa pipeline were made up and “lacking in integrity”.
Federal environment minister Tanya Plibersek wrongly focused on the net effect of approving an application by MACH Energy and Whitehaven Coal to extend two mega coal mines in New South Wales, an advocacy group has told an appeals court.
Energy company Santos has defeated a challenge by a Tiwi Islander traditional custodian to the construction of a pipeline for its $5.6 billion Barossa gas project, with a judge rejecting expert evidence about risks to cultural heritage.
An environmental group has lost its case alleging the federal government failed to take climate change into account when it renewed an agreement for logging in New South Wales, with a judge saying it was a ‘political’ issue rather than one for the courts.